Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1902-08-01

land, l wouldna wonder but it might
be something frae Aunt Tabby."
"Itn be the waddin' cake. Tabby,"
laughed the, ~nelghbor.
The girls clear brown eyes ~glistened
as she watched her father undo the
cord and pry open the lid.
Il hope it's not a cake" she said.
for that has to be eaten; and If she
sent me anything | would like to have
1t as a keepsake"
There, Tabby, do the rest yourself
said her father, on placing the parcel
on the kitchen table. my hands are
a wee thing coorse, in l might maybe
break it. What's that?"
Its a card-Aunt Tabitha's,'' cried
the girl; ''and it says, with best
wishes and the hope that her grand
niece will prize this for her sake"
The %neighbor. as curious to see what
1t was as If it was for herself, fell to
and helped Tabby to unwrap the paper.
At last it stood revealed-the same
biscuit box that had undergone a sim
liar ordeal of Inspection a few weeks
before.
"Megstie, It's grand.' exclaimed the
neighbor, with uplifted hands.
tits owre grand for me, Jennie
was Tabby's comment as she stood
with wonder in her beaming eyes.
".What is't for, ava?" questioned the
father, looking round as If he expected
to see windows in it like a lighthouse.
ITS a biscuit box. father. It's not
likely I'll ever use it; but it's awful kind
of Aunt Tabitha to send it. and I'll keep
it for her sake"
Some months later Daisy's husband
a commercial traveler-related to her a
funny story, told him by a brother com
mercial, about an old lady sending an
ugly old biscuit box, with a check hid
den in it, as a wedding present, and the
box having been exchanged without the
check being discovered, and then re-
bought by the same old lady, and sent
Il anew as another marriage gift.
"And the curious thing Is" he added,
that it was said to be sent to some one
in our neighborhood.v
Daisy bit her lip with vexation. Was
that indeed the object Aunt Tabitha
had in view in asking her to keep it
for her sake, so that the check would
be eventually discovered. And the bis
cult box had been sent the second time
to her cousin? She knew Tabby had
got one Of the same kind-servants are
useful purveyors Of. news If the mis-
tress is at all inquisitive-but she had
not realized until now that 1t might
be the veritable one hat she had re-
turned.
AS her husband had known nothing
about the return of the present-he
really believing Aunt Tabitha had sent
a check as announced-Daisy kept her
own counsel, and determined on a plan
of campaign. If the check was still hid
den in the biscuit box, ten chances to
one that Tabby, In her ignorance and
simplicity, would not have discovered
it, and Daisy felt that If she could but
gain temporary possession OF 1t she
might find the hidden missive and ap-
propriate 1t, for was it not just as much
hers as Tabby's?
The following afternoon the latter
was considerably surprised to receive
a visit from her stylish cousin.
How do you, Tabby-Mrs. Jack, 1
should say? And I'm really ashamed
that I've been so long in calling on you
after your marriage, but I've been so
busy, you know; 1t takes such a time
before n gets such n large house as
mine really In order. You have such n
snug little place, Tabby. and what a
nice room. Everything in apple pie
orderr And Dalsy's swift glance took
in everything in Tabby's parlor, her
eyes finally resting On the biscuit box
placed under a glass shade ON the
chlffonier. "Oh, was this from Aunt
TabitbaT' she continued. II got one
the very same. but as l had ever so
many already I had to get 1t ex-
changed"
Yes" said Tabby, that was a pres
ent from Aunt Tabitha: wasn't 1t kind
of her ever to think of me?'
do you know, Tabby, she's coming
to visit me one OF these days, and |
don't know what I'm to do about the
biscuit box. She doesn't know | chang
ed 1t. and she'll be awfully offended IL
she doesn't see 1t set out. Would you
mind letting me have a loan of yours?
She would never know"
would there be no chance Of her
looking In on me?" suggested Tabby.
humbly. I'D be so vexed IL she did.
and the biscuit box away"
"Oh, no; she's too grand to come here:
but I'd ask you up TO have tea with her
at my house, do you see? SO II you
don't mind I would just take 1t with me
now"