The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-08-29

could sell it to him. and then-then you
| could bring me the money
.Tn buy 1t myself said Beverly
promptly. II have never wanted but
one thing in my life more than want
| that bowl"
WHATS the other thingr' clarice
Beverly looked down at her uncon-
| scious face.
| "Oh, we'll" he said at last. IT won't
| tell you until am sure can get the
bowl"
"The man offered us two hundred
shouldn't expect that now. / think
one hundred viii be enough"
| WEN see" Beverly stated. II you'll
bring 1t, I can put proper price on
it."
| Come to the back door while I an,
getting breakfast" Clarice directed.
Aunt Matilda IL always asleep thea."
| Clarice getting breakfast ives won
derful. She wore an enveloping blue
apron, and her sleeves were rolled back
from her white arms. She was stirring
the breakfast porridge as Beverly came
In
'Td ask you to have some" she said.
| but we haven't any cream"
You wait" Beverly told her. and
caught up a quaint pitcher. And pres
entity he was back with basket of
strawberries, the cream and some rolls.
C1arice protested.
"Oh, you shouldn't -"
Beverly took both OF her hands in
his.
Dear child" he said, surely you
will let me do such little thing
i The blue bowl was even to Beverly's
unframed eye, thing of beauty. He
insisted that Clarice should let him pay
the full two hundred, but she would
n a "a 81 hA 10 Ant q oh b
for one hundred and fifty dollars and
handed 1t to her across the table, and
Just at that moment a sepulchral voice
came from the doorway.
"Clarice, what are you doing with my
blue bowl?''
And there stood Aunt Matilda. look
ing as which-Hke as possible in her
black dressing gown, with her gray
hair falling about her shoulders.
Clarice shrunk back. "Oh." she
said, ct thought you were asleep"
The old woman took step forward.
ct walked early" she said. land
went to look at my china. Some
thing warned me. And the blue bowl
was missing-give 1t to me at
But it is not your blue bowl"
: Beverly informed her. "Clarice has
told me that 1t belonged to her father.
and was left to her with other pieces,
and now she has sold it to me-
| wv nat! Aunt Matilda Shr1ekeQ.
did you dare?"
Clarice's head went up. "It was
mine. Aunt Matilda" she stated.
But it breaks the Set" the old
woman moaned. "Clarice. give him
back his money and give me back my
bowl"
She clutched at the coveted piece,
but Beverly's hand restrained her.
There is only one way that you can
have it," he said.
"And that?" she demanded eagerly.
you must let me marry your
niece. She will then give you all the
china, and I will settle an income on
!. you SO that you can live comfortably
and hire a woman to stay with you.
And then Clarice and I will go out
into the great world together
He turned to the girl and his eyes
. pleaded.
oh" she whispered. "but I have
known you such a short time"
What is time to us?'' he asked
my mother will come to see you, my
! sisters. so that you may have no doubt
as to my character-my circumstances
and as for the rest, surely yor
won't send me away. Clarice?"
i He held out his hands to her. and
presently she came to him, and he pu
one arm about her protectingly as h
. turned to Aunt Matilda
"And now" he asked, will you talk
: the bow1?"
Aunt Matilda's eyes gloated over II
Eyes," she flung out.
and will take Clarfce." saft
8 Beverly, joyously. and. as Aun
Matilda Rugged her treasure to he
= breast, he bent and kissed the lady o
4 his t-(Copyrighted, 1908, by AS
r sociated Literary Press-)