The bee., 1910-05-19
PLACING
THE BLAME

nO lOHo DAafCu anu Vi aShACA WIZ
all the luxurious disregard OF expense
which logs in the fireplace Of wealthy
country club should have. Outdoors
mist Turned the prospect gray. Be
fore the IRE Redlands sat with pile
OF new magazines. He had decided
that the links were too wet to negOtt
ate. r't
Presently in noated Mrs. Krsebls-
It was not at all the sort o. day for q
woman to be at golf club ard RED
lands frowned. He. observed 'aiso
that Mrs. Kreebls looked more ant
mated than usual This caused him
some aiAru. Rsdlsnds loves quiet ana
comfort and ne was very comfortable
jsst thea -
-OA." safd Mn. KFeebla ? a. size
charged Gown the room ct HIM. I'm
30 slaA ron are heretiri was just
hoping 10 md some onet Come ana
help me TO pick violets!"
'violetsi" echoed Redlands. In great
scorn. attempting to hide his fear that
she would indeed make him DO it. I'm
this rain! You'll catch an awful coidI"
Il have on thick Shoes" said hia
tormentor. sweetly. And. look-mF
husbands raincostl"
you know" further objected Red
lands. desperately. II am subject ia
tonsilitis. had q terrible attack Ct
1t once" vaibsTo A
You are the picture 1t health said
Mrs. Kreeble. "Of course, II you d0n't
care to-"
I'm dying to go!" said Redlands.
hastily. getting to his feet with last'
look at the cracking fire.
He got an umbrella and they started.
Half mile from the clubhouse black
cloud Of wind and rain swooped down
on them. When the darkness lifted.
Mrs. Kreeble's umbrella was wrong
side out aud her hair was coming
down.
Lets go back" she moaned. a
Redlands took mean advantage.
'Never!" he said, firmly. THE only
redeeming feature of a foolish under
taking is really accomplishing what
you have set out to do. We came to
pick violets. and violets intend to
pick!"
Then" said Mrs. Kreebles. as shs
saw a summer house looming up
through the driving rain, you go pick
them while do up my hairl Over IN
those woods the grass is so long and
wet, and l shouldn't dare go there,
anyhow"
Redlands went Being about as wet
to his knees as It was possible for hu-
man being to be. he did not muchI
care. When he got to the woods hsI
found nothing but mud. He returnc a
to Mrs. Kreeble and reported: "Therek
are no violets."
WELL" said Mr.. Kreebls, jauntIiy.
her hair now being pinned up, 1T does
not so much matter. See that per-
fectly lovely apple tree over there I'm
full bloom! I'd love to have some Of
the blossoms! Can't you manage
to-"
The upshot Of It was that Redlands
climbed the small apple tree. All that
portion of Redlands which the umbrei-
la had kept tolerably dry now re-
ceived shower bath from tue trem-
bling branches. Also Mrs. Kreebls
from below vociferously objected to
his shaking on all the blossoms. She
wondered irritably why he had neglect
ed to bring HIS knife. Finally she he
ceived with an injured air the
branches he threw down to her. THAT
1t was a thornapple tree and Red
lands had met most OF the collection
on his way up and down did not inter
est her at all.
II occurred to Mrs. KreebIe then
that marshy places were the best FOR
violets. so they hunted for marnh.
Everything in the pouring rain looked
/ like a marsh, but the coveted violefs
did not appear. Finally, on the steap.
banks Of "a little creek, some blue
blossoms showed. BY lying down en-
the green and reaching far out. Req
lands managed 70 collect quite . hama
full. 'o'aSu ae@-F
Oh thank yodi" icried Mrs. Rrssbrs
~ she took them all! s"Of course
these are not many. but they'll doE
Vow. let's 90 backl.o
Yes said the dripping, shiverinn.
aisgruntled Redlands. by all means.
let's 70 back"
As they stepped on to the clubhouas
porch. wet. bedraggled. pools u water
lowing from their garments, Kfeshla
himself appeared. He surveyed then
sternly.
Even II . woman hasn't scrap q
sense" he remarked icily. zone wouIa
naturally think man might have !
little II you beth don't have pneumo-
MIA"
\ believe l am rather damp" al
United Mrs. Krseble. Wed better 20
and have tea John, take US to tea
no. this little outing will not have II.
finishing touch II Mr.. Rediands doesn't
get stuck for the tea also! Take us t.