West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1901-09-26
90 ocoo oC0o occooc Coo oooo o,
THE OLD
BLUE JAR
800 occo ocoo ocoo oooo ooooo q

Before Clementlne went down TO
Milltown for the summer she made up
her mind that she would bend all her
energies TO wheedle Aunt Phoebe out OF
the old blue ginger jar that Uncle
Julius had brought home from China.
little thinking that the old slant eyed.
fat sided mandarin would take such n
tocular interest in her Joys and sor-
rows.
The old blue Jar had perched for
many years on the corner OF the high
mantelpiece I'm the old fashioned coun-
try parior and Aunt Phoebe knew that
II she gave 1t TO Clementine she would
have dreadfully lonesome feeling
every time she stood ON n chair TO dust
the old clock. the shells. the peddler
vases. the leather fans ana other com
panions OF Its lofty abode. But Glenn.
cntine was an accomplished wheedler.
and the fond old aunt finally said she
might have her wish.
When Aunt Phoebe gave over TO
Clementine her right and title 10 the
old blue jur. Randall was leaning I'm
the window and idly sitting rose leaves
from the old climbing vine through the
meshes Of his tennis racket. He sympa-
thized with her lively admiration for
the antique and unique In china and
was glad that she had attained her
hearts desire. but n more absorbing In
terest possessed his manly breast.
Clementine was going home In the
morning, and he had been trying In
vain for several days to get the feeble
Or Itfs
10 the declarative point. She was such
a lively. fun loving girl. and love, you
know. Is such intensely serious busl-
ness. Several times Randall fancicd
lie bad found her In sober and prop
erly receptive frame OF mind. when
with q trifling Jest she would defeat
his Intention ana put the little god TO
fight.
Nov, however, when the slant eyed
mandarin on the blue jar wlnked at
him through the vines, Randall said 10
himself enthusiastically:
We'll, old boy, that's the very thing!
Thank you for the bright idea! Are
they all as clever as you are over in
Chinaf"
That night. in his room under the
caves, he constructed an eloquent let
ter to Clementine and in the carly
morning sneaked into the parlor and
deposited It in the robust bosom OF the
old blue mandarin
IF she finds Il before she goes home,
II is all right" said the timorous. ador-
ing fellow, "and IL she doesn't find It
until afterward It VIII be all right too"
But the mandarin felt a little funny
that day, so when Clementine packed
her trunk lie inspired her 10 stuff the
ginger jar full OF her sllken hose. that
the precious article might take no risks
OF breakage in it's voyage. so when
Randall parted from her at the station
she made no sign of knowing anything
in particular, and his hopeful heart de-
cided that she would surely find the
letter when she reached home, and he
would then hear from her.
Now, Clemintiue was n girl who al
ways had great many things on her
mind, and when she had unpacked the
treasured jar and placed II on a dainty
table in her pretty parlor-wlth n self
congratulatory thought that II was 80
respectable to have things that ones
relative had brought from China-she
wholly forgot the curious load that the
mandarin had on his breast. She missed
her silken hose. OF course. and pestered
Aunt PhUbe with messages about
them.
In Milltown, as you may imagine.
Randall waited for the answer 10 his
letter Awhile he waited patiently.
then impatcntly awhile. and then
dived into his law books with that
"cOmposure OF settled distress" which
lovers have known In every age and
cline. Hc did not dream that the slant
eyed mandarin would be guilty OF the
ungentlemnnly trick Of intercepting n
love letter.
But the fun loving mandarin knew
what he was about. He was not with
out experience In these matters. and
hc wanted to punish Clementlne n
trine and bring her to tho proper con.
dltiOn OF seriousness.
And Clementine was feeling Tie stu
alton with MI the sobrlety that was dc.
sirablc Sic bad suspected all sum
mer that Randall had n tender feeling
for her which she felt qualified 10 no.
ciprocatc. but she was proud girl md
could not by feathers weight lnGu-
cncc TIE balance Of his attentions.
Therefore behind her smiles she bad
been not n little wounded that be had
allowed her to come home without nav
ing given expression 10 his sentiments.
So she. too, now took on sober
countcnance and hanishcd thought and
regret Toy Joining several now clubs
and taking membership I'm two or three
more charitable organizations
Just before Christmas Randall one
tny experienced IN his breast sort OF
imperative intimatlon perhaps direct
from the slant eyed mandarin. who
knows9-that De might hear or some.
thing 10 his advantage i0hr should go
down TO the city sn1 coll upon rlemcn
tine. so after forr fct1e rel ,ts.r 60
the message he betoo', himwlf GIL. r
lie was graci0usly received l.c...
entine-that is. gfaeio ly O. for
a young man who bal D. ihr
trl0cr with her Invisible
end lac seated himeclf i1 n ceze ca'r