The Farmville herald. [volume] (Farmville, Va.) 1890-1934, 1906-04-27
A Birthday Present
That liscaITied
BY JEANETTE n. WALWCRTH


NNNNN a...H
About to start q business letter. Mr
Teddy Yates glanced ut the big calen.
dar over his r5itap desk ami said.
under his breath "By George SD it
is"
Which, being interpreted means that
the big. bluefc1rol calendar had re-
minded him of bis wife's birthday and
he was glad that tho reminder had not
come too late
"Annahel' was great stickler for
anniversary olservanccs. especially
those which made for tribute. such ass
Christmas. birthdays and the like.
Also. being young and handsome, she
was not averso 70 The glitter Of q dia-
mond ring OF the seductive charm Of
pearls.
This time It must be something par
ticuiarly fine Something which would
combine the merits of a peace Offering
with the dignity of a rite.
He would Doe glad 10 wipe ont that
little episode about Jack pingree OF
all the asses En- the world the jealous
ass was the most ridiculous With "a
sense Of recurrent temper DE turned
resolutely from contemplation Of Mr.
Pingree as an irritant to fix his mind
on the selection.
His offering should be one of those
novelties in gems which the shops were
making such a blatant boast 0f-an oil
iyine set about with diamonds. or
combination of beryl and pink sap
phire Annabel laid tremendous stress
on being up-to-dato
The matter of purchasing and of
marking the little morocco case made
him late in getting home tie had
only a margin of ten minutes in which
TO dress for dinner He went directly
TO his dressing.room via the children
nursery, as was his custom.
Two little mouths were to- De kissed
before ne went downstairs 20 his din-
ner, two little hearts TO De made glad
The little mouths were sticky So werc
the 20 small fingers which clutcho1
recklessly at every available inch Of
his person.
you have been eating candy" be
said, with severe frown. The frown
was for the whitecapped deity who
presided automatically over the sticky
little mouths and the 20 small fingers
"Nurse. you know I have prohibited
their eating the stun"
Nurse smiled vaguely at the small
offenders as she shot a barbed arrow
into their fathers warm heart.
"Mr. Pingree. SIR gave it to them
when he came at lunch time 70 go q.
wheeling with Mrs. Yates"
Teddy was a loyal gentleman, not TO I
be thrown of his balance by the inso- /
lence Of a hireling. He disengaged the I
rlinging sticky little fingers with in-
finite genteness:
$50. then, If mamma knows about
The candy It IS an right"
He was on his way down to Annabol
4 few minutes later with the red mo-
rocco case In his breast pocket. Tie
would lay Il on her plate before dine
Ter was announced. Pingree should .
not spoil the evening for him-if he
.ould help It.
AS he reached the level of the lower
loor the butler had just softly closed
he front door on the bringer Of Sue
,erb bunch Of roses
For Mrs. Yates. SIR, with Mr. PIN
ree's compliments and congratula.
ions" the man said explanatorily as .
eddy glanced casually at the flow.
rs.
Mrs Yates. handsomely g0wned and
oIffured, glanced petulantly at the
lantel clock as Teddy entered the
oOm.
"Of all nights 70 keep dinner waite
lg. tonight, Teddy"
The buffers appearance Immediately
ehlnd his master cleared the atmos- G
here, Annabel stretched eager hands
wards the flowers A luminous smile
lased the fr0wn from her pretty face
"Oh. the beandosl Who did send
lem?" She took The card that was at.
lehed 20 the roses between her slim
.weled fingers. A soft pink came into y
er cheeks. Compliments and con.
Of J. D Pinuee' Aren't s
icy lovely? And isn't 80 nice Ted s.
have one friend in the world who ]
not too much taken mp with money
TO remember ones birthday? q
o thoughtful OF him." J.
~ am sorrv 20 ha late" said Teddy d