The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1901-01-17
Miss EIizabeth's Presents

SNANRANNNANN,SS SNN,NANS
7 declare. It seems to me I've done
nothing but made wedding presents for
the last five years I've about decided
70 name day soon and let people
send presents to me; it viii be the
nearest I'll ever come to having a
wedding"
The speaker was Miss Elizabeth Hen
derson, spinster; the person spoken to-
Helen Ramsay, a young neighbor who
had come In to see and admire the
dainty table-centre worked by Miss
Elizabeth's own hands, before it should
be sent to a young girl soon to be mar
ried in the village
why don't your Suppose we say
the fifteenth Of next month"; was
Helen's laughing response as she rose
to 90.
That will be as good a time as any,
guess Miss Elizabeth replied, with
smile, and she straightway forgot all
about it.
But Helen Ramsay did not: and that
very afternoon she started out to pro-
pose to some OF Miss Elizabeths friends
that they should carry out the little
joke and give her a surprise party on
the fifteenth OF the following month,
taking with them some gift. shes
always doing everything for every
body. said Helen. "and It will be a
nice time for us all to show her how
much we appreciate her; there couldn't
a thing succeed in this town, from a
church fair to a new baby. without
Miss Elizabeth's help"
The project was enthusiastically re-
ceived. and It soon became known
throughout the village that Miss Eliza
beth anderson was to have a we'd
ding present surprise party on the If
teenth; but not a word OF It reached
Miss Elizabeth's unsuspecting ears.
She went on her way as calmly as
ever. presided over the meeting Of the
missionary society without the remot-
est suspicion that while she was plead
ing for money to put up a new school
building In South Africa, her hearers
were mentally wondering whether she
would rather have silver or table,
linen; and addressed herself to the
task Of inducing her Bible-class 70 club
together and purchase a new set OF
maps for the Sunday school. without
ever dreaming that the members of It
were Just about to club together and
purchase stanley's History Of the
Jewish Church" for her.
About q week before the eyentful
day Mrs. Ramsay wrote to an old friend
who had moved away from Southheld:
What ridiculous plan do you suppose
Helen has concocted now? She has
gotten the town all stirred 10 about a
scheme OF giving a surprise party TO
Elizabeth Henderson. It an came
from a joking remark dropped hy
Elizabeth one day to the effect that
she'd given wedding presents all her
life. and now thought she'd name a
day and receive some. Helen has
planned the affair for the fifteenth. and
people are actually going to her house
with all kinds OF presents. OF course
everyone is glad enough to have an
opportunity Of doing something for
her. but isn't the whole affair absurd?"
Now It so happened that this part OF
the letter was read aloud by its recip-
lent. Mrs. Greene, to her husband and
to her brother. a certain Alfred Carver.
Years before there had been a close
friendship between him and Miss Eliza
beth. "The only love affair Elizabeth
Henderson ever had" the townspeooIe
said; but it had ended, no one knew
how or why. Mr. Greene laughed
heartily after hearing the letter and
said. Isn't that just like Helen RAM
say?" But Alfred Carver made no
comment. only saying. as he left the
room. was that affair OF Helen's to
come on on the afteenth?"
On the afternoon OF that date. as
Miss Elizabeth was returning from q
meeting Of the Wednesday club she
heard her name spoken. and looking
up saw the Iamlllar race OF her old
time friend A faint flush came to her
cheek as she put out her hand to re-
ceive the one extended to her. and an
odd little fiuttering about the heart
made her catch her breath for a min
ute; but she soon regained her usual
quiet dignity and asked. as they walk
ed along. the conventional questions
concerning health and relatives. AS
they stopped at her rate Alfred said.
I'm in southheld only for tonight.
I rather hoped you'd ask me to take
one Of the old-fashioned cups of tea
with you. Elizabeth" You win be
most welcome. she replied. and to-
gether they entered the house. and as
there was stili an hour before tea they
sat on the little piazza overlooking the