The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1907-02-21
HER DESPERATE
PLUNGE

Come" said the girl with the red
3ompadour and the straight front
figure as she led her caller into the
back room at her new boarding house,
let me show you all my Christmas
things. See this green petticoat with
the lace rufle? Isn't it a beauty? 1
have been just dying for one for q
year, and now I've gotsit at last!" and
she Rugged the rustling ruf1es with
an ecstatic sigh. "And just look at
these long white suede gloves. They
reach way above the elbow, dear, and
they cost four dollars. And take a
glance at this box Of silk stockings
all silk, my dear, every thread, and
warranted to wear forever. Now just
smell this extract. It's q t~hree-ounce
bottle, the very newest triumph Of
the perfumer's art. And here is a
duchesse lace handkerchief and a gold
bangle and an all-silk umbrella with a
sterling handle and a set of honest
true sure-enough mink and"
"But-but-" stammered the other,
VIII 0OAI JOu4 oil IAO0O IAAA60s ~ AIN
how on earth did they know what
you needed? And why did they do
it, and"
Smith & Smith sent some of
Them" interrupted the ~red-headed
girl, happily, "and Jones company
sent others, and Brown & Green sent
others-and I paid for them all my
self. You see, it was this way, I have
been working in this stupid old town
for ten years, denying myself every
thing I really want because it's too
expensive, and putting money in the
bank and saving up every year for
Christmas and then spending all
I've saved on a lot of presents and
tips and things for others that I
couldn't afford for myself I had just
a hundred dollars in the bank this
year, and I drew $50 of it out to
go and buy Christmas presents with,
and to distribute round among the
boarding house servants in tips. I
wasn't looking forward to the holt
day season very joyously, because
nobody ever sends me anything I
want, and I'm so poor and pinched
for weeks afterward that the season
of good will is only a miserable tragic
farce with me.
We'll, I started down to the shop
with that money and my list in my
pocket. Here's the list now:
Five dollars for father-a new
smoking jacket.
Five dollars for mother-a dress
pattern.
Fifteen dollars in trinkets to be
distributed among brothers, sisters,
cousins and aunts.
Ten dollars for Jack-a watch
charm.
Five dollars for charity to poor
folks.
Five dollars for little tricks for girl
friends.
Five dollars for tips. Il
while I was looking for fathers
smoking jacket my eye fell on this
green silk petticoat. I became fascin'
,ated. I went over and examined it.
The clerk told me it was ten dollars
I turned madly, sadly but firmly back
to those cheap, common old smoking
jackets again. But my heart failed
me-. Suddenly I grasped my courage
and my hand bag and shut my eyes
and went back and ordered the petit
coat sent to me G. o. D. I reflected
that If I had a change of heart or my
conscience hurt me I could send il
back again and say I did not want it
But the madness had got into my
blood. I went to look for some black
gloves for Aunt Elinor-and I came
away with these long white one j
hunted for cheap handkerchiefs fol
Cousin Kate and walked out with this
duchesse thing. I sought stockings
for my Oldest sister, Carrie, anG
came away with this box of silk dar
1tngs. I was just about to buy some
sachet for my chum Bertha when
saw the extract bottle here done III
in a velvet box-and fell. When I got
home that night I was Mortified tt
find that I had spent nearly the whole
OF my hundred. I rushed down to the
bank next morning, clinched my
teeth, shut my eyes and drew the
rest of it out. Then the things bega1
to arrive. Oh, it was glorious; JUS
like the visits of a dozen fairy Santa
Clauses and each n bringing what
!. had most longed for. Every time thu
: doorbell rang my heart went pity-the
, folks at home. But I never was s,
happy in my life. They say virtue i.
: It's own reward, and I believe it. Blu
the rewards Of sin and s%elfshness un
;. confined, unlimited, %unbounded.
I never had such a Christmas in m,
life.
J Il sat down and wrote sweet letter:
Of cheer and comfort to all the dea,
creatures at home. I told them how
hard I was working and that I hat
decided to give no Christmas gift.
!, this season and"
But, Jack!" broke in the other
How did you explain it to Jack?"
"Oh, I picked a quarrel with him
2 III make It up on New Years and i
will be all the sweeter. Anyway. Il
isn't wise In 1et q man +hinI- yo,, ~,