Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1907-12-05

Gertrude looked meditatively at
the open letter lying upon the sheet
she was hemming. 1t was addressed
to her sister and was written in a
large, slanting hand on the thickest
of parchment note-paper, which ex-
hailed an odor of heliotrope. The
writer was Mrs. De Councey Barris-
tow, the president of the Humane So
ciety, and she informed Miss Fftz-
hugh that all arrangements having
been completed for the art loan ex,
hibition, for the benefit of society,
she ventured to ask from them the
loan of two or three family heirlooms,
feeling that they must have many
treasured relics of by-gone genera
tons which could not fail to be of in
terest to the general public. She
promised that everything intrusted to
her care should be carefully guarded
and returned intact at the close of
the exhibition.
Il don't see that there is anything
to be done except to tell her frankly
that we have nothing to lend" said
Gertrude calmly.
Yes; and have her look complete
ly overwhelmed with surprise; beg
my pardon, and say she is 50 sorry,
and that she wouldn't have asked me
for the world, if she dreamed for
single moment that we could not com
ply with the request. oh. know
her, | know her only too well.
IF I could only beg, borrow, or
Gertrudel - Amy sprang up suddenly
from the old lounge on which she had
thrown herself Il have it! That
box belonging to our revered great.
aunt In that
"Oh, Amy, you wouldn't, you
couldn't open that"
Yes; | would and / could-under
these desperate circumstances. Where
would be the harm? Aunt Reliance
is in California and would never be
any the wiser, and there is no end Of
old china in that box. I'll get the
hatchet and open it now. Glorious
thought"
Gertrude looked grave Her old
greataunt, Reliance, was so eXacting,
and so imperious, that all her rela-
tives stood in awe of her. The previ-
Gus fall, on going to California to
spend the winter, she had sent a large
box to Miss Jane, with the request
that it should be stored until her re-
turn. Incidentally, she mentioned in
the accompanying letter that the box
contained the superb antique vase
which had been left 10 her by ma
ternal uncle. ana the white and yell
low fOWered teapot which had be-
longed to her grandmother Fitzhugh
Amy, who had once paid a visit to
Miss Reliance, recollected both heir
looms perfectly, and had described
them minutely to Gertrude.
Suppose the things should be
broken?" said Gertrude.
we won't suppose anything so un-
likely" rejoined Amy, who was in
high spirits, now that she had solved
her perplexing problem.
Amy received most effusive letter
from Mrs. Barristow, in which she as
serted that she could never be sufii-
ciently grateful for the privilege of ex-
hibiting heirlooms so beautiful and so
rare, and would hold herself respon-
sible for their safety.
The Art Loan Exhibition-thanks
to the tireless energy of the efficient
president of the Humane society
was a pronounced success. People
were pleased at the idea of exhibiting
their family relics, and of having an
opportunity to air their pride of
birth; and those who did not contrib
ute came to criticise admire and gos-
sip.
Amy and Gertrude arrived a little
late, and after a ramble around the
room stationed themselves near the
table on which the fat teapot and the
top-heavy vase had a conspicuous
place. Upon each was a card bearing
the words: Loaned by Miss Fftz
hugh And Amy felt a momentary
pride as she called Gertrudes atten.
tion to them.
While they were standing there, Mrs
Barristow came rushing up to them
her face radiant
Here you are, mounting guard owe!
your beloved treasures, | see" she
cried, in her most cordial voice. How
can | ever thank you sufficiently. nv
dears, for lending them? That teapot
is just too sweet for anything, and the
vase is a perfect love! They have
been so much admired! | assure you
my dears, nothing in the whole ex
hibition has attract"
Look out! Look out there!" cried
loud voice, and man came rushine
toward them, waving his arms fran
tically
Amy looked around then up-iust
in time to see a large oil portrait
which hung above the table by which
they we're standing, plunge forward
The next instant there was an aw
full crash, the sound of which rang in
her ears for MANY a day and tbe