The Carlisle independent., 1918-01-03
Copyright, Frank A. Munsey Col

my life.
 Mrs. Green, Lucile's mother, was pa- tiently cheerful and drank three glasses of water like sponge. l didn't care much for mine had previously had no idea that water was so flat and taste less. It is also an extraordinarily elus- i've and clammy thing to put into an empty stomach which is eagerly ex- pecting bacon and eggs, mullins and coffee.
 ''I feel better already" Lucille said gayly as we left the table. My mind is clear-I have wasted none of my vital energy in merely digesting food"
 I knew that she was quoting Lipton s. Clair, whom I was beginning to re- gard with disfavor, to say the least, but refrained from voicing my opin- ion of man who will help women to get even more fool ideas than they can think up by themselves.
 1 took a cigar from my pocket, cut the tip off carefully with silver cut ter Lucille had given me the previous Christmas and was about to light it when she stopped me.
 "No, no, no; you mustn't. Did I for get to tell you that while We are fast ing we have to give up all stimulants and narcotics, such as alcohol and to- baccoW
 "What-cut out smoking for week p
 Certainly" she replied firmly. Tn the first place, if you don't you will be deathly i'll; in the second place, the whole object of the fast is to rid the body of all toxic poisons, such as nico- tine, alcohol and so forth. By the time you have done without tobacco for a week I should not be surprised if you never smoked again"
 "Nor me either" I reflected gloomly out loud. I'll be dead"
 "Of course if you don't care to make the experiment" Lucille said jelly, "I'll put off the fasting for another week until Frank Bo9p is here. I'm sure he will be willing to try it."
 This was waving a red flag at me- Frank Bopp was my rival. After her reference to him l would have gone without breathing for a week if she had suggested it. Bopp is thin, con- versational insect who can perch on the arm of a girls chair and chirp by the hour. Sometimes l regret that for architectural and educational reasons I cant do that, and then I remember what other men would think of me if I could, and I am solaced. I refrain from saying what l think of the name "Bopp."
 Thus through my love and jealousy I was led into deeper water or, shall I say, more water because somebody handed me a glass of the stuff every few minutes. I drank it in the vain hope that I could drown the inner man, who seemed to be yelling for help all the time and kicking me just below the belt buckle when he didn't t get it.
 That morning we went for walk.
 Walking is the best exercise in the world,'' Lucille stated. Tt is excellent for reducing surplus flesh around the abdominal region"
 Invariably she had little stinger for me concealed in any remark she might make. I have since learned that this is a sign that a woman takes proprie- tary interest in man.
 Before we went she fed Tootles, her long haired pup. Tootles is one of those dogs so constructed by nature that when you want to look them in the face you don't know where to look. I often wonder if Tootles herself isn't in doubt as to which end to wag.
 Isn't Tootles going to fast, too?" I protested. Cant she stand it as we'll as I can?"
 Possibly she could do it." Lucille said as she gave her a dog biscuit, but she hasn't intelligence enough to understand why she should go without food"
 I'm not far above Tootles in intelli- gence, ther," I remarked, but under my breath this time, so she could not hear.
 After watching TOotles eat we went walking. Whenever I go walking in the city I hire taxicab. If 1 want to see nature in all her grandeur do go tramping through the woods? I do not. buy a seat at a moving picture show where they are running west ern outlaw film. Mature for a nickel'' is my motto. Fatigue is eliminated, and the sum total of knowledge is ad- vanced several thousand feet.
 After we had covered several miles, as it seemed to me, l suggested that we had better not go much farther away from home.
 "Why not?" Lucille queried.
 I've might not get back i1 time for lunch"
 T brought our lunch" she said and produced a flask of water.
 CTO BE CONTINUED.)