The Farmville herald. [volume] (Farmville, Va.) 1890-1934, 1907-08-09
her DESPERATE
PLUNGE

PLUNUc /
Come" said the girl with the red
p1mrsl1uf and the straight front
dgmc as she led her caller into the
bdck room do her new boarding house
'lot mo show you an my Christmas
things See this green pctticoat with
the lace rume3 Isn't Il q beauty /
have boon just dying Tor one for a
yoar. and now I've got II az lasti' and
She hugeod the rustling ruilics with
an ecstatic sigh And just look az
these long white suede gloves They
reach way above the elbow dear and
They cost four dollars And take a
glance no this box Of silk stockings
an sllk my DEAR every thread. and
warranted t0 wear forever Now just
smell this extract It's a threeounce
bottle. the very newest triumph Of
the poriumers art And here Is a
dlchcsse lace handkerchief and a gold
bangle and an aiisilk umbrella with
sterling handle and set of honest
rue mrecnoueh mink and"
but" stammored the other
"vho sent you an these things? And
how on earth did they know what
you needed? And why did they do
%. and"
Smith e. Smith sent some Of
them" interrupted the redheadcd
eil. happily "and Jones company
sent others. and Brown q Green sent
olAers-and I paid for them all my
self You see. It was this way. have
been working in this stupid old town
FOR ten years. denying myself every.
thing / 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 /
couldn't afford for myself ! had just
"a hundred dollars In the bank this
year. and I drew $40 Of IL out to
geo and buy Christmas presents with.
and 90 distribute round among the
boarding house servants I'm tips l
wasn't looking forward TO the holi-
day season very ioyously. because
nobody ever sends me anything ]
want. and IN so poor and pinched
for wccks afteTward that the season
af good viii IS only miserable tragic
arce with me-
"Wen I started down 20 the shop
with that money and my list in my
pocket. Here's the list now.
Five dollars for fathcr-a new
smoking Jacket
Five dollars for mother-a dress
pattern
Fifteen dollars in trinkets 10 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
1--WE dollars for tips.
while ! was looking for fathers
smoking Jacket my eye fell on this
greon silk potticoat became fascin-
atcd i went over and examined IT,
Tho clerk told me Il was ten dollars.
I turned madly. sadly but firmly back
20 those cheap common old smoking
Jackets again. But my heart failed
me Suddenly / grasped my courage
and NY hand bag and shut my eyes
and went back and ordered the petit
coat sont 10 me c. o. D. 7 reflected
Thar n had a change Of heart OF my
conscience hurt me l could send II
back again and say 7 did not want IL.
/ But the madness had got into my
blood went 10 look for some black
gloves for Aunt Elinor-and ! came
away with these long white ones. ]
hunted for cheap handkerchiofs for
/ Cousin Kate and walked out with this
duchesse thing ! sought stockings
for my oldest sister Carrie. and
came away with this box Of silk dar-
nnrs. was just about TO buy some
sachet for my chum Bertha when
SOW the extract bottle here done up
IN - velvet box-and fell When got
home that night ! was Mortified to
find that had spent nearly the whole
of ms hundred I rushed down 20 the
bank next morning. clinched my
tooth. shut my eyes and drew the
rest of It out Then the things began
to arrive. Oh. It was glorious just
/ IKE the visits of a dozen fairy Santa
/ Clauses and each one bringing what
had most longod for Every time the
doorbcr rang my heart went pity-the.
folks at home. But I never was so
happy IN my life They say virtue IS
It's own reward. and believe H. But
tho rewards of sin and selfshness un.
confined. unlimited. unbounded.
| never had such a Christmas in my
NE
4 sat down and wrote sweet letters
of cheer and comfort 20 all the dear
creatures at home / told them how
hard ! was working and that l had
decided 20 give no Christmas gifts
this season and"
But jack" broke in the other
How dld you explain It to Jack?"
"Oh. / picked a quarrel with him
Inn make Il up on Now Years and II
viii be an the sweeter Anyway, n
fsn'f wise 10 Let a man think YOU are
too fond II him believe the watch
charm would have been OVERRIDING IT,
don't yoU?"
And the servantsi" persisted the
other girl Wont they make your
lie torture for a year."
Not at al You see. I was tired
ol that place. anyhow So ! Just
stayed there until Christmas was