The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1886-01-29

the nat which was careIe6s-nao torn
Bert's coat, but Aunt Marion had just
finished the bit Of delicate darning that
made the jagged rent invisible. She
was shaking out the garment TO hang
Il away. when something dropped from
one Of the pockets and fell on the car
pet 1t her feet. She picked il up-a
little brown leafy roll-snifFed it, odor
disdainfully. and. resisting her first in
clination to toss il into the CRATE. slow
" laid Il on the table beside her.
sWell. that Is just what ! have sus-
pected for some time she said. Poor
Bert! l suppose he thinks himself on
the sure road to manlincss now"
The words we're spoken only TO her
self. however; she said nothing to any
one else about il, though she sat for q
few minutes with . very thoughtful
face before she hung the coat away and
took up other work. II Bert missed
anything from his pocket, he made no
inquiries. He was thankful that Aunt
Marion made none. and, as she did not,
he soon forgot the trifing affair in
what be considered more important
matters. Chief among these was his
birthday, which came a lew days later,
and il was . very bright face which
greeted the parcels that lay beside his
| plate 1t breakfast.
but what is thisp" he asked. with q
puzzled look. As. in among the books.
telescopes and half . dozen other
things that he wanted. he discovered q
neat little box holding only . short
steel chain.
ssThatP Why that is q wrist chain"
answered Aunt Marion. with great ear
nestness. As il the question were q sur
prising one. lis Il the right size, l
wonder? / had to guess ut that" She
came around to his side. and lifting the
chain. slipped 4 steel ring attached to
it over his little finger; then, drawing
the ends Of the chain down, she fast
ened them around his wrist. Fits ex-
actly. doesn't itP'' she said enthusi-
~asticallv.
ssYesfm, but" Berthcsitated. From
her manner he fancied that il was
something he ought to know all about
and appreciate very highly, but he
really could not see its value. "What
Is it Tor. Aunt MarionP"
why. to wear on your wrist Don't
you sep replied his aunt, giving II
another twist and settling II to her sat
isfaction.
s.Some new fashion that l haven
heard about, / suppose" mutteref
Bert to himself, looking dolefully q
his new adornment as he carried IN
treasures up to his room "Womer
have q fancy for every new-fangled no
ton. so / presume auntie thinks this Il
something very nice; but ! declare 1 don
see the sense Of it," He appreciated Il
still less as he went about his morning
work. 1t caught, tangled and obtruded
itself disagreeably. Not very con
venient," he ventured to suggest tc
Aunt Marion. But that lady only an
swered placidly:
''Oh, ! don't think you will mind
that very much when you get accus
toned to IL" So she really expected
him to wear the troublesome thing and
get used to Il! He was bordering tht
subject when his friend Ralph came In
to see the new telescope.
Hello! what are you wearing tha'
dog-collar for?" he questioned, curl
ously. as Bert displayed his hand in ar
ranging the glass.
Its anew thing. Didn't you ever SCI
one beforee" asked Bert, ~coloring 8
little.
Lots Of them-on the necks Of
~canines," declared Ralph, with uncerc
monious ~frankness; but | don't Sc
what you want to wear one on YOU
arm for"
well, the fact il, ] DON'T con
fessed Bert. 'but ! don't know exactly
what TO do about IL You see, IL Il one
Of my birthday gifts new-fash
Toned arrangement that has takeE
~auntie's fancy" II was q fashion o
which Ralph had never heard, and be
said 50. His visits and comments LEI
Bert still less pleased with the odd gifl
he had received. At last he decided K
talk it over with Aunt Marion:
lyon see, ! am ever 80 much obliget
to you. auntie, but ] don't know JUS
what to do with the thing" he ex
planned. what - the good Of wear
ing itP"
oh. ! don't suppose there y AM
good in IT," answered Aunt Marion