Omaha daily bee., 1921-08-14

tual appreciation. always thank
Providence that, among my friends,
! l reckon some with gift OF humor.
What are you laughing at,
auntie" Amanda wanted to know.
"He thinks you can't get the ank-
let en-" l stated promptly.
"Oh!" She perked herself and
stuck out a foot for inspection.
Cant l, indeed! Look at that!
Three and half, and small ankles !!
But l shan't try. Which does it
charm on? III try the other"
Either" he said. ~
"Oh, we'll! You needn't be afraid!'
She resumed her conversation, and
| shock my head at him. y
"What horrible, deceitful creatures
men are" | rproached him. How
ever, l was going to suggest it to
you! In Amanda's interest, OF
course"
"She says she isn't going to try it
on" he observed. .
"And she'll do it before she's had
it half an hour" assured him,
'just to see if it has any effect! OF
course it hasn't-the real one,
mean. You don't believe that?"
Depends on the person it's used
on" he thought. Il imagine the
Egyptians tried it on. ladies who
were predisposed to be affected by
it! You see, anything which kept
them thinking about the, sultor
would be a sort OF charm. For ex-
ample, if Captain Richards gave it
to her? Eh?"
"Umph!" I said. "I'm not sure
whether it's Richards. Amanda
doesn't seem to settle upon her
flower! The naughty little bee. She's
a singularly attractive girl, don't
you think, Fred? Even confirmed
old bachelor like you must own that.
Come, don't be mean. Own it just
to please me-"
"Most attractive" he agreed"
"most attractive! If l had met any
one like her IS years ago-when l
was S and 20 we'll, l don't sup
pose I'd have had my present pro-
fessorship, or the same reputation
as a scholar. I have often thought
that a man would be wise to marry
plain woman; less distraction
from the serious business of life"
you've known several plain
women" / reminded him.
"Ah! Yes! I didn't want to marry
them, you see! That's the drawback
TO plain women. You don't. Well,
I'm pleased to give the child the
anklet. She should have the original
| if it were any better to her; but it
isn't. She doesn't need any charm.
She has her 392-"
"You said 391."
IT left out her aunt" he grinned.
"The relationship alone is almost
sufficient to me-to do me in as
they say. Now. if you weren't mar
ried-!
II don't think I'm plain enough"
I protested.
THAT" he stated, "is the second
insuperable difficultyp
Il have boxed your ears several
times" l reminded him.
after / have taken advantage of
the mistletoe," he reflected. He em-
phasized the after
I must say | like Professor Fred.
You see, he was in love with me
when he was II and was l and
20. Ny husband says was rather
like Amanda then.
1t was nearly fortnight later be-
fore the anklet came. Amanda
shrieked with delight when she took
it out of the box.
1T looks newer" she observed.
"He's had it polished up a bit for
me. That was thoughtful. You
know, he is kind. The little Cupid
thing is quite plain o, you dear,
naughty, wicked little charm" She
stroked it. "It's ever SO solid and
heavy. You feel!"
took the anklet and inspected it.
No doubt he had had it dulled down
as much as he could; but to me it
looked suspiciously new and bright.
Amanda kicked off her shoes.
(Which leg had I better try it on
frst?" She puzzled.
"Umphp I said. "The right gen.
orally has first choice"
"Ye-es," she agreed doubtfully;
"but in some things the left is the
right. Your hearts on the LETT, isn't
it?" She felt herself carefully. Il
should think it would work best on
that side. Wouldn't you"
Good gracious, childp cried:
"Any one would think you wanted
it to work"
81 want to know if it does" she
explained. Like you taste uncle's
medicine, you know! 1t isn't that
you want to, only you're inqulsitive
about things" ,
"I am not -inquisitive. Amanda"
I denied, "but l always like to ascer-
tain the exact facts about every
thing"
That's what I mean she stated.
81 think the left leg is the right one.
Help me push it on. O-o-h-h! Don't
be rough, auntie! Don't be rough!
They must have had little feet in
those days! If any one wanted to
charm big woman I wonder what
they did. Push hard. Not too hard!
Ugh-h! Ah-h-h! That's it"
She rose and pranced about the
room in her stockings, holding up
her skirts to display the anklet.
II don't seem to feel anything"
she complained. 81 thought l did
Just at first; but it was only the
cold creeping up me; and now it's
warmed. What an old darling the
professor is! But, of course, he
isn't old really. l call him awfully
nice looking. Don't you?"
II haven't the anklet on l men,
toned.
"Now, don't start being silly! 1t
isn't that. I don't feel anything,
I-whoow
She cut a caner and stood on one