The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1907-12-07
POETRY VS.. COMMON SENSE.
one Must Learn to Test the Repre-
sensations of Strangers.


one Must Learn to Test the Repre-
sensations of Strangers.
Virginia, as pretty as seventeen may
be, had stopped in the waiting room of
a department store to write a note. AS
she finished, a richly dressed woman,
sitting near met her lifted glance with
a smile.
"You must forgive my staring" she
said. II can't resist the picture"
Virginia flushed. Pardon my speak
ing" the stranger went on, sweeuy.
you're SO like a friend of mine In
the East that 1 feel as If l knew you.
1 used to live there, but I've been SO
homesick and lonely since we came
here!'
81 get lonely, too, sometimes" Vir-
ginia answered. This Isn't my home.
l came here to study art
They drifted naturally into chat,
and when Virginia rose to go, her self
made acquaintance followed her.
II can't bear to let you go; it's love
at first sight J" she declared, as they
neared the street door. "Why, II there
isn't my husband! I'm 50 glad we met
you, Jack! 1 want you to know this
sweet girl, for I've lost my heart to
her, and I'm begging her to come to
dinner with us Sunday night"
Hope she'll accept, I'm sure" the
man responded, as he was introduced.
81 just escaped greeting her as Miss
Hampstead-she's SO like her. Miss
Hampstead is one of our famous beau
ties in New York." he added TO Vir-
ginia, with an admiring smile that
brought the color.
Before they parted, Virginia had
taken their telephone number, and
promised to call them up the next day
If she should find that she could post
pone a previous engagement for Sun
day night. In that case, Jack" was
} to send a carriage for her at 6 o'clock
Then on the way to her boarding place
she dropped in to tell her mothers OLD
friend, Mrs Mayfair, about her ad
venture.
"But how do you know they're mo-
imposters? was the prompt query.
"Oh, you could tell easily enough
They're lovely people. They live OF
Grand boulevard. She just took a sud
den fancy to me, that's ALL"
Nevertheless" said Mrs. Mayfair
firmly, "Mr Mayfair shall look up tina
telephone number before you say you'll
! CO."
Half laughing, Virginia agreed, blu
= there was not a shadow Of the laugl
left when she heard Mr.. Mayfair's re
port. The Grand boulevard residenc
of these people did not exist, and tn
telephone number given indicated
J, quarter of the city where it would b
d unsafe for young girl to go.
After they had talked 1t out, Vii
!, ginia exclaimed, "But 1 don't want
= learn to suspect everybody It's 'bet
}. ter to trust and be deceived
(which doesn't mean, my child" MI
Mayfair broke in, "that I'm dumbly
receive counterfeit money at my ban
rather than doubt 1t. We can't carr
- on the business of life that way"
"But must you assume that all th
good money Is counterfeit, tooT
:. 'Test. Learn to test Excessiv
- fiattery is a pretty good sign Of bogr
10 humanity. If stranger should com
into the bank and tell me he liked N
10 looks because I was a counterpart {
his friend, Prince Charming, do 70
II think I'd take him to my heart {
once? OF, course, that wouldn't be I
=. likely to deceive grizzled old ma
a. like me, but even in your case"
"a "Please, that's enough, Mr.. Ma
fair" said Virginia, wincing. "You'N
made your point"