The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1908-06-06
Such Foolish
People
Josephine Discusses the Pres.
snts They Give

Augustus
To which we male respone as ever
MY love?"
Whereupon Josephine clasped her
knee sighed, shook her head, looked
at the fire again and murmured:
Augustus! What f-o-o-o-ooolish
! thiuss some persons buy for Christ
mas presents,'
She turned and lifted her wistful
! little mouth tremulous for my judg-
! ment upon this the fruits OF her phil
/ osophy and | kissed her then and
/ there right tenderly, knowing that II
| seemed TO soon or scorn the erudi-
ton OF her saying or the depth of
the view with which she regarded
Lite 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 conjugal sniff of utter
contempt and derision at the folks
next door.
These folks next door" repeated
Josephine. What do you suppose
he bought herr
"A new bonnet. hope!" ! cried
with sudden energy.
mo. net bonnet" exclaimed JOS
epLine.
Augustus"
To which we lovingly replied:
MY love?"
Augustus! You are smoking"
l looked at her In sudden guilt
with 4 premonition OF what was now
10 come.
Augustus" she breathed.
My love?"
Augustus! Your smoking capt"
With feeling of despair and sor-
row | arose to ny feet, but Jose
phine's eye was on me and Jose
phine's mouth was dropping and
knew II l were to refuse her imme-
dat request she would wither and
droop like a gathered flower and
her dream Of love would end In dark
est night
Wherefore I went TO the hall rack.
placed my smoking cap upon my
head and returned 10 Josephine. 1t
was a round smoking cap of light
blue velvet, such, believe as the
gentry OF Turkey wear and f., call
fezes) and 1t was trimmed with
beads. On one side was a dragon.
rampant with his tongue stuck out
this detail being ingeniously 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 |
a flower and looking peaceful and |
pastoral beyond words--so that, be-
ing regarded from that side, | mute |
ly bore reference to a tocund life |
reiolent with the scent of new mown |
hay and musical with the lowing OF /
the kline. The inspiring cap was
crowned with golden tassel which |
tickled my nose and my ears with a
impartiality that I could
only escape by coiling the tassel upon
the top of the cap AMI balancing II
there.
And thus equipped l sat me down
TO smoke.
II never"-cried Josephine, clasp
Ing her knee again in transport II
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 the
back OF my head so that Josephine
could feast her eyes upon the But
terfiy, and then | smoked as though
my tobacco was never SO sweet as
when l smoked II in my smoking
zap.
THE moment | saw 1t knew II
was for you!" cried Josephine, land
was so afraid that 1t would be sold
before could find a saiesgirl to wait
IN me-"
But 1t wasn't"
moi And Augustus, She was the
licest salesglrli l told her, love. ,
hat your eyes were blue and she said
t was jast the thing for you. oh, !
vas trembling with excitement Che ,
aid you would look so distinguished /
n IT." s
The tassel slipped down and tickled +
ny ear. l coiled it back and smok-
d on.
And what do you suppose she |
fought him next door," laughed
osephine, and breathlessiy answer s
d, "A walking stick" 1
The clock interrupted her by be-
inning to strike nine. 1t was the I
our! Josephine gave me solemn
ook and nod and Immediately
etched her jewel case.
With another solemn look Jose 7
hine unscrewed her earrings and .
laced them in the jewel case. Her
Ing followed. Dutifully then I gave
er my scarf pin and sleeve links. q
osephine solemnly locked the box
nd looked at me at last with beam 1
lg eye. [
'There!" said Josephine.
'There!" said |. :
Now We can sleep In peace" said :,
~ beloved. "and having nothing to :
sproach ourselves with either. like .