The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1923-08-03
THE STARS
Daily Short Story
THE Advantage of Making Friends"-By Mrs.
c. N. Williamson
ANOTHER COMPLETE SHORT STORY TOMORROW

She pushed towards me. on the
wicker table. box OF cigarets ia
forgotten. and was gone.
took clgarei, llt II. leaned
hack and gnzed drcamily up. w
into the transparent wells Of EN-
erhld that Hhimmered under the
trees dome Ike fairy flags from
the high roof OF "A fairy palace.
IL was delicious to me that trees
talked" TO Diana II made me
more certain than ever that she
and were really kindred souls.
Trees were among my dearest
friends. 10 far Ia my life they were
Of more importance than people,
and II tho girl hadn't felt their
mystic comrndeShip something must
always have been lacking between
her and me.
smoked on. happily. In the ex.
quiaito cnimneaa which alone puts
one In true rapport with Nature
And In that moment Nature sur
rounded me with her embrace,
shutting away the outer world,
80. you're Dinna'a own special
tree noble becehr' | introduced
myself 20 His Royal Magnineence.
In tho thought.ianguage which all
trees understand. even In daylight,
tho they are more awake to ua hu.
mans al night. do you brood
over heF with loving protection.
you who know her 70 wellT''
There was no perceptibio Wind.
filled FOR me with sudden rustiings.
II In In that why a tree talks 20 Us
human friends. n the humans aren't
near enough 10 caycHdrop with ears
against tho door. Behind that door
tho initiated can catch whisperings
OF Nature 20 her children. Tho
trees green world closed mo in.
Il know her. / know her well.
too wellr' tho rustiing answered:
rbut ! thought that I had miHunder.
stood. Too wcli- could not be the
words. repeated them with n
question.
TOO well" enmo once more.
clear this time M wireless hlgnalH
But why7 She loved your My
thoughts anSiouSly mounted the
green sleeps.
''Sho loves me because do for
her what must do. my feet be.
INK bound NO that only my head
and arms can move. give her n
background | make Of her a wood.
nymph or water.apri,e 20 charm
men. when che fears failure she
brings them here. where ] against
my VIII enhance her beauty. with
my unwilling help she IL as witch.
and no man has ever yet resisted.
! am for her tho tree OF lihatlons.
Of marriage proposals.. fnin for
her offers which Hho accepts. only
10 throw over II something better
comes. so II IN always"
Ny heart wpa heavy. for trees hre
not like us. They never lie. had
10 believe. sun. / defended Diana,
hoping against hope Maybe you
mlHjudEo her. o Beech" said.
why should she want many offers
OF marriage. since In tho end she
can accept but one7"
I'm tho end. yes" murmurod tho
answer. Meanwhile. do you no,
know that human girl with an
angel face can play with men an
cat plays with mousc7 The
mother Of this Elri you think you
love. but do not love. laughs and
calls mo tho Engagement Trcor'
The two talk together under my
shade whom they believe no ears
nave their own can hear. and 4
learn how easy II Ii TO break a
promise when a woman tires of a
man. or when sho finds out that
he has not as much money or as
high position nA sho hoped. OF.
ten ! would have warned n love.
sick ono II l could. but you arc
tho flrstcomer who knows my
language"
You wish to tell me- o Beech
Tree. that Diana Ariiss will accept
and then throw me over. ms you
say shc has thrown over dozens OF
others7''
"she will accept. but will not
throw you over. This know be.
cause my attendaH, tree.spirits are
the friends OF those who are my
friends. These tell mo you arc
rich, with that stuff OF metal and
paper worth TO tho soul no moro
than my leaves when they fan 10
earth. dead For the cake OF that
stuff she win cling TO you. and
YOU will have her for your wife.
Then. all your years on earth you
viii walk in sadness growing old
before your time. Because the one
great blessing of human life Isl
Iowa mans love for woman. a
woman's 1.-Two for n man. And only
both together make happiness. You
have still time to save yourself.
But have you tho strength"