Los Angeles herald., 1909-12-19
16

them. l suppose they VIII eat cereals.
Percy smiled. I'm afraid not" he
said. II am sorry to say they are
rather carniverous; but couple of
steaks and chop or two will do them.
You needn't worry about that, dear.
I'll look after their dinners" Against
such self-sacrifice Constance had no
argument Are they worth much,
Percy?" she asked. You bet your life,
he replied. Worth their weight In
gold But what does Miss Clara smith
say?" Constance laughingly corrected
him. "Clara Smith! Clara Jones; your
old sweetheart! Fancy your not re-
membering her name! Would you like
to hear it?" She spread the letter
omen. and Percy assured her that he
would. my dear Constance" she read.
Have not heard of or from you for
ages; am sure you will be surprised TO
hear from me. We have taken fiat
in Park street, where we shall be so
glad to see you whenever you are up
in town. You must be perfectly happy
in the country. 1 often envy your
ideal life." Constance paused. You
see, Percy, she envies me. l always
knew that girl was crazy about you.
"Nonsensei" muttered Percy. "Oh, l
know" asserted his wife. I've
watched her often enough" Percy
suggested that she was a nice SEN
sible girl Sensible fiddlesticks!" she
II do not see many of the girls from
our old class except Connie Graham,
who is married to doctor and lives
not far from u.s."
She read a little further to herself
much to his chagrin, and gave sud
den exclamation.
whats the matter?" he asked.
"Oh, Percy!" she cried. Just listen
to this. Isn't it dreadful?"
He interrupted her by innocently IN
ouirinp If SOmebOdV was dead
Don't be silly" she retorted. tits
worse! Just listen"
She returned to the letter. "And So
phie Clarke-you remember Sophie, that
colossal crank we all used to laugh at?
Well she is living a few doors from us,
and she is worse than ever. Her latest
fad is the breakfast food craze" She
paused and gaZed at Percy, whose IN
scrutable look of assumed innocence
was worthy of the footlights. She re-
sumed. "She is actually one of those
vegetarian fiends, and lives on chopped
hay and those nutty stuffs for the nut
ty,' and is getting that awful queer sort
OF look that those cranks all get. am
really sorry for Sophie, as she wasn't
bad sort of a girl.
Constance gasped.
Good heavens, Percyl What does
she mean? That awful queer sort of a
look They all get! Good gracious
Percy; tell me, tell me at once, have
YOU noticed anything queer about me?"
Her distress was so evident that he
felt touch of remorse, but 1t was only
momentary.
"Well, dear" he replied, II have told G
YOU lately that didn't think you were /
looking very WELL" "
On Mary entering at this moment to
clear the table, Constance accosted her.
MARY, answer me truthfully, now; "
have you noticed any change In me fl
lately? My personal appearance n
mean?" b
Perplexed as to what reply to make. I,
Mary shifted from one foot to the is
other and glanced at Percy for guild r
ance. The extraordinary expression or il
his countenance there was no mistak- N
ing, and she readily OWNED the cause. s.
"Wen, ma'am," she replied, since
you ask me, suppose I must say do,
and cook says [
She paused, searching her brain for
an assertion that might safely be fos-
tered on her innocent coworker.
Go on" said Constance fiercely
What does cook say?"
"Well ma am, er-er-cook says the II
same" This ambiguous and alarming p
statement had it's effect. She looked at r.
Percy. "You don't look any different 81
Percy" He admitted that of course s.
his constitution was pretty tough, and Il
that he took a lot of exercise, and sort Il
of walked it Off walk what OFF," she C
asked. "Oh, the queer feeling or look r.
or whatever II is. You know was al
ways a beggar for exercise, Constance k