Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1905-03-10
WEDDING PRESENTS.

and chairs and touches and more
chairs
That's what comes of being in the
furniture business all my life. You
see, most of my friends deal in this
stuff, commented. young Graham,
ruefully, as he studied storage prices
later in the day. But your six let
! tiers of thanks for those dining-room
sets are works Of art, Dotty," he add
ed. Pm glad I've got you, II you
did bring an avalanche of chairs and
tables"
Come, Rex, be sensible and help
me now" responded the girl at the
desk. give thanked people for every
single thing except those spoons.
Can't you decide who sent them? Try
a process of elimination"
Graham drew down his brows.
"They're nice solid ones?"
Every. Colonial pattern"
They're from some of my relatives,
of course"
"The only reason l think 80 Is be-
cause mine are all represented-and
yours AREN'T!
Clever turn, Dotty You say they
came from st. Louis? Why didn't
the chumps send card?"
I'm deathly afraid they did. These
spoons came while l was dressing for
the wedding and all l know is that
the girls said they were postmarked
st. Louis. If there was a card it was
lost"
well, there are four families of
my Stackhouse relatives living there
and not one Of them sent anything"
And there are those three lovely
st. Louis girls l met ut the lake last
summer, too. l hadn't an idea of
their giving me a present when sent
them an invitation, but what if they
should have done it? | can't write,
how awful that would bel"
well, I'll tell you what III do with
the Stackhouses. I'll pen them line
like this: In checking off relatives
who have made good on my list Of
wedding presents l find you draw a
blank. If there is any mistake about
this Kindly"
Ridiculous! But, really, wait a
uluuIe. Oee NudI you Luluh VI IulS
as a form that might be sent to each
of them-varied a little. of course:
dear So-and-So: l have received
a set of che loveliest spoons | ever
saw, sent without any name, and I've
been raoiIing my brains to guess who
could have sent them. Can it be pos
sible that you could have done any,
thing so generous and sweet?'
"No-hush, Rex!-not that exactly,
but something like this: 4 never
once dreamed of your being so lovely
as to send me anything at all, much
less No, not that either Of
course, but wait-I have it now: Can
you help me to solve the mystery? Do
give me a suggestion if you hav, an
idea How's that?'
Great head, Dotty, Get 1t Off
quick and I'll write something along
the same lines to my Stackhouse peo-
ple.'
Four days later the morning mail
brought the following letters-all
from ST. Louis:
my Dear Nephew: It had slipped
my mind that the 2Sth was your we'd
ding day, and I'm glad your inquiry
about the spoons reminded me. No, l
didn't send them, but l am starting
to-day piece of cut glass, which,
trust, will reach you safely. With all
good wishes, your uncle.
RICHARD STACKHOUSE."
Dear Cousin: Yours received. I
have no idea about the spoons you
mention, but l am sending you a
parlor lamp, which brings my con-
CALCULATIONS, though it comes a little
late. Devotedly.
CLARA STACKHOUSE"
Dear Rex: I'm not guilty about
the spoons, and don't know who is,
but l am guilty of being very late in
sending remembrance for your we'd
ding day l inclose check for SIS,
which | should like to have you in.
vest in chair for your bride. do
1t this way, because l know, being In
the business, you can select better
and get more for the money than |
could. Your affectionate uncle,
JOHN STACKHOUSE."
Dear Old Fellow: None of us sent
the spoons, but if you see a big
leather chair coming down the street
you may know 1t came from all of us
together. We have ordered it from
Bradley's. in your town. and hope
you'll like 1t. Congratulations and
love from us all. Your cousin,
BOB STACKHOUSE"
Dear, Dear Dorothy: We three
girls have had the greatest time try
ing to decide what to get for you and
at last have hit upon the idea of or
dering big green davenport, Just
like the one we four used to sit on Sc