Gilpin observer., 1908-11-26
a GIFT
FOR Al.ElA

Matte" said Miss Porter's bach
elcr brother, who had recently sur
pr.sed his sister very much by becom-
ing engaged 10 be married. Il wish
you'd select an umbrella fo- Alma.
fouEl cut the last time l visited he
that sic neeHeG one"
"But Donald," protested his sister,
81 haTen't the Least iCea what Alma
likes. lt's rather Gimcult TO choose
things for cne I've never seen"
We'll said Donaid, fatuous,y, fo:
he was very much in love, your
tastes and hers must be q good deal
alike, fer YOU bo,h seem to like me-"
Sister Matte shifted rather con-
/ temptucusly, but made no further OBJ,
lection TO the tasE imposed u1on he-
She shopIed rainstakingly and finally
bought a handsome black silk UNI
brella, which was slightly reduced il
price owing to q fancy border, which
the clerk assured her was still very
stylish, though not quite the latest
| touch.
| 1t was so pretty and attractive that
! she felt sure Alma would be delighted
with it. She knew she would be her
| self. Notwithstanding her pretended
sccrn, Donald's remark that she and
Alma must be a good deal alike had
given her a pleasant impression that
rcrhaps their tastes might be sim
/ liar.
When Donald brought his wife HON
after a brief wedding trip his siste-
| awoke very quickly to the fact that
there were great many more po!n' :
| of difference than of resemblance b
tween the new sisters-in-law. Pretty
Alma was not at all like plain, prac-
teal Matte. The latter could not
but marvel that her staid brothe-
could feel at home with such a pleas
ure-loving creature. Still, the same
personal charm that had attracted him
won her heart also and she gave the
| little bride a warm welcome.
alma said Donald the day after
their arrival, Il have not seen your
umbrella since we came. Do you know
where it is?' u
"No, | haven't the slightest idea, "
answered Alma. with no concern what
ever in he- soft voice.
| "Dc you remember whether we had
| 1t in the cab when we came up from
/ the station?"
mo. think we didn't have it then,
| Donald Don't worry about it now,
for you know you promised to take
Matte and me out in the parks.
Don't you think you ought to be tele-
phoning for q carriage or an auto
mobile? Do get an automobile if
you can. That's a ducky dear
| Dignified Donald ducky dear. Sis
ter Matte gasped, bat her brother
looked. foolishly happy and went ODE
diently to the telephone in the next
room.
There said Alma, confdentially
when she and Matte were left alcne
together, Il hope he'll forget about
that umbrella l said l hadn't the
slightest idea where it was and
hadn't. because | left it on the train
before we changed cars at Detroit, and
now it may be travelling all around the
east looking for its unfortunate owner
made up my mind the minute Don
aid gave re that umbrella that
would lose it very soon. 1t was such
disappointment when | had let hin
know / wanted one, for him to bring
me a perfectly hideous thing. Poo!
old Don is darling, but he hasn't
any more taste than q COW. has he:
The idea CT his buying that umbrella
with fancy border. OF course.
just couldn't carry it, could H."
Not if it did violence to your entire
nature, suppose" answered Matte
thinking with some grimness of the
weary hours she had passed shopping
for that offending article.
A week later Eonald came in beam
ing one afternoon and saying: I've
got surprise for you, Alma. Cues:
what it is"
oh. is it one of those lovely brace
lets admired so much in New York;
No, it's nothing like that" saiC
Donald.
AN electric runabout? You know
I'm wild for a little runabout"
I'VE could hardly afford an automo
bile. just now" said Donald, with gray
ity. You're guessing a little abov'
the mark"
We'll, theater tickets for tonight
mo, you were to the theater nigh
before last, and we decided not to g
more than once n week"
You decided" corrected Alma. 50
never make hard and fast rules
We'll. what DO you think hav
for you?" persisted Donald, still in
tent on the pleasure of the surprise.
"A big box of oNocolates?"