The Cairo bulletin., 1908-03-14
Foolish People
Josephine Discusses tho Gifts
They Give

My love-"
Whereupon Josephine clasped he
Knee. sighed. shook her head, looked
at the fire again and murmured:
Augustus! What f-o-o-oo-o-oolisl
things some persons buy for pres
ents.'
She turned and lifted her wistfu
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 if
I seemed to scott or scorn the eruditior
of her saying or the depth of the view
with which she regarded life her
bright blue eyes would fill 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 coniugal sniff of utter con
tempt and derislon at the folks next
door.
Those folks next door" repeated
Josephine. What do you suppose he
| bought herr"
"A new bonnet | hope," | cried
with sudden energy. basking already
in Josephine's smiles, for the bonnets
of the woman next door were to Jose
phine the theme for many a busy hour
and shining mark at which We ever
aimed the polished darts of our irony
and the daggers of our wit.
No, not a 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 love-"
Augustus You are smoking"
! looked at her in sudden guilt and
with a premonition of what was now
to come.
augustus" she breathed.
My love?"
Augustus! Your smoking cap."
With a feeling Of despair and sor,
row arose 10 my feet, but Josephlne'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 I went 10 the hall rack
placed my smoking cap upon my head
and returned to Josephine. II was
round smoking cap of light blue vel
vet tsuch, believe, as the gentry of
Turkey wear and call fezes) and il
was trimmed with beads. On one side
was a dragon rampant, with his tongue
stuck outfits detail being ingenious
ly executed with beads of a scarlet
color-so that being seen from this
side, | was an inspiration of horror
and the terror of all beholders. On
the other side was a butterfly slipping
honey from flower and looking peace.
full and pastoral beyond words-so that
being regarded from that side, mute
ly bore reference TO a jocund life redo !
lent with the scent of new.mown hay |
and musical with the lowing of tho |
kline. This inspiring cap was crowned |
with golden tassel which tickled my
nose and my ears with a titilative |
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.
Il never" cried Josephine, clasp,
ng her knee again in a transport 4
never saw such a handsome cap!
Never! He looks so fierce!"
The butterfly. my love-"
Augustus! No, The dragon"
I turned the saucy dragon to tho
back of my head so that Josephine
,ould feast her eye upon the butterfly,
md then | smoked as though my to-
,acco were never so sweet as when
moked it in my smoking cap.
THE moment l saw it knew 1t was
or you" cried Josephine, and
vas so afraid that it would be sold
efore could find salesgirl to wait
n me-"
But IT wasn't
'No, And, Augustus! SIS was the
icest salesgirl, told her, love. that
our eyes were blue and she said it
Tas just the thing for you. Oh, was
-embling with excitement She said
ou would look so distinguished in IT.
The. tassel slipped down and tickled ,
ly ear. | coiled it back and smoked
n.
And what do you suppose she
ought him next door," laughed Jose. !
hine, and breathlessly answered. "A ,
alking stick"
Never" | erred. +,
Augustus! Yes. A silver-handled :
alking stick, and ht came out swing =
z it this morning Such a 100000
dish present. If il were something .
3eful like that jewel case you gave :,
e."
The clock interrupted her by begin =,
ng TO strike nine. IL was the hour! u
,sephine gave me a solemn look and ?
I'd and Immediately | fetched her y
wei case. :
With another solemn look Josephine =
her earrings and placed | !"
EN- in the jewel case. Her ring fol. q.
we'd. Dutifully then | gave her my ID
arfpin and sleeve links. Josephine