St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1908-06-27


stopped TO sweep it up. Emily waited
tremblingly, her hands fiuttering with
excitement; she had to hold one with
the other to prevent herself from
snatching the enveloping wrappings
from the box.
Matilda shook the dust-pan into the
stove and put the broom away before
she began to unite the package.
well, 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 fiounced with tum-
bled lace, with huge bunch of yellow
and crimson roses with overblown pet
ais on one side. It's 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 q
| gift overwhelmed her.
Matilda turned upon her fiercely.
Eyes, 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
her sisters-in-laW!" She laughed an
grily.
Emily smoothed the fiounces rever-
emily. Il think it's lovely" she said,
with unWonted firmness. Perhaps it
is out of style, but, anyway, it's beau
tfful; all silk and lace flowers, and
such color! Just like sunshine"
She held her outspread hands over
the shade as though to warm them.
The chill, stiff room with its brown in
grain carpet and horsehair furniture,
it's 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 q
lamp as big as that rocking chair!
Where did she s'pose we'd get a lamp
like that, and what in the name of
sense would we want with it, anyhow?
I spose 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 fiounces 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 u.s." 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 founces
lay sweeping the marble top. Emily
stood contemplating it thoughtfully
It certainly was very large. Matilda
snorted again.
Got it on the lamp, have you?
Looks nice, don't it? Did you ever see
such a fool as Eleanor in your life?
Well, there's just one thing to dc
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
ness knows"
Emily trembled; her hands clasped
each other and held fast. "Give il
away" she inquired, family.
"Of course" returned her sister
briskly, her pleasure in the happy
thought increasing as she dwelt upoI
it. "You get some more string and
we'll do it up right again, and III
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 it's 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 ge
time to send it off Somewhere. dom
know whether I'll give it to Miss Jane
SON or not, but I'll think of somebod!
after awhile
Emily took the box in silence, ant
went upstairs. That night after sh'
had locked her door she pulled 1t GU
from the farthest corner under tn,
l 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 he
= lined face softened to an almos
. youthful contour and bloom. Ever,
r night for weeks she held innocen
I revel with the lamp shade in her ic.
l chamber, while Matilda slept acros
J. the hall in forgetfulness.
:. When the invitation to Henriettl
! Hudson's wedding came late in March
/. Emily experienced sudden shock
a her heart throbbed in nervous proph
d ecy.
q $50 she's going to get married a
= last" commented Matilda. We'll,
|. should think it was about time; She
t been keeping company with Jane
{ Headly nobody knows how long.
J. s'pose we'll have to go"
q "Will you send a PRESENT." inquire
;. Emily, trembling. Her sister locke
at her sharply.
Eyes, of course, I'm going to Civ
4 a present" she said, emphatically.
L don't think so much of Mrs. Hudson
= but a neighbor's a neighbor, and
:. amt going to do less than other pei
9 pie / guess I'll get glass dish 70