The San Saba news. [volume] (San Saba, Tex.) 1873-1966, 1890-08-08
THE WEDDING GIFT.

IA package for you, said the dearest
girl IN the world, as she ran forward and
brought me long, narrow box. ssAn
other wedding gift, am sure. won
der what il is and from whom it can be. ,
Angelica clasped her hands, and
looked SO unutterably happy that my cup
Of JOY was full to the brIm. Who would
be more exultant than we two2 It was
the first week after our wedding, and we
had just returned to our coy nest at
1139 North Three Hundred aud Seventy
third street, in the famous city CT Cos
mopolis.
Another wedding giftl My ardent
fancy rapidly evolved its hidden
possibilities, from dainty fruit knife to
a chaste spoon, from an elaborate can
delabrum to an old-fashioned pair of
tongs. What could It bel
at may be parasol for me, said
Angelica, eying the package affection
ately
.'or an umbrella Tor me- 1 rejoined,
with a quizzical look.
''0r roll of silk, my dear, she haz-
arded.
"or boo5ack, my love, I replied,
seizing my knife and preparing to cut
the string.
SIT has taken long time to come, any
way, she added. "a whole week.
'.You forget, sweetheart, that it came
by district messenger boy and with
laugh l opened the package, when au-
other box and letter were disclosed 70
view.
We both grasped the letter, and al
lowed the package to glide to the floor.
angelica exclaimed, in my most
positive tones, Il recognize the hand
writing. It is-it Is Uncle John'sl"
''0h, how NIGEL the dear, sweet old
man. So gentle, is he not, Johng al
ways said l would love MIN for your
sake. y And she gave me one of her
brightest glances.
Well, my love, he is a gentle Great
ure, to be sure; but-but he is decidedly
eccentric. Any way, 1 am glad that he
has thought of US, even at this late date.
was always led to believe that was his
favorite nephew"
"of course he couldn't help loving
you best of all; I couldn't, could /,
joint"
s.No, indeed, little mink. You couldn't,
you wouldn't and you shouldn't" re-
sponded with fervor, and then read aloud
bis letter:
DEAR OLD Bor-Iam overjoyed to hear
Of 3oEr marriage and regret that villain /
Gus attack Of govt prevented my attendance /
at the ceremony hear that your wife is /
all that is gentle and good. Happy fellow |
have known you so long and intimately /
that heartily rejoice at your good fortune /
Do come up with her to see me when the /
nrst glow Of the honeymoon is over. Mean
while beg Of you to accept the accompany
ing as the most fitting gift could think of 4
presenting to You both. It has virtues more
valuable than fine gold, and its powers, pre-
served and strengthened through the ages,
have an efficacy little dreamed of by mortal /
man. Guardit. and 1t viii guard you. Treas
ure 1t as your homes holiest phyiactery Il
viii be an infallible record OF your affection;
for It runs by occult attachment and psychic
force.
''In the fond hope that you viii prize it for
my sake and your own, Ahectionately,
JOHN CRUNP"
"Goodnessip 1 cried, as soon as l re-
covered breath. ''This is Il pretty letter.
But what does the old fellow mean by
dial and attachment and psychic forcel
Is he dementedl'
"0h, dearestin Angelica exclaimed,
edging away from the package, still on
the floor. 81 am so frightened. Shall 1
send for mothers'
No. l rejoined, with rather pre-
cipitate haste, ''you need not send for
your mother And then added, in my
most heroic tones: ssThere is no occa-
sion for alarm. The package surely is
harmless. 1t can be Florida alligator
or dynamite cartridge. Come, love, we
shsli open it together. One heart, one
fatem exclaimed, melodramatically;
and soon before our astonished gaze was
presented the tiniest little thermometer
in the world.
"a thermometer was our first ex-
claniation. ''The br1tel' was the next.
''Does he want to insult meip l cried
IA a rage.
A4EN 10 1EDA tfttrt ffftl@ftie
wretchlr was Angelica's observation, the
hercism Of which can be gathered from
the fact that my uncle was millionaire,
md l was supposed to be his favorite and
bis aeir.
silence deep, profound, immeasur-
able, fell upon us-our hearts alone were
hubble. A sudden inexplicable mystery I,
leerled to surround US both The air be-
,ame oppressive. What hidden agency
was at workl What subtle powers were
inspiring US with apprehension We :
sousd not speak, we could hardly breathe.
10 Intense was our agitation. glanced
lga5n a. the thermometer. Ny eyes were
-iyeted upon some lettering, and we both .
cad simultaneously: s'Love's Thermom-
,ter, patented by the Society for Psychic :
And straying downward our :
.stonished gaze caught these lines from !
=
o world, as God hasmade it, All is beau
And knowing this, is love, and love is
What further may be sought for or de a
clareds'
'swhy, Angelica, I" I cried, ''this is a
TRANCE, L might almost say, wondrous 4
thermometer eying it more respectful +
=, and with less wrath toward my phil h
sophie uncle. 7
aoh, John, look, lookl p she exclaimed,
pointing to some words on the other side
4 the plate: II
Between bliss hate v
Doth oscillate t
Your moral fate" !
sob, darling. and the poor girl was &
bout to sob in her fear. ''Shall we not
end for motherl" A