The herald., 1913-03-13

I- said at last.
carrie ASKeo' What was it?'
asked the young man.
The young woman in the new gown
did not answer. She tipped her head
sidewalks and cast down her eyes and
appeared confused. Why, nothing on
earth could make me tell you!" she
said at last. 1T was ridiculous!"
Go ahead" insisted the young
man, interestedly. If it was so
funny"
You mightn't think it funny" OBJ
jected the young woman. Il don't
know just how you would take ii.
OF course, it was just a joke, and as
soon as ! caught my breath | nearly
died laughing"
Well said the young man, you
might tell me. Who said it?"
Carrie James," admitted the young
woman. Il hadn't seen her for the
longest time, and she came at me so
suddenly that I-of course l knew she
didn't mean it, though she insisted
that she was serious. But it was
simply too silly"
Now, see here" said the young
man, you've simply got to tell mel"
Il suppose | might as well, seeing
it is so ridiculous" said the young
woman. Il know you'll laugh just the
way | did. Carrie said-that is, Car
rie asked-how long you and had
er-had been engaged! Wasn't that
funny?"
HIM" said the young man. "Ha!
ha! Well, | should say that was
funny! How'd she ever get that
| idea?"
Il knew you'd simply die over it,"
said the young woman. Isn't it
killing?'
It's huge joke" said the young
man.
| The young woman in the new gown
bit her lip and then recovered herself.
81 might have known you wouldn't be
mad about it," she said. You have
such fine disposition"
why on earth should 1 get mad?''
asked the young man.
Il was afraid you'd be mad at me- y
explained the young woman. Lots OF
fectly innocent l was. They-they
might think, you know, had spread
the report or something. oh, lots Of
them would. And they'd be mad tC
have their names used that way"
Great SCOTT" said the young man
"Why, I'm complimented!"
Are you, really, Harold?" asked the
yonung woman, anxiously. Why,
wouldn't for the world lose your-youl
friendship, you know"
81 feel just that way, too," said tn,
young man, heartily. Knowing eacl
other so long as we have!"
Yes, We have known each other
good while" agreed the young woman
why, it seems as il you had Away
been coming here to call, doesn't it.?
1T seems perfectly natural to b.
here" said the young man. Il dom
know any place that l have bette
time"
I'm so glad" said the young won
an. why, every time think of wha
Carrie said l have to laugh!
was $3.50 silly! You can't imagin
how l felt!"
Yes, can," said the young mar
cheerfully. ''It would have knocke
me sideways, myself Other peopl
have such a way of butting in!"
Haven't they!" said the youn
woman in the new gown. "Carri
| wouldn't believe me at first when
, told her what nonsense she was tall
ing. She said everybody thought
oh, dear me, didn't intend telling yo
all the foolish gossip she repeated
Just went in at one ear and out &
the other, so far as l was concerned.
That's right" said the young mai
at never pays to listen to what pc
a pie say"
ID TITS just terrible that a man and
IS girl can't be friends" pursued tt
st young woman. without people thin
is ing they are sentimental. Why, it's
n ridiculous! I'm sorry for anybody wi
N can't understand just friendship!
ID though we-the very ideal"
D. IT'S too funny for anything" sa
to the young man. Il can imagine no
!" amused you were! Well, if 1 cate
n that car must be going,"
to The young woman waved him goo
ID by from the window and then turnt
ce away with a rather grim expressiC
m on her face.
OF Now, l wonder" she said, "whet
es er Harold is abnormally stupid, or he
ribly smart. I'd like TO know!"-Cl
cago Daily News.