Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1908-06-11


stopped TO sweep IL up. Emily waited
tremblingly, her hands futtering 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.
We'll, she's done il 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. II 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 a 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 u.s."
Her sense of unworthiness of such
gift overwhelmed her.
Matilda turned upon her fiercely.
Yes, for u.s." 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 flounces rever-
emily Il think it's lovely" she said,
with unwonted frmness. Perhaps IL
is out of style, but, anyway, it's beau
tiful; 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,
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 EN- she exclaimed vehe-
mently A lamp-shade, and for
lamp as big as that rockingham!
Where did she spose we'd get lamp
like that and what in the name of
sense would we want with il, 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 founces were a little wrinkled,
it was true. She held the shade close
TO her cheek She could almost feel the
glowing warmth Of its intense color.
Lovely, lovely-and for u.s." she MUIR
INJURED. softly. Her cup of happiness
held but 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; its fiounces
lay sweeping the marble top. Emily
stood contemplating it thoughtfully
1t certainly was very large. Matilda
snorted again.
Got il 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 do
with it, and that's give it away.
won't have IL 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 ii
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 il to.
She snatched the shade from the
lamp, and began 10 twist the papers
about it again with growing cheerful
ness. Emily stood looking mourn
fully at its fast-vanishing 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 II up in the attic till 7 get
time to send IL off somewhere. don't
4 huON NntlHtl III ElNC IL W MISS jamie
son or not, but III think Of somebody
after awhile"
Emily took the box in silence, and
went upstairs. That night after she
had locked her door she pulled il 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 a sudden shock:
her heart thr0bbed in nervous proph.
ecy
so she's going to get married at
last. commented Matilda. well. |