The bee., 1908-06-18
Foolish People
Josephine Discusses the elite
They Give

1
my lover"
whereupon Josephine clasped her
knee, sighed, shook her head, looked
at the fire again and murmured:
Augustus! What f-o-o-oo-o-oolish
things some persons buy for pres
entsl"
She turned and lifted her wistful
little mouth, tremulous for my iudg-
ment upon this the fruits of her philos-
ophy, and kissed her then and there
right tenderly, knowing that IL I
seemed to scoff or scorn the erudition
of her saying or the depth Of the view
with which she regarded life her
bright blue eyes would I'LL with tears
and her gentle heart would break.
Those folks next door began
Josephine with a sniff
She stopped so that we might sniff
together a conjugal sniff Of utter con-
tempt and dsrlsion at the folks next
door.
Those folks next door," repeated
Josephine. What do you suppose he
bought herr"
"A new bonnet, + hopel" l cried
with sudden energy, basking already
in Josephine's smiles, for the bonnets
Of the woman next door we're to Jose
phine the theme for many a busy hour
and a shining mark at which we ever
aimed the polished darts OF our irony
and the daggers of our wit
mo. not bonnet" exclaimed Jose
phine. and we laughed right. merrily
together until Josephine checked her
self with a start of disappointment
and murmured In sad reproach:
"Augustus!"
To which we lovingly replied:
my lover"
Augustus! You are smokingl"
looked at her in sudden guilt and
with premonition of what was now
to come.
"Augustusl" she breathed.
my lover" FL
"Augustusl Your smoking capt"
With a feeling of despair and sor.
row arose to my feet, but Josephine's
eye was on me and Josephine's mouth
was dropping and knew that if were
to refuse her implied request she
would wither and droop like a gath
cred flower and her dream of love
would end in darkest night
Wherefore l went to the hall rack,
placed my smoking cap upon my head
and returned to Josephine. 1t was a
round smoking cap of light blue vel
vet (such, l believe. as the gentry of
Turkey wear and call fezes) and it
was trimmed with beads. On one side
was a dragon rampant, with his tongue !
stuck out-this detail being ingenious
iy executed with beads of a scarlet |
color--so that, being seen from this |
side, l was an inspiration of horror |
and the terror of all beholders. On |
the other side was a butterfly slipping
honey from a. flower and looking peace
full and pastoral beyond words-so that |
being regarded from that side, mutesl
ly bore reference to jocund life redo
lent with the scent of new-mown hay
and musical with the lowing of the
kline. This inspiring cap was crowned
with a golden tassel which tickled my
nose and my ears with a titilative |
impartiality that / could only escape |
by coiling the tassel upon the top OF
the cap and balancing 1t there.
And thus equipped | sat me down
to smoke.
81 never" cried Josephine, clasp
ing her knee again in a transport Il
never saw such a handsome capt
Never! He looks so fierce!"
The butterfly, my lover"
Augustus No! The dragoni"
l turned the saucy dragon to the
back of my head so that Josephine
could feast her eye upon the butterfly,
and then / smoked as though my to-
bacco were never so sweet as when I
smoked it in my smoking cap.
"The moment | saw it knew it was
for you!" cried Josephine, "and
was so afraid that it would be sold
before could find salesgirl to wait
O. ~
"But It wasn't"
"Nol And. Augustusl She was the
incest salesgirll / told her, love, that
your eyes were blue and she said u
was just the thing for you. Oh, was
trembling with excitement. She said
you would look so distinguished In it,"
The tassel slipped down apd tickled
my ear. coiled 1t back and smoked
on.
"And what do you suppose she
bought him next door," laughed Jose.
phine. and breathlessly answered. "a
walking stick" I&t
"NeVer!" cried. ~
"Augustugl Yesl A silVer-handled
walking stick. and he canle, out swing,
ing It this morning. Suck a fo,0-o-o-6l
oolish present. II It were something =
useful Ike that jewel case you gave
me-"
The clock Interrupted her by begin
ming to strike mae. 1t was the hourl
Josephine gave me a solemn look and
nod and Immediately fetched her (
jewel case. J
With another solemn look Josephine
unscrewed her earrings and placed
them In the Jewel caHe. Her ring hal- I