St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1909-07-17

thenon, Clarissa. It really does. til
strange how these suggestions come
to me, transcendent Nominations tina
open wide the windows of my being
and register ineffaceable impressions
That's just the way / felt when / saw
this splendid hamper. 'Parthenon!
something seemed to whisper; anc
Parthenon it will always mean to me
So austere, yet so satisfyingly beauti
full! How does it appeal to you?"
"Of course, DEAR" modestly re
sponded Clarissa, I'm not clever like
you, and never have occult intima
lions, so, to tell the truth, it merely
seems to me the biggest and baldest
hamper I ever saw. You'll forgive
me, Appolonia?" she concluded
humbly.
| I'm disappointed in you," Mrs
Blander replied, palpably rufied. Its
humiliating to know that my compan
ionship has done so little for you
and that this hamper is to you moth
ing but hamper. hope you"-turn
ing to Mr. Booder-"can see in it some
thing beyond the material"
Mr. Booder advanced to the side OF
the wicker elephant and peered
within.
Il can't, ma'am," he confessed
| shamefacedly; there amt anything
in it I can see, not even materials"
He continued gazing dejectedly into
the bowels of the hamper.
i If estheticism can snort, that low
word would best describe the sound
of disgust with which Mrs. Blander
favored Mr.. Booder.
Are men but clods?" she cried.
Does intuition play no part with you?
Intuit, sir, intuit!"
Such was the commanding presence
of strong-minded Mrs. Blander and the
obedient servility of weak-minded Mr..
Booder, that in the twinkling of an
eye, and before Mr.. Booder himself
knew what he was doing, he had
leaped over the side of the hamper
and was meekly gazing out at his res
olute customer.
Clarissa showed herself not alto
gether devoid of humor and sniggered
painfully; but Mrs. Blander was SEN
sitive and silenced her by glance.
What do you mean," she inquired,
behaving in this fashion? Come out
at once and explain your conduct"
Mr. Booder clambered out of the
Parthenon and answered, defiantly:
you told me to do it."
Il did nothing of the kind" contra
dicted Mrs. Blander in her most posi-.
tive manner.
"I'll leave it to the young lady If
you didn't" he recklessly retorted.
you called out: Into it, sir, into it, !
and if that amt plain English I'd like
to know the reason why
Once again Clarissa Jared upon
Mrs. Blander's nerves, and with a
sweeping gesture the latter waved
away the hamper.
Amt you going to take it, after
all?" asked disappointed Mr.. Booder,
loath to recommence his labors.
"Never!" cried Mrs. Blander. Not
after it has been desecrated by ridi-
cule and inhabited by ignorance"
Mr.. Booder quailed before her eye
and embarrassedly trundled away the
classic pile.
It was not until all of the stock had
been paraded before her that Mrs
Blander decided upon a medium-sized
hamper that bulged in the middle, had
outspreading handles and a magenta
band near the top.
1.-THE magenta border is a blow to
me-" she explained to Mr.. Booder,
'as the room in which it is to be
placed Is in ethereal blue, and I fear
a subtle antagonfsm between the
two"
''The price of this" began Mr..
Booder, pencil in hand, glad to be on
the ground he comprehended.
But not so. Mrs. Blander raised a
supplicating hand as she said: do
not name the price, l beg of you. /
make it a point never to sully an OBJ
ject at the time of purchase by iden-
tifying it with the cost. If, when it
is delivered, find it beyond what I
can afford, simply return it. In this
way | contribute my mite toward
spiritualizing trade. Now let us go,
Clarissa, and as we go let us cast fire.
quent glances at the new symbol, for
l wish to carry away a distinct pic
ture, unconfused with environing OBJ
jects."
So Mrs. Blander glided from the
room, part of the time backward,
looking out of half-closed lids at the
receding lines of the hamper and it's
border.
"She forgot to give me her ad-
Dress" malignly chuckled Mr.. Booder,
beginning to recover his spirits.