The Columbus journal., 1907-03-06
HER DESPERATE
PLUNGE

OON4~S - OA0 oAAA ~ 4V0
pompadour 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 rune? Isn't It . beauty3 I
have been just dying for one for .
year. and now I've got 1t at lastI" and
she Rugged the rustling rumes 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 q
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 threeounce
bottle, the very newest triumph Of
the perfumer's art. And here 70 q
duchesse lace handkerchief and q gold
bangle and IN all-silk umbrella with .
sterling handle and . set Of honest
true sure enough mink and"
"But-but-" stammered the other,
who sent you all these things? And
how ON earth did they know what
you needed? And why did they do
it. and"
Smith 4 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 a 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 q lot Of presents and
dps and things for others that I
couldn't afford for myself I had just
q hundred dollars in the bank this
year, and I drew $50 Of It out to
60 and buy Christmas presents with, ;
and to distribute round among the
boarding house servants in tips. 1
wasn't looking forward to the holi-
day season very joyously, because
nobody ever sends me anything 1
want. and I'm 30 poor and pinched
for weeks afterward that the season
of good will 10 only q miserable tragic
farce with me. i
well, 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
among brothers, sisters,
cousins and aunts.
Ten dollars for jack watch
charm.
Five dollars for charity to poor
folks. -
Five dollars for little tricks for girl
Five dollars for tips.
while I was looking for fathers
smoking Jacket my eye fen on this
green silk petticoat. I became fascin-
ated. ! went over and examined Il
The clerk told me It was ten dollars.
turned madly. sadly but firmly hack
% those cheap, common old smoking
again. But my heart failed
sud1en0 I grasped my courage
md my hand bag and shut my eyes
md went back and ordered the pettt
oct sent to me c. o. D. I reelected
hat II ! had . change Of heart Of ny
hurt me I could send Il
'ack again and say I did not want e.
the madness had got into my
Hood. I went to look for some black
loves for Aunt Elinor-and I came
way with these long white ones.
united for cheap handkerchiefs for
;oustn Kate and walked out with this
luchesse thing. I sought stockings
Or my Oldest sister. Carrie. and
anne away with this box Of silk dar.
|ngs. I wa just about to buy some
achet for my chum Bertha when I
aw the extract bottle here done up
4 . velvet bo1-and fell. When I got
ono that night I Vas horriAed to
nd that I had spent nearly the whole
{ my hundred. I rushed down TO the
ank ne1t morning. clinched my
eeth. shut ny eyes and drew the
ut Of e out Then The things began
arrive. Oh. Il was glorious; just
ke The visits a . dooea fAiry Santa
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