Marietta daily leader. (Marietta, Ohio) 1895-1906, 1899-11-15
A BIRTHDAY PRESENT

fancy goods house-and had instantly begged
him. if he loved me, to pick out something
and send it up to Polly. He consented,
whereat felt relieved and gave the matter
no more thought.
was sure Polly would be glad to see me
that night-else why should presents be
sent? But when l went in | at first thought
she had turned idol worshiper. She was
leaning against the wall, with her eyes fixed
on half Naked heathenish figure that stood
on a gilded base in the center of her study
table. 1t was mana Hindu, guessed
with most brilliant paint dress, in so far
as there was a dress, with bare black legs
and with bare black arms that were
stretched out and up, with hands clasped as
| if in prayer
"Well, what in the" l began in amaze
ment.
Polly turned her eyes from the Hindu to
me.
"oh, it's you, is it| Then her gaze wan
dered back to the heather.
1T is. But what is-what on earth do
you call that-that thingW
"What is it% There was puzzled look
on her face as she looked at me. "Why-
why-I thought" Then she stopped. "It's
candelabrum," she explained.
l noticed then that in the praying hands
there was a brass rod, which at its upper
end branched into half a dozen arms.
"Where did the thing come from" de.
manded, suspiciously.
As she replied there was still puzzled
look IN Polly's blue eyes, which could not
understand.
"Some one sent it-this is my birthday"
Instantly jealousy, full-grown nt birth,
sprang into life in my breast.
"Who sent it?" demanded.
81 don't know-some friend, | suppose"
said Polly, smiling in a retrospective way
that set my jealousy a.raving. "a card
didn't come with it, but I'm pretty sure !
know who he is. Isn't it a beauty?"
"a beauty-that thing? It's plaster
paris" l was almost savage.
"Well, now, l think it's splendid" said
Polly, sweetly.
1 grunted. "Look at that base! Smeared
with gold paint. And at that green turban
and at those clothes--precious little paint it
took to make the clothes! Splendid
Heavens, Polly!"
at is"
"Why, the man that bought that is crazyl
It's atrocious!"
Polly tossed her head. "Well, at any rate,
even if it is bad, he sent me something. He
didn't forget me altogether" With that she
sank into chair and gazed determinedly
away from me out the window.
l couldn't say a word. That last was a
thrust which / could not parry. l looked
| about the room, but the only new thing was
that Hindu, who now seemed to leer at me
out OF his eyes of bead and who seemed to
smile painted smile full of unchristian de.
| light. Not thing was there which could
Co., ho L hoI 70
get and send up. Evidently he had forgot.
ten, and now was smoking peacefully in his
room. l vowed black VOWS against Rogers.
"Well," said l, at length, after l, too, had
found chair and had steadied myself some
what, what will you do with the candel-
candel'-I purposely stumbled over the
word out of spite to the other fellow.
"Labrum," prompted Polly. "I'll keep it
in my room. It's quite an ornament"
"An ornament-yes." l coughed. "Bet
ter stand it over there in the corner by that
one-armed Venus, They'll make pretty
pair"
81 don't know but that's good sugges
tion," said Polly, holding her chin reflect
lively between her right thumb and fore
finger. "Set it down over there and let's
see how 1t looks"
l did not move. ~ wouldn't have the
thing about my place. You won't light it
what do you want the thing for?"
''But l shall light it. shall buy candles
and keep it burning"
"But candles cost" said l. "Parafine
candles"
"I shall keep it burning" Polly spoke de.
cidedly and her chin was set.
Perhaps you know what a white ele,
phant is?" l inquired insinuatingly.
Il do, OF course"
81 rather think you'll know better later
on. l rather think you've got one."
Polly looked over at me almost inpatient
ly l thought. Look here, Tom, believe
you're jealous of him"
"I'm not" / declared, meeting her blue
eyes squarely enough
You're trying to make fun of his pres.
ent and make me dislike him-that's clear. :"
I'm not" repeated. "But he's fool.
Would anybody but a fool buy anything like
that in the first place, and would anybody
but fool send it to lady after he'd bought
it? He's twice fool!"
Polly turned about and turned about,
and there was stiff silence. Unconsciously,
my hands began to go through my pockets.
From one of them l drew forth letter
which l had hurriedly thrust into my coat
as left my room, and which had forgot |
ten. The address, noticed, was in Rogers
handwriting l said more unltind things
about Rogers as opened the envelope.
Sorry old man" the note ran, "but
couldn't give that matter my personal at.
tention. | turned it over to one of the men
and told him to pick out fancy, artistic
lamp-thought that would be as nice as
anythiDg-or, perhaps, a candelabrum--"
he Al II
knees, and | stared blankly at Polly. At
length understanding came to me.
Say, Pollyl" l gasped,
She turned toward me.
"Ihat-that thing, there!" l pointed
weakly at the Hindu.
'Yes"
"I-sent It'll" The outstretched arm fell
Imply at my side.
A demure smile came over Polly's face,
yes" she said; 81 knew it."
Rogers says so in this MOTEL Just now
read it," went on.
me-" ~ ~ 'N
There was a tantalizing light in Polly's
eyes that grew more tantalizing as the blank
look on my face increased.
Then you-you knew it all the timer"
Il did" said Polly. The smile was grow
ing into laugh.
Well" said |, falling back "Welll"
We'll" echoed Polly, inqulringly, with
head back and almost on one shoulder
looked at the Hindu again-my Hindu!
1T isn't so bad" said doubtfully, glanc.
ing back at Polly.
"Bad!" She held up her hands. "It's per.
fectly awful 1t makes me shiver to stay in
the same room with that thing. And it's all
hollow, too. The fool that sent that
thing"