Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1913-01-25

an hour earlier than usual. for l
wished to get the Introduction over as
soon as possible-she came rushing
out to greet me. opened my arms.
Then--then abe stopped. A look Of
fear came into her eyes. and throw
ing up her hands defensively. she
screamed. actually screamed into my
face.
MY dear Florilia," l said with all
the tender reproach could command
In my humiliation. do ! look so ter
rible as that2"
She sank to chair, her face hid In
her arms stood awkwardly staring
down at her felt very miserable.
also indignant.
Very well, Florilla." / said after a
little; Il will CO."
"oh. Harold" she walled dismRlly.
"is II really your"
1T is--or was" I said hopelessly.
81 never dreamed It would--would--
you look so---only---"
And you are not going to kiss me.
Florilla. after all--all the sacrifice
Of"
She peeped out Then quickly hid
her face again.
"oh. Harold. really, can't. II
would be Just like kissing stranger"
''But you might close your eyes,"
Harold please don't be funny. It's
Its no time to joke"
Dear F'lorilla." insisted, 81 am not
trying to be funny. but do feel like a.
1oke-a horrible joke. think / had
better CO."
! stepped toward the door
Don't Harold" she cried. not look
ing up. Don't go till we've settled on
something"
II thought had settled on some
thing. was TO shave my mustache.
have. I've fulfilled to the letter my
part of the compact You we're to
kiss me, just as of old-before-be-
fore Baldoni and his germs came into
our lives"
Florilla was silent for a space.
81 think. Harold" she said soberly,
presently. I'VE have made a mistake"
| / did not reply.
II could never love you without the
mustache." she went on earnestly. 1T
really makes you quite different per-
SON."
"Florilla." said accusingly. do you
know 1t takes several months to grow
a mustache? What Is to become of
us in the meantime-and you won't
even look at me?"
TITS horrid OF NEIL Just hate
myself"
Nov. please, Florilla," I said sym
pathetically, don't incriminate your
self in that way. ! love you just the
same. Cutting off my mustache hasn't
changed you in the least--if-you
only wouldn't hide your face. 1t isn't
pleasant, must confess. talking to
the top of your head. but. neverthe.
less"
Harold. do be serious-what--wha
do you think we had better do?" she
said In distress.
We'll. you might get up little cour-
age and face the music-I mean face
your lover. i might improve on ac-
quaintance--"
mo. Harold. don't want TOTO get
acquainted and--you like that"
Thank you. Florilla."
"But--but I'm not blaming you"
How kind OF you. Florilla-and gen.
erous"
"Tf you only wouldn't be $3.50 sar-
castle"
81 tell you, Florilla, a way out of the
difficulty" said. a bright idea fash
ing upon me; 81 could get detach-
able mustache ! could have It made
at the hair store where you purchase
your marcels. could wear II while
we conversed. Then when you kind
ly condescended to favor me with a
kiss ! could deftly remove 1t. In the
meantime you could close your eyes"
Harold. please don't be silly"
VERY well, then. shall have to
Danish myself until nature again per.
forms a miracle upon my lip. seeing
that II Is mustache you have fallen
in love with. assure you am hui
inflated into the dust. Notwithstand-
ing the many virtues you have been
kind enough to attribute to me-all OF
them pale into nothingness when
weighed In the balance with one poor,
delicate. little"
"Oh. please don't, Harold. Can't
you see how miserable ann"
Then will go-go desolate and
alone"
"How long did you say it would
take. Harold?"
THAT depends I assure you will
do all in my power toto. well. any
| way. 1t is one of those things over
which we have no control. It took the
| last about twenty years-but--consid
| ering the dire necessity of the case.
nature may be more kindly. Let us
!, hope that you may look upon my-my
| mustache in three months"
i.But youll write and telephone me
often, Harold?"
/ at will give me great pleasure to re.
port from time to time the progress OF
| THAT is being made toward new re-
Mobilization. Until then. will say
| good-by."
| bent and kissed her hair.
Harold, ! feel awfully-"
Dear F1orilla," said soberly, stop
ping in the doorway. I'VE are not solv.
! ing the problem after all. With the re-
/ turn Of the mustache there will return
| Professor Baldoni and his germs.
| Have you thought of that7"
| ..xr-t.1 40 .,1,, l1ya 80 ,>I~c.~