The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-07-22
AN UNAKNowIEDGED GIP'
BY ELLIS BARKER BUTLER.


 Mrs. MarloweNwas writing at her desk, and she let her hurrying pen pause a moment while she looked up at her daughter Bessie, who sat in a chair at the window. 1t was March and the open grate fire was comfort
 Bessie" she asked, did Thomas ao- knowledge your Christmas presentH
 Bessie allowed her book to drop to her lap and glanced up.
 "Thomasr she asked. which
 Cousin Thomas Grant" said her and do not seem to remember that you mentioned receiving an ac- knowledgment from him."
 Bessit thodsht moment. "No. I did not" she said. Tt doesn't matter.
 ,'It does matter" said her mother. eighth cousin. dear, and you have all ways remembered him at Christmas. ever since you were both children. am afraid, if he did not acknowledge 1t. 1t may have. gone astray. and he would think it strange if he has received explained, of his mother and of what she would think. What did Thomas send your 5
 "ohp said Bessie carelessIy. T don't remember: there are so many cousins. mother. that I can't remember what each sends. He sent something.
 Mrs Marlowe drowned.
 I'm afraid you haven't the proper family spirit. dear," she chided, gently; what did you send Thomas?"
 Now. mother, how can remem- ber?" asked Bessie; some little thing out of the ruck. but can't remember what How could I when there are so many cousins and 1t is so long after?"
 Are you positive you sent him i'm 1x4rf fA mother # you had forgotten him en- tireiy."
 T sent him soraething. am posi- tive of that" said Bessie, taking up her book again. T never forget single COZ, mother, under any circum- stances. I have them all tabulated and the census is complete. Thomas got his little gift from his dear cousin Bessie, and his heart was made glad. He Is probably too busy appreciating it to take time to acknowledge il"
 Mrs. Marlowe was dear lady, but punctilious. She made calls and an- swered notes, and obeyed all the rules of gentle conduct with the sincere and hearty belief that by so doing she was bettering the condition of humanity and carrying out the first duty of wo- man. She was. perhaps, little more severe in her letter to cousin Thomas Grants mother than she imagined Written words are either magnifyIng glasses or reducing glasses, andI when Mrs. Grant read the letter she felt that her son Thomas had been guilty or a crime in the eyes of Mrs. Marlowe. She knew Mrs, Marlowes intense regard for the conventionalities of life, and she felt abashed and degraded.
 Thomas" she asked. "did you ac- knowledge cousin Bessie Mariowe's
 Thomas looked up from the after noon paper.
 What's that. mother? Oh, did I ac- knowledge Bessie Marlowe's present? don't know. I guess so. Why; does she want 1t back?"
 'Tbomasr exclaimed Mrs. Grant, much hurt. "Why do you say such things? If you did not acknowledge 1t you have been guilty of a most gross carlessness. You know how particular cousin Martha is about such things, and she has written me most lady like letter. She has evidently taken your omission most deeply to heart. What did Bessie send you?"
 How do I know?" asked Thomas. T suppose she sent me something-pink soap-suspenders in a silk box-or a pocket handkerchief-or polka tie. Just write and tell her 1t was lovely present, and that I am wearing 1t next my heart. Tell her 1t was some life. and that I was so defighhted I wept. Tell hef it is not the value of the gift that makes me prize it so much as the thoughtfulness shown by her careful study of my likes and dis likes. Tell her"
 "Thomass" cried his mother, re- proachfully, T shall do nothing of the kind You have caused me sufficient embarrassment as it is by neglecting to acknowledge it. You must repair your oversight yourself, and as quick ly as possible"
 Thomas looked out at the fine March drizzle, dropped his paper on the floor, and rose. He went to the hall rack and began putting on his top coat.