The silver blade. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1895-1903, 1902-12-26
9A6&<x&f 1a@c
+. - MElLIE'S PRESENTS. =
BY PAUL lNGELOW.

N cousins, and attended the same
I'M. boarding school. Their parents
had been abroad for year. AS
- Christmas approached they re-
'ceived letters from their mothers. and
were told they might arrange vacation
week as they liked-they could go to
Warrenville and stay with Uncle and
Aunt Dallas, or they could go to Mil
i, ton and put in the time with Uncle and
Aunt Winston. Nellie was silent aid
thoughtful over the problem. Lucy was
ali excitement and fnpetuosty.
",rhat's easy" she proclaimed. well
cd to Warrenvflle, of course
Nellie said nothing, and the voluble
little miss ratified on.
"Shut up with prosy old Uncle Win
ston a whole week, and hum-drum AUNT
Jane, and sick and ailing Eliza! Why.
Nellie, Martin Dallas wrote me they had
new automobile, and were getting Just
swell! Warrenville is so lively, and they
have a big house, and servants Wen
go straight to our room and write them
we're coming"
II want to think bit about it irst, -
demurred Nellie.
''As if there was choice! On, surely,
Nellie, you are not thinking of spelling
q nice holiday by going to those old-fash-
ioned. humdrum Winstons? Why, they
live like hermts. And they're poor-they
must be, to make no show, and you'll get
no presents-they aren't that kind
"I'm not exactly thinking of presents, .
announced Nellie.
"What's Christmas for? What are
you thinking of, then?"
,"Why, I'll tell you, Lucy; mother has
often told me how good Aunt Amanda
was to her when she was sick once, and
II we both chose Uncle Dallas, they might
feel hurt. Besides, poor Eliza is help
less inyalid-so lonely, SO little of glad
ness. or change in her life. I've quite
made up my mind"
"You will go to Milton! z
Eyes, Lucy"
"You-big gump!" cried her cousin
and founced out of the room in higf
dudgeon.
Milton and Warrenville were only tel
miles apart. Two days before Christ
mas Nellie and Lucy boarded the cars.
The snowy Dallas rig awaited Lucy
and Nellie experienced a slight pang a
she glanced down the bright bushes
street and thought of the fine Dalla
mansion. She could not help but com
mare the dull little hamlet of Milto
and the humble Winston homestead Sh
found but little change in the Winstons
A rough bob met her at the depot All
blunt old Hiram Winston looked as home
" as ever, but he tucked in real warmt
about her with the immense bufal
robes. When she got to the house Aur
Amanda greeted her with her usual prin
ness. and her invalid sister, Eliza. onl
looked paler and thinner than ever.
There was no mistaking 1.-THE plae
was dreary, and the set ways OF its il
mates were chilling to youthful spirit
Nellie cried little as she pictured Lue
in the gay gas-lit parlor of the sumpt
ous Dallas home. Then she bravely r
solved to see If she could not brighte
her surroundings, instead of inficting n
ditional moodiness. With earliest da
light she was down in the kitchen helpir
Aunt Amanda. She arranged a dain
tray for poor, invalid Eliza. She maj
them all smile, telling humorous stori
about school; she fed the chickens al
bustled about, jolly, useful, happy, al
had the satisfaction of hearing her au
tell eliza. that child is a regular su
BEAM" A..
She read to Eliza, she sang for the
that evening, and, as her uncle express
f. made the old cottage organ "