The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1908-08-11

| '"S obhSi W prevent neTSeI from
snatching the enYeloping wrappings
from the box.
Matilda shook the dust-pan into the
stove and put the broom away before
she began to unite the package.
We'll, she's done it up well enough, {"
she said, grudgingly, as she took off
the layers Of stiff paper.
Matilda slowly unwound the last
paper and held up the gift 1t was
an enormous orange-colored silk lamp
shade, made over an umbrella-shaped
form, unanimously founced with tum-
bled lace, with huge bunch of yellow
and crimson roses with overblown pet
ais on one side. Its edges were lit
tie frayed and the ribs of the frame
| slightly soiled
Emily clasped her hands and gasped
In sheer delight.
oh, how beautiful, how beautiful"
she whispered. For us! For us!"
Her sense of unworthiness of such a
gift overwhelmed her
Matilda turned upon her fiercely.
Yes, for us!" she repeated, bitterly,
for us! Miserable, mussed, faded old
thing, out of style, of course too old
for her parlor, but good enough for
| ner sisters-in-law!" She laughed an
grily
Emily smoothed the fiounces rever-
emily. 81 think it's lovely" she said,
with unwonted frmness. Perhaps it
is out of style. but, anyway, it's beau
tiful; all silk and lace flowers, and
such a color! Just like sunshine!"
She held her outspread hands over
the shade as though to warm them.
The chill, stiff room with it's brown in
grain carpet and horsehair furniture,
its oval photographs and dingy wall
paper, all spoke of an existence sparse
and bare.
Suddenly Matilda snorted with con-
tempt both of gift and giver and
tossed the shade recklessly on the
table.
"Of all the fool things she ever did,
this caps 'em!" she exclaimed vehe-
mently "A lamp-shade, and for
lamp as big as that rockingham!
Where did she s'pose we'd get lamp
like that, and what in the name of
sense would we want with it, anyhow?
| s'pose she thought we'd like it! Like
it," She passed into the kitchen and
shut the door with no uncertain sound
Emily gently lifted the despised gift.
The flounces were a little wrinkled,
it was true. She held the shade close
to her cheek. She could almost feel the
glowing warmth of it's intense color.
Lovely, lovely-and for us!" she muir
INJURED, softly Her cup of happiness
held but a thimbleful, and now it
overlooked
When Matilda returned, the shade
was suspended uncertainty by the
chimney of the small kerosene lamp
which stood on the table; it's flounces
lay sweeping the marble top. Emily
stood contemplating it thoughtfully.
1t certainly was very large. Matilda
snorted again.
Got it on the lamp have you?
Looks nice. don't it? Did you ever see
such fool as Eleanor in your life?
Well, there's just one thing to do
with it, and that's give it away. /
won't have it cluttering up the house
and we amt got any use for it, good
cess knows"
Emily trembled; her hands clasped
each other and held fast. Give 1t
away?" she inquired, family.
"Of course" returned her sister,
briskly, her pleasure in the happy
thought increasing as she dwelt upon
it. you get some more string and
Wen do it up right again, and I'll
think of somebody we can give it to.
She snatched the shade from the
lamp, and began to twist the papers
about it again with growing cheerful
ness. Emily stood looking mourn
fully at its DISTINGUISHING beauty. Like
all the lovely things her soul desired
hungrily, it was not for her.
There" she said, there's an end
of that! Nice present, wasn't it?
You put it up in the attic till get
time to send it off somewhere. l don't
know whether I'll give 1t to Miss Jane
son or not, but I'll think of somebody
after awhile"
emily Nbph NAO IVA III SliSuC6s
went upstairs. That night after she
had locked her door she pulled it out
from the farthest corner under the
bed and took out the lamp shade.
handling it with the tenderest touches. |
Her slender figure in its scant gown
seemed to expand in its light, and her
lined face softened to an almost
youthful contour and bloom. Every
night for weeks she held innocent
revel with the lamp shade in her icy
chamber, while Matilda slept across
the hall in forgetfulness.
When the invitation to Henrietta
Hudson's wedding came late in March.
Emily experienced sudden shock;
her heart thrObbed in nervous proph- |
ecy.
so she's going to get married at
last" commented Matilda. well. I |
should think it was about time; she's
been keeping company with James
Headly nobody knows how long. |
s'pose Wen have to CO."
"WiH you send PRESENT." inquired