The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-06-03
The Advantages Of Making Friends|
By Mrs. c.. N. Williamson

My heart was heavy. for trees are
hoping against hope. Maybe you
misjudg~ her, o Beech" said
"Why should she want many offers
of marriage, since in the end she can
accept but one?"
I'm the end, yes" murmered the
answer. Meanwhile, do you not
know that human girl with an an
gel face can play with men as cat
plays with a mouse? The mother of
this girl you think you love. but
you do not love, laughs and calls me
1.-The engagement tree!' The two
talk together under my shade when
they believe no ears save their own
can hear, and I learn how easy it is
to break a promise when a woman
tires of man, CT when she finds out
that he has not as much money or
as high position as she hoped.
Often l would have warned a love-
sick one if l could. but you are the
first conner who knows my Ian
guage."
you wish to tell me. o Beech tree,
that Diana Arliss will accept and
then throw me over, as you say she
has thrown over dozens of others?"
She will accept, but not throw
you over. This 1 know because my
attendant tree-spirits are the very
friends of those who are my friends
These tell me you are rich, with that
stuff of metal and paper worth to
the soul no more than my leaves
when they fall to the earth. dead.
For the sake of that stuff she will
cling to you, and you will have her
for your wife. Then, all your years
on earth you will walk in sadness.
growing old before your time. Be-
cause the one great blessing Of hui
man life is loye-a mans love fer a
woman, a woman's love for a man.
And only together make happiness.
You have still time to save yourself.
But have you the strength"
IF | will It, / have the strength"
boosted to the tree or to myself
THE next few moments will
prove" the warning whisper
breathed in my ear.
My eyes were shut for ctncentra-
ton, but I opened them quickly The
tree world let me out into what we
snapped uner a light foot. I turned
Diana was close to me. and more
beautiful than ever, for her eyes
we're very bright. as If with excite
ment and the red of her cheeks was
like rose on mother o. pearl.
you've been asleep. lazy man.
she laughed. II hope you dreamed of
me?'
Il hardly think I slept. yet 1
did dream of you" l confessed, falter-
ing.
WAS it good dream?" she ques-
toned me softly.
Il dreamed that all the men in the
world were in love with you" I said,
looking at her straight in the eyes
as that a good or bad dream?"
Her dimples fla shed. why, a very
good dream" she smiled mo woman
can have too much love, can she?"
Can she not?" I echoed. well
then, my dream was good. At least
it was-useful."
And you're glad to have me
back?"
"of course. Though this beech is
fine company"
aren't you curious to know what
took me away?"
I've no right to be curious"
Il give You the right That tele-
gram was frt IN man who wanted
to come down and-and ask me some
thing. l told mother to wire for me
in reply that-that Tm-engaged"
"Oh, but you mustn't let me in
terfere. Don't count me as an en-
gagement." I said II have to catch
an early train back to town."
Diana's face paled slightly In the
green light. But the beech leaves
clapped together in the breeze
(there must have been breeze) like
fairy hands in elfin applause