FOOD DIRECTOR HEINZ CALLS FOR
SEVEN WHbATLESS MEALS A WEEK
America Must Reduce Daily Wheat Ration One-Third to
Provide Food to Keep Allied Armies on
the Firing Line Over Winter.
A stirring appeal to every citizen In
the State of Pennsylvania to observe
seven wheatless meals each week has
been issued by Howard Heinz, Direc
tor of the Food Supply Department of
the Pennsylvania Committee of Public
Safety. It follows:
"The appeals of recent months to
the American people for such a con
servation of food as would enable us
to fulfill our obligations to our own
soldiers and our allies abroad have
faillen upon willing ears and the re
sponse ia patriotism and self-denial
has been worthy of the best traditions
of this great free nation.
"Notwithstanding, howerer, our un
doubtedly great saving of important
food staples, and particularly of wheat,
the disappointing crops of the 1917
season ana an over-seas demand great
er, through the exigencies of war, than
we had expected, has brought us to
the verge of a grave crisis in the
wheat situation that can be overcome
by a more vigorous self-denial, a lar
greater degree of saving by the sub
stitution of other foods in place of
wheat than anything we have before
undertaken.
Save Wheat For Fighters.
"The demands of those who are help
ing to fight our battles for the cause
of democracy and of their supporters
behind the lines are urgent, insistent
and compelling. They must be met.
Any break in the regular movement of
supplies from America at this time
would mean inevitable disaster and it
is a fact which all should understand
that our wheat supply is now known
to be inadequate to permit a continu
ance of our present rate of home con
sumption and keep our own men and
our allies on the firing line through
the winter.
"The greater wheat saving at home
need not be a hardship. Americans
like and know how to prepare appe
tizing breads of corn jjieal, rye and
other cereals in substitution for
wheat. Buckwheat and corn cakes,
oats and oat products for breakfast
are an American institution and we
can increase our consumption of all
these plentiful commodities with no
injury to our health.
"Mr. Hoover has asked that the re
sponse to the request for cutting down
tne consumption of wheat flour be
made at once, before it is too late.
The needs of France, Italy and Eng
land, not to mention our own boys at
the front, require us to curtail our
consumption of wheat by one-third.
The time to begin is today. It Is
BOW necessary to become more drastic
In our saving. Mr. Hoover has asked
the peopfle of Pennsylvania to have
seven wheatless meals eaoh week,
meails In which there will be absolute
ly no wheat flour used, either for
A deep blue color of the sky, even
when seen through clouds, indicates
fair weather; a growing whiteness, an
approaching storm.
Apples that are to be baked should
be pricked with a fork before being
placed in the oven and they will not
break while cooking.
There are in the city of Buenos Aires,
Argentina, ninety-seven parks, prome
nades and plazas, with a total area of
about 10,727.000 square meters (about
2,G00 acres).
Anything that brings trees more
closely to our attention and that makes
us realize their very great importance
is of distinct value as an educational
agent.—N. L. Britton.
Because a man is permitted by his
wife to sit out 011 the front poreli and
smoke his pipe lie tries to give the im
pression that be is boss of the ranch.
Florida Times-Union.
Give children fruit to eat between
meals instead of crackers (which are
hard to digest) and sweet cakes. Fruits
supply the needed mineral element for
the health of the body.
Cold boiled rice and cornmeal can be
made into eatable cakes by adding
salt, a little flour, two eggs, some
sweet milk and baking powder. Fry
on a hot. greasy griddle.
The pomegranate was early cultivat
ed in Egypt: hence the complaint of
the Israelites in the wilderness of Zin
that this "is no place of tigs, or of
vines, or of pomegranates."
"She seems to be a natural flirt." he
said.
"Natural?" the woman impatiently re
plied. "There's nothing natural about
her but the framework."—Chicago Her
ald.
"Now, Robert,'' said the teacher,
"can you tell me what human na
ture is?"
"Yes. ma'am." replied Robert. "It's
J eople 'fore they get into society."—
Chicago News.
"To sell a coat to a man that wants
a coat is nothing." said a successful
tailor when instructing his son in the
rudiments of his business, "but to sell
a coat to a man that doesn't want a
coat—that's business."
He (a former suitor)—So you are mar
ried after all. You told me once that
you never intended to belong to any
man. She—Well, that remark still holds
good. He—But your husband? She-
Ob. he belongs to me.
"What do you mean by trying to or
«!er uift urovad?" asked small Johnny's
mother.
"I'm just, practicing, mamma," re
plied Johncr, "so I'll know how when
1 get married."—Exchange.
spaghetti, macaroni, noodles, pastry,
cake or bread.
"These meals should be preferably
the evening meals, but that is left en
tirely to the judgment of each indi
vidual family. The only exception
that should be recognized is the case
of Invalids or small children. At meals,
we can substitute bread made wholly
from corn meal, rye, buckwheat or
some other cereal or we can use oat
meal, rice or vegetables in place of
bread.
Substitutes Will Help.
"Mr. Hoover also asks that in ad
dition to the saving by adoption of
seven wheatless meals, we make a
further saving in wheat by using as
much as possible bread made from- a
mixture of wheat and other cereals.
An appeal, therefore, is made in the
name of President Wilson and Mr.
Hoover to every man, woman and
child and to every Pennsylvania home
in which the spirit of patriotism lives
to adopt these rules in their daily
home life and to fulfill them faith
fully and thus discharge the present
sacred obligation."
ALL BIG FOOD DEALERS
MUST TAKE OUT LICENSES
Acting upon instruction from Wash
ington, L). C., Howard Heinz, Federal
Food Administrator for Pennsylvania,
has made this announcement to al'l
dealers in foodstuffs:
"The trades covered in the presi
dent's proclamation of October 8
should have applied for licenses to
the license division of the United
States Food Administration, Washing
ton, before November 1. Some firms
fcttve not applied, and proceedings will
be immediately initiated to suspend
trading operations of such firms, un
less applications are received at once."
The following trades are included
in the above notice: Those engaged
in business as cold storage ware
house men, commission merchants,
brokers, auctioneers, manufacturers,
wholesalers, retailers and all other
dealers in grains and their by-prod
ucts, rice, dried beans, pea seed and
dried peas, cottonseed and its by-prod
ucts, vegetable oils, cooking fats, milk,
butter, cheese, canned meats, poultry,
eggs, flsh, fruits, vegetables, canned
and dried fruits, sugar syrups and mo
lasses.
Under the act of congress any per
son who fails to take out a license or
who continues to do business trfter
his license has been revoked is sub
ject to a fine not exceeding $5OOO, or
imprisonment not exceeding two
years, or both.
Retailers in food doing a business
over $lOO,OOO a year are subject to
license.
African Moslems.
Today African Moslems number llt
! tie less than 60,000,000, about one-third
1 of the total population.
Even che smallest pieces of finely
broken glass can be easily picked up
with a little wad of wet absorbent
cotton, which can then be destroyed
by burning.
The lord chief justice of Knglauo
receives £8.<)00 ($40,000) a year.
Trouble is the most thorough teach
er in the school of experience.
Even if some things refuse to go
your way there are other things.
It takes two to tell the truth—one tc
tell it and one to hear it.—Thoreau.
One hour of the present is worth two
in the future and a hundred in the
past.
He —I>et s play some kissing game.
' She —hy bother with the game?--
Puck.
The Siberian railway is the longest
in the world. Its tula! length is 4.78.'
miles.
Pascal has a beautiful definition of
rivers. He says they are roads that
march.
Self made men, the genuine kind
never consider themselves finished.—
Toledo Blade.
Flag day was founded by the Sons
of the Revolution at a meeting held at
Denver in 1804.
It is essential for the welfare of man
kind that the welfare of trees be main
tained.—Tree Talk.
Fruit jars can be easily opened if
you will take hold of the top with a
piece of sandpaper.
Gold lace was the earliest form of
lace and is said to have been the fore
runner of the thread lace of later
days.
If men could put chains on the wheels
in their heads as they do on their auto
mobiles it might save them a lot of
skidding.
More than 90 per cent of the alcohol
and alcoholic drinks that are made in
the Philippines are derived from the
sap of palm trees.
To make mutton Juicy aad tender
spread a little fat over it and dredge
it with flour ten minutes before put
ting it in the oven.
M-vy!::nd sent tobacco to France and
Holland three centuries ago. It sent
the identical variety of tobacco to those
. uuntries last year.
PHILLIPPA SANDS
By SUSAN SANFORD.
"If you don't like the company I
keep—the door is not locked," Anne
said defiantly.
"It will not need to be locked —
against me, Miss Burton, I bid you
good evening," he said, rising, hands
stiffly at his sides. With a ceremoni
ous bow he walked steadily toward
the door. It burst open when he was
two feet from it, thrusting him back
into the room. As he straightened he
saw fronting him a wild-rose face, with
star-eyes, blue as the sky, now full
of Innocent concern, with red lips that
cried, "Oh, have I hurt you? I am
so sorry—it was very heedless of me I"
"Don't cry, Phil—Mr. Hayden was
Just leaving—else I should present
him," Anne said with a smile of soft
malice. Hayden stared. So this was
Phillippa Sands, of whom he had heard
such tales. An audacious flirt, even
hinted at as co-respondent In a pend
ing divorce, he had felt more than jus
tified in begging Anne to have done
with her—Anne, who was like a sister
to him, only dearer.
"I believe in omens," he said, "fac
ing about. "Therefore —I shall not go
—unless you Insist on it." His eyes
asked for mercy.
"Stay—if your 'pressing business 1
can wait," Anne said, as ungraciously
as hospitality permitted. Phil opened
her blue eyes wider than ever. She
caught up a book and ran away, say
ing over her shoulder: "I came to
get it —wouldn't sleep a wink tonight
if I did not find out just how the end
came. I know, of course, she is going
to get him —after hating him half way
through—but I don't know how."
"May I apologize?" Hayden asked
as her footsteps grew faint outside.
Anne looked at him steadily.
"Why?" she asked. "Phil is—just
the same. I told you she had been
shamefully led about. You stood in
awe of Mrs. Grundy until you saw
her."
"Are you jealous like those others?"
Hayden hazarded. Anne laughed
scornfully.
"1 don't know how to be," she said.
"Not of anybody. Least of all Phil
lippa. You saw how I resented your
slurs. Still, I am a little curious."
"As to what?" said Hayden.
"Why beauty excuses," said Anne
with a dry chuckle. Hayden flushed.
"It may reasonably excuse," he said.
"And that with nothing ulterior. The
sight of anything so charming makes
one who knows life understand the In
stinctive Jealousy It wakes in the un
dowered."
It was handsomely said. Coming
from Hayden it meant everything.
Anne smiled at him, but could not
help saying, "Yon wouldn't trust me
to Judge for myself."
Hayden reached for her hand,
pressed It between both his own and
answered, "I think it was because I
don't care to have you do anything for
yourself. I'm so much bigger and
uglier and rougher. I like to find
for us both. What do you say?"
"Nothing—until you've had a fort
night of Phillippa," Anne bubbled, her
eyes dancing. "If it leaves you con
stant, then I shall never have misgiv
ings. That is, of course, supposing I
make up my mind to say 'Yes.'"
"We will tell her, of course," Hayden
said with decision.
Anne shook her head. "Nothing to
tell—yet," she said. "Besides, that
wouldn't be fair. You both are so
human you could hardly resist forbid
den fruit."
In the last day of the fortnight Hay
den walked with Phillippa through an
enchanted October world.
"I am so glad it is like this—our last
day!" breathed Phillippa, standing
bare-headed beneath a golden maple.
She faced him, looking him full in the
eyes. "Forgive yourself for loving
me," she said clearly. "You never
meant to do it —no more than I did —
it came—all in a flash—"
"Yes!" Hayden assented bowing his
head. "But why talk of forgiving my
self? If you love me—we can defy
the whole world."
"Except Anne," Phillippa said softly.
"And —m"y conscience. Don't laugh—l
have one. Could I ever be happy,
knowing she sat in shadow?"
"She would not sit there —she is too
fine, too strong. Besides, she left me
free of her own choice," Hayden pro
tested doggedly. "That proves her
wisdom —"
"It shall not prove my treachery,"
Phillippa interrupted. "So it Is good
by for always. I'm going early tomor
row. I shall never come back."
Hayden entreated, argued—she wag
firm. He tried to take her hand —she
eluded him, and ran down the slope,
never stopping till they came to the
back gate of the garden. Phillippa
flung open the gate, darted through it,
and rushed upon her friend, crying:
"Don't you dare cut roses for anybody,
sister Anne —remember, I want all of
them when I go."
"You are not going," Anne said, snug
gling Phil in the hollow of her arm.
"Instead you will stay—for my wed*
ding. Yes —I am going to marry your
uncle Mark," nodding at a man ot
middle age, who stood smiling a little
way off. "Don't cry because we kept
our secret —you'll have time enough
to worry over it the rest of your life.''
Hayden, behind her, looked at Anne
and smiled: "I think we had better
make It a double wedding," he said
Anne gave him a pitying glance. "1
had no thought of anything else," she
said; "I told Mark about everything
an hour ago."
(Copyright, ISI7, by the McClur® Newspa-i
per iy««lcate.)
Under Cover.
"Johnny, did you go to the butcher's
and see if he had calfs brains?"
"Yes, mother, but I couldn't see them."
"Why not?"
"Because he had his hat on." —Phila-
delphia Record.
When skinning flsb it should be re
membered that round flsb are most
easily done if commenced from the
head downward; flat ones, on the cou
trary, from the tail end.
in order to raise men it Is neces
sary to be above them.
The Trouble.
"Such a large proportion of tele
phone operators get married before
they have been long tn the service."
"I see: it is hardly a case of ring
off before it » ring on."-Baltimore
American.
All Letter Perfect.
"You've been to tbe altar three times,
I believe?"
"Yes."
"And I tulce. The minister is an
old timer. I guess we won't have to
rehearse."—Kansas City Journal.
Cwift Times.
"Why have you discontinued your
column of comment on passing events?"
"Events pass so quickly," explained
the etlitoi* ol' the Pluukville Palladium.
"there's no time for comment."—Kan-
City Journal.
Marginal.
"An."..;!', dear, did you say you were
in the . : x'k market?"
"Yes. n a margin."
"Oh, : it's different. I was afraid
you'd UCK ■ s ted and plunged all the
way in."— L>V. ton Transcript.
Treenails.
"Treenails," or "trunnels," as they
are commonly called, are cylindrical
i wooden pins used in fastening the
parts of wooden ships together. It re
quires about 30,000 of these pins for
an average sized ship.
Possible Move.
A hen walked into a conmry bank.
"Wonder what she wants?" laughed
a loafer.
"Maybe she wants to deposit an egg
to someb< dy's credit," suggested thp
cashier.—Spokane Review.
Named In the Bibls.
There are mentioned in theL-Bible the
names of nineteen different precious
stones, six metals, 104 trees and plants,
thirty-five animals, thirty-nine birds,
six fishes, eleven reptiles, twenty iu
sects and other small creatures.
The Selfish Obstacle.
Hilpin Taggers would make $2O
more a week by taking that new Job.
Brassbette —W T hy doesn't he take it?
Hilpin—He's too mean. By order of
the court he has to give up half his
earnings to his ex-wife.—Lamb.
Qualified.
"Have you the firmness that enables
you to go on and do your duty in the
face of ingratitude and ungenerous
criticism?"
"I ought to have. I once cooked for
a camping party."—Washington Post.
Sunday In Argentina.
In Argentina the bakeries, groceries
&nd cigar stores may remain open Sun
days until noon, provided they are at
tended exclusively by their proprietors
and no clerks or laborers are employed
on that day.
Not the Rake.
"That man is a benefactor of his
race who makes two blades of grass
grow where only one grew before."
"So he is; but not the fellow who
sows a double portion of wild oats."—
Boston Transcript.
Under Suspicion.
"I've noticed one thing."
"And what is that?"
"No matter how hard the husband of
a prima donna works, nobody ever
gives him credit for earning his own
living."—Birmingham Age-Herald.
Gentle Hint.
"Hello, Jenkins! How are you?
Haven't seen you in the garden for
quite a time. Y'ou never come to see
me and the wife now. How is that?"
"Well," was the feeling reply of Jen
kins, "the fact is, old chap, that you
and your missus have borrowed so
many things from me that when I see
your place it makes me feel quite
homesick."—London Telegraph.
_ «
Arthur, He Knew.
Arthur had been asking that he be
allowed to go swimming neighbor
ing park pool.
"I'll not allow it, Arthur." said the
mother, "We'd never see our little
boy again if you were drowned."
"Yes. you would," replied Arthur re
assuringly. "They clean out the tank
every week."—St. Louis Globe-Demo
crat.
* *
* MORAL COURAGE.
It is moral courage that char
acterizes the highest order of
manhood and womanhood, the
courage to be just, the courage
to b» honest, the courage to re
sist temptation, the courage to
do one's duty.—Samuel Smiles.
0 *
ONE OF THREE
By DOROTHY DOUGLAS.
1" 'i
Walgrove turned from the box office.
Disappointment was written on his
face.
"There's not a seat to be had, Sis.
I'm awfully sorry. But I expected 1L
| There hasn't been a show like 'Back
There* on Broadway for some time."
His sister. Peggy, reflected his dis
appoint ment. However, she smiled. "It
can't be helped, Vance," she said
cheerfully, "but I should love to have
seen it before going back home."
They were leaving the foyer reluc
tantly when two girls approached
them.
"We have one seat extra In the fifth
row," the elder of the two girls said,
addressing herself to Peggy; "if you
care to take it—it will help us out."
"We wanted two," Walgrove re
turned quickly, being quite accustomed
to this manner of purchasing seats;
"my sister is only in town until to
morrow, and I wanted especially to
take her tonight." He lingered a mo
ment while the two girls conferred in
undertones.
The elder again spoke, this time ad
dressing Walgrove:
"Miss Gale says she will let you have
her seat since it is the only night your
sister can come. Perhaps she and Miss
Weeks will get seats another time."
"Oh!" Peggy exclaimed swiftly, and,
turning to the girl: "This Is too good
Df you. I wouldn't think of using your
seat." She saw with swift comprehen
sion that the girls had no doubt bought
the seats many weeks In advance by
tvay of a rare treat. They apparently
tolled for their theater tickets a few
extra nights a week.
Gladys Gale answered, a slight blush
| naklng her even more charming to look
upon. "I am only happy to let a sol
dier have my seat," she said. "Nan
Weeks and I will come another time."
She spoke for a moment with her com
panion ; then, with a swift nod which
Included both Walgrove and his sister,
she went out of the theater.
"It is awfully good of your friend,"
Peggy continued speaking when, after
Walgrove had exchanged four dollars
Tor the two seats, they all went Into
the theater. "You see, my brother may
be called out any moment, and I want
ed to see as much of him as possible."
She gazed rather proudly at the big
man In khaki, and so did Miss Greene.
The latter, much Inclined to conver
i lation, told Peggy about the small flat
she had with the two other girls.
"I Just kind of keep an eye on Gladys
and Nan," she said. "I'm a good deal
older and feel motherly toward them.
We all work during the day and now
Nan has taken up Red Cross work.
That's the reason she had to give up
ber seat tonight. She's been waiting
for a vacancy in the home-care class
affd didn't expect it to come so soon."
The rising of the curtain prevented
further chatter, but Vance was con
scious that his sister welcomed femi
nine companionship as well as his own.
I During the Intermission Miss Greene
again spoke of the small flat.
Peggy voiced her thoughts. Her eyes
remained wistful. "You see, I don't
know many girls in the city, and those
! whom I have met only care for restau
; rants and dancing. I quite envy you
j your little homey flat and late suppers.
I I suppose you have little studio aprons
and a tiny kitchenette and pink potted
plants in the windows."
Miss Greene laughed quickly. "You
could not have described us better had
you been in our flat." She paused a
moment in thought while she cast a
swift, searching look at Vance Wal
grove. "He seems human," was her
Inward comment. She turned again to
Peggy. "If you and your brother will
come I will be so glad to telephone the
girls to prepare enough supper for five
instead of three tonight."
"Oh! I should just love it!" Peggy's
real delight shone in her eyes. "I will
persuade Vance while you are tele
phoning."
She had little difficulty with her
brother.
Miss Greene telephoned, and when
the play was over a taxi whirled them
swiftly down to the little flat.
After introductions Walgrove natur
ally drifted toward Nan Weeks. She
was slim and pale and seemed quite
unable to stand the strain of typing all
day long and studying nursing in the
evening.
"But I would far rather die in a
nurse's uniform than in ordinary office
clothes," she argued softly to Wal
grove. "You are doing your part," she
ended, with a glance at his khaki, "so
let me do mine."
The evening was altogether charm
ing and they were all sorry when it
was over.
Walgrove wanted to take Nan and
Gladys to "Back There," since they
had missed It, but neither was willing
that he should sit through It twice.
"Then I'll get two more chaps and
make a party of six,' he announced.
"I'm 3orry you won't be here, Peg," he
added.
During the drive back to the hotel
Peggy talked much of the evening.
"Nan Weeks is far too beautiful and
sweet to nurse soldiers," she said firm
ly. "They will one and all fall desper
ately in love with her and their fevers
will soar sky high whenever she tends
them '*
"Peggy—you're a brick ! I knew you
were seeing Nan Weeks as my wife
almost before I did." He squeezed her
hands affectionately, "i will have to
make quick work of it, for we may be
any day to France."
(Copyright, 1317, by the McClure Newspa
per Syndicate.)
=i
Woman V ersus
Woman
By SADIE OLCOTT
il
(Copyright, 191T, WMtern N«w»p*p«r Union.)
Florence, during the period wheu
the De Medici family flourished, was
In many respects a sinkhole of Iniqui
ty. It was a common practice to get
rid of an enemy by means of poison.
The De Medlcls derived their name
from the fact that the founder of the
family was what today would p*
called a patent medicine exploiter.
This man who established a family
lived many years before that family
became the most prominent In Italy,
giving sovereigns to Europe as well as
popes. This story pertains to one Ce
celia Del Carpo, whose mother was a
De Medld. i
One evening a young artist named
Rlcardo Cencl was strolling on the
street In Florence that leads from the
cathedral to the Ponte Yecchlo, an an
cient bridge that crosses the River
Avno. As he entered upon the bridge
he met Cecelia face to face. Rlcardo
was as handsome as Cecelia was beau
tiful.
Ricardo was betrothed to Lucrecia
llarinl, as lovely a girl as there was
In Florence. He did not notice Cecelia
as he passed her, for he was going at
the time to visit Lucrecia and was
thinking of her alone. Cecelia in
quired of a friend who was with her
who Rlcardo was and learned not only
that he was a promising artist but also
where his studio was.
The next day Cecelia appeared at Rl
cardo's studio and offered him a large
price to paint her portrait. Rlcardo
declined because he was expecting an
order to do some mural painting in
St. Peter's at Rome. But Cecelia beg
ged so hard, saying he could do her
work at such times as he chose, tha't
he yielded.
Cecelia, who had great influence at
Rome, wrote to a relative there to de
lay the order for the mural painting
and her object was accomplished. She
came every day to Illcardo's studio
and applied all her arts to win him.
Sometimes she would appear gentle
and Innocent as a dove. Sometimes
she would appeal to hlin through his
art. Sometimes she would attempt to
master him by dominating his will,
and he resolved to foil her by marrying
someone else.
It was not long before Rlcardo be
gan to dread her power over him and,
fearing that he might wrong his be
trothed, proposed to Lucrecia that they
should be married. Lucrecia, who had
learned of the situation, assented and
they went to a priest and were united
without the banns being published and
without witnesses.
The day Cecelia's portrait was fin*
ished Rlcardo announced to her that
he had been married. She flew Into
a rage that caused the artist to fear
her more than ever, but In a different
way. She left the studio In this mood,
but presently returned In a different
one. She said that It was only selflsh
of her to berate him for loving an
other, and since she could not possess
him she would claim him for her
friend. She hoped also to make a
friend of his wife.
Rlcardo was partly convinced by
these professions and asked her to call
on the woman who had vanquished
her. He did not think it worth while
to put Lucrecia on her guard, for he
did not see any wrong that Cecelia
could Injure her and he did not wish
to further incur the iatter's enmity.
The two women met and, on the sur
face at least, were so friendly that
Ricardo believed there was no rancor
between them.
Cecelia invited them to sup with
her in her palazzio, as they call fine
dwellings In Italy. Lucrecia did not
wish to accept the Invitation, but her
husband desired to avoid offending
their would-be hostess and persuaded
her to do so. •
At the appointed time Ricardo and
his wife repaired to Cecelia's palazzio
and were received by the hostess In
the most friendly manner. Ricardo
was deceived. The only sensible thing
he did after meeting the woman who
was bent on bewitching him was to
acknowledge to himself that she would
succeed. But now he was acting very
stupidly.
Lucrecia, being a woman matched
against a woman, was on her guard.
She pretended to have taken a des
perate fancy to Cecelia and hoped that
they might always be friends, but all
the while during the dinner, if Cecelia
forced upon her any dainty she de
clined it on the ground that it would
not agree with her. She would drink
no wine because there was gout in
her family.
Finally Cecelia offered her a little
dish of confections, saying: "Surely
one of these will not hurt you?" Lu
crecia took one of the sweets, saying
that she loved something of the kind
before going to bed. She would eat
it at that time.
Cecelia turned pale, but she did not
oppose her guest. Soon after this all
arose from the table and, after a brief
sitting together at a window overlook
ing the Avno, whose banks were beau
tifully lighted, Ricardo and his wife
went to their home.
The next morning Cecelia's palazzio
was closed and Cecelia was not in
Florence. She had fled. Lucrecia
gav# ffee bonbon she was to have eaten
before going to bed to a cat and In a
few minutes the animal was dead.
In this war of wits between two
women Lucrecia had won, by securing
the evidence that her enemy was trj>
lng to poison her. Cecelia never r©»
turned to Florence,