Holbrook argus., 1910-08-09
HE WAS TOO KIND

 cry centerpiece and then inspected them carefully. By the way, Celeste" she remarked, 'I saw you at the Bee thoven club concert last night with Fred Allison!" She raised Der eye brows smilingly and her tone was full of meaning.
 You did, no doubt" affirmed the girl with the black velvet bow in her hair. What then?" Her manner was aggressively calm and unmoved.
 Why, nothing, suppose" replied the girl with the coronation braid hastily. "Of course it's none of my business, dear, but every one knows that Fred Allison is simple wild about you and I was only joking, anyway. You surely know what people have been saying"
 T do know it," broke in the igrl with the black velvet bow, her icy dis pleasure giving way to open wrath. T also know that it makes me too ut terly weary!H For of all the thick headed, blundering imbeciles on earth, that same Fred Allison is the worst!"
 Why, Celeste!" cried the girl with coral dropping her sewing in amaze ment. Tt was only few weeks ago. at the country club, that you said Fred Allison was the handsomest man there. And that night you danced with him five times and an extra or two"
 Did you count?" demanded the girl with the black velvet bow, drowning.
 Certainly did!" said the girl with the coral beads. "So did all the other girls. And Harvey Emerson"
 q had not met Mir Emerson at that time,' stiff1y remarked the girl with the black velvet bow.
 But how did you happen to go to the Beethoven club concert with Fred if you dislike him so?" demanded ev. erybody at once.
 "Happen!" said the center of inter- est, sarcastically. Happen! It was because Fred happened to have an en- gagement to call last night, that's all! Fanny Thomas called me up on the telephone in the morning to ask If I couldn't use two tickets for the con- cert, as she and her brother were sud denly compelled to go out of town. said Yes gladly, because love mu- sic anyway, and since I've known MT. Emerson, who plays the piano so beautifully, my musical taste has real ly developed.
 "It occurred to me at once that if Fred Allison hadn't been coming should have had chance to ask MT. Emerson to go with me. He could have explained all the movements and ev- erything. But Fred was coming, so, of course, had to ask him. Still, he has had the grip and the weather was fearfully cold and I thought that maybe he would excuse himself Any way, I telephoned him, because if we went to the concert he'd have to come earlier than just to make call
 'The minute he heard my voice he said, "Why, I was just going to call you up.'
 "'Yes?' said I.
 CT feel like a wreck today he croaked, and if you could let me come tomorrow night instead of tonight
 "'Certainly,' said, before he had the words out of his mouth. Then 1t occurred to me that I mustn't be im- polite, so I added sweetly, I'm so sorry, though, because Fanny has just asked me to use two tickets to the Beethoven club concert and"
 "'And you want to go?' he asked. "'Oh yes, of course I stammered; but
 "'Then I'll be there! said Fred, promptly. I'm certainly not going to disappoint you in a thing like that!' She paused. "Idiot," she concluded, shipping off a silk thread viciously.
 The girl with the coral beads gig gled. Did you enjoy the conceft" she asked.
 ''No," said the other grimly. 'T saw everybody there that I ever knew and they all smiled blandly at me and then looked knowingly at Fred. It's getting so bad that lot of my friends won't ask me to go out any more. Some men feel that way about it, you know, when they think some eth CT man is girls favorite."
 Docs MT. Emerson feel that way?" inquired the girl with the coral beads, innocently.
 "He does," responded the injured one, with gloom. And we sat direct ly in front of his sister and that NIT. Door who goes with her. I hate to have any one I know sitting behind me, anyway. Don't you? You always have a feeling that the ends of your false hair are sticking out"
 Don't you care," said the girl with the coronation braid, soothingly. Hers is all false.''
 Really" said the other, moro cheerfully. Well, it's no use crying ovep spilled milk. And Fred is rather nice. you know, if he isn't musical"