The Green Forest tribune., 1908-03-06

sClarice Lethbridge felt herself to be the most unhappy and forlorn of women.
 My dear" she told her best friend plaintively, T am neglected wife Leah Athelstane laughed derisively. You are a pampered and much spoiled little beauty" she retorted.
 Clarce made mournful eyes. She looked very interesting under sorrow. "John cares for nothing but his stupid old office and ridiculous deals in stocks and bonds" esWhich Same ridiculous deals pay for all your absurd extravagances," :" her friend replied.
 "But woman would not need to fe extravagant if she were properly Gn- derstood. I buy things just to pass away the time. Now if John only had a soul I should not want to spend my days in accommodating expensive tritles. y Leah sighed resignedly.
 (Which means, I suppose, that you have met some man with a soul. Be ware of him, Clare, souls are horribly dangerous things"
 | T cannot beware of him, he is too beautiful" Mrs. Lethbridge looked ecstatic.
 "Fancy caring for beautiful man, scoffed the sensible one.
 II know it." agreed Clarice, q always thought I preferred the athletic type, but Svenreski is so overwhelming. His hair and those fierce, wild eyes make one forget his shoulders and lack of height"
 Leah sat up peremptorily. Don't 2 you pretend to tell me- she retorted, that you have succumbed to the evil i. influence of that ill-bred little piano player"
 "But am telling you just that, Leah darling. Now don't be a horrid cat. He is rather crazy about me, too. He said my throat was like the first flush of dawn. How could woman help loving a man capable of such delicious compliments? Imagine John ever say ing anything nice like that"
 T cannot imagine Johns ever being such fool,' sniffed Miss Athelstane.
 "He would throw me a check across the table and say I was looking nice enough to deserve a new frock. That is Johns vulgar habit"
 Do you ever toss back the check?'' inquired Leah.
 "Of course not, he wouldn't take it, and besides, I make it a rule never to fuss over money matters"
 Poor John, But what do you want me to do about this idiotic affair.""
 "You must go with me to his apart ment.'
 "Clarice!"
 Now don't shout like that and stare as if l was suggesting something shocking. I am extremely interested in man of great genius, and nothing is more natural than that 1 should de sire to see him among his own familiar belongings, in his home. John would not mind a bit, feel sure, he always , gives me my own way"
 "Then he can go with you to call on Svenreski."
 Clarice assumed an expression of patient tolerance.
 "You know very well that John would kill every speck of romance ir the situation. Sentiment cannot lift it's head in Johns atmosphere"
 Tt is too bad about sentiment 1 myself, do not think much of such g delicate plant"
 But you will go with me?' coax ingly.
 "Certainly not
 Clarice pouted.
 '.And you should be very much ashamed of yourself for even thinking of such thing
 Miss Athelstane was gathering hel forces for the well-deserved lecture which circumstances seemed to de mand, but catching sight of thought ful look in the eyes of Clarice, she paused doubtfully.
 'I think it will be all right to take Amelie. Of course she will talk to the other servants, but who cares fol kitchen gossip?"
 Leah sank back vanquished.
 "You are the most impossible crea ture on earth" she scolded.
 "But why? An aching heart, like dropping flower, will yearn for it. sum
 sBosh! When do you wish to make this pious pilgrimage?"
 "To-morrow afternoon if you have nothing else to do."
 q have a thousand things more i'm portant than playing chaperon to { mad woman and fool, but I suppose it is my plain duty to save you iron yourself
 ""You darl;ng!" clarice smothered her friend with effusive caresses q, will be just too romantic for anything and perfectly proper also, with yol RIong Indiscretion could not live within a thousand miles of you, ant if there is anything l do love, it is te be thrilled and on my good behavior y all at the same time.'
 *You silly little madcap," mur mured Leah helplessly.
 "Of course I am. hut I am also very 'FSpretty and quite irresistible" Clarice 1tfded with such funny little toss oi g 1r head that Leah was forced tC
 Qgh and began to enter into the < 1rit of their adventure.