The Lakeland evening telegram., 1914-01-29
FRUITS OF MAKE.BELIEVE
BY o. L. CARSON.


Little Mrs. Gray fluttered into her
guests room with a pasteboard box in
her hand.
Helen" she said, 81 want you to do
something for me. See this perfectly
beautiful silk muffler 1 have bought
for Allan's birthday present? Well, his
birthday is three weeks off, but | want
him to wear the muffler tonight. Please
| pretend that you have bought it for
one of your friends and offer it to
Allan to wear. His old muffler is quite
shabby and he's going to an important
business mems dinner. It's necessary,
/ think, that he should look prosper
Gus, and he can't look prosperous while
wearing worn-out old muffler, can
he?"
mo, Laura, | suppose not" agreed
Helen. But, really, wouldn't I be
sailing under false colors if L"
"Never mind that dear. It's only a
joke, you know l do want Allan to
have the use of the muffler and l don t
wish to spoil the birthday surprise by
| giving it to him now He's out in the
hall this minute getting ready to start
out. Let's go and insist upon his wear
ing it."
In moment Helen found herself Of
fering the muffler to her host with a
| careless generosity that quite sur
| prised herself.
"But | hate to take the new off a
present you have bought for some
| friend, Helen" protested Allan, who
would really have preferred his old
silk scarf.
I'm very glad to have you try it out
for me-" laughed Helen.
ooh, Allan, it's so becoming to you,"
said his wife. THAT soft gray just
suits your complexion Don't you
think he looks nice in it, Helen?"
eyes, indeed, Laura" agreed Helen,
smilingly.
"Allan, do be careful not to lose it.
Helen, you have no idea how perfectly
reckless Allan is with his belongings
When you have husband you'll see
how much care man is. Now, Allan,
perhaps I'd better fasten this muffler
to your overcoat collar with a little
safety pin. I'm sure don't want Helen
to be worried about it."
Il shan't have the least anxiety"
declared Helen, who marveled at her
friends gratuitous play acting.
well, do be careful, anyway. |
should so hate to have you lose it, AL
Ian, the way you lose umbrellas"
Perhaps had better not borrow it.
I can usually be trusted, Laura, not to
scatter my wearing apparel about the
city, but if you-'
Nonsense. 1t is great deal better
looking than your old one. Please keep
it on. Helen will be hurt now If you
don't wear it. Won't you, Helen?"
Eyes, indeed, | shall" asserted Hell
en-, dutifully.
SO Allan, trying to look pleased and
gracious. thanked her again and went
to the dinner, wishing with secret irri-
tation that his wife would not be quite
so anxious about his appearance.
The next morning while Helen was
packing her trunk to leave Laura
came into the room with the muller.
Nov, wasn't it just like Allan to 60
to business without even thinking of
returning this to you?" she asked. 81
took it out of his overcoat pocket be-
fore he was up, and he never missed
it. You see, men are really awfully
careless. Do you wonder that | eau
toned him not to lose it?"
NO" murmured Helen, absently.
She was a little tired OF the muffler.
"And wasn't it just splendid that he
never suspected it was really his own
mufiler that he was wearing? You
know, when he was thanking you so
effusively last night l could hardly
keep my face straight
Nor | mine," sighed Helen.
Two days after Helen reached her
own home she received gray silk
muffler from Allan. 1t was much
handsomer and more expensive one
than that which he had supposedly
borrowed from her.
My dear Helen said the note
which accompanied it, Laura was
right, after ALL I should have cast
away my pride and allowed her to pin
that muller of yours, to my overcoat.
have to confess that her anxiety was
not unfounded. must, indeed, be the
careless creature she thinks me, for I
did lose your muffler. When l went to
take it out of my overcoat pocket to
return it to you l was astonished to
find it gone. hope that the one am
sending will be a satisfactory substi-
tute for the beautiful muller you so
kindly trusted me with, and that, re-
membering am a mere man, you will
find it in, your heart to forgive me.
"By the way, I shall be eternally
grateful if you won't say anything to
Laura about my losing your muffler.
She is such a punctilious little woman
that she would be quite upset over my
fault, especially after all her warn
ings. So, with more apologies, I throw
myself upon your mercy"
"Good gracious! What shall dc
| x,,;tb tho tbipv9" proanad Holan as