The Carlisle independent., 1909-07-01

eHCe O1 so DucQ or the 1nDeduC1ul. Finally he rolled into place a hamper so huge that it looked capable of ac- commodating the horse of Troy.
 The instant Mrs Blander saw it she exclaimed, gracefully: That is an exponent of most charming type! Pray rest from your labors, while mediate upon it. See, Clarissa, how noble are it's proportions, how chaste it's design, how Doric it's atmosphere! Do you know what it suggests to me, dear?"
 Clarissa couldn't guess, so Mrs. Blander cried, joyously: "The Par thenon, Clarissa. It really does. It's strange how these suggestions come to me, transcendent iluminations that open wide the windows of my being, and register ineffaceable impressions. That's just the way I felt when I saw this splendid hamper. 'Parthenonn something seemed to whisper; and Parthenon it wih always mean to me. So austere, yet so satisfyingly beauti- ful! How does it appeal to you?"
 'Of course, dear" modestly re- sponded Clarissa, I'm not clever like you, and never have occult intima- tions, so, to tell the truth, it merely seems to me the biggest and baldest hamper l ever saw. You'll forgive me, Appolonia?" she concluded, i humbly.
 I'm disappointed in you" Mrs. Blander replied, palpably rufled. Its humiliating to know that my compan- l ionship has done so little for you, and that this hamper is to you noth- | ing but hamper. I hope you"-turn- l ing to MT. Booder-"can see in it some thing beyond the material"
 MT. Booder advanced to the side of | the wicker elephant and peered within
 T can't, ma'am," he confessed, shamefacedly; there ain't anything in it I can see, not even materials"
 He continued gazing dejectedly into the bowels of the hamper.
 If catholicism can snort, that low word would best describe the sound of disgust with which Mrs. Blander 1 favored MT. Booder
 Are men but elods?" she cried. Does intuition play no part with you? i Intuit, sir, intuit!"
 Such was the commanding presence of strong minded Mrs. Blander and the obedient servility of weak minded MT. Booder, that in the twinkling of an eye, and before MT. Booder himself knew what he was doing, he had leaped over the side of the hamper 1 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" Mir. Booder clambered out of the Parthenon and answered, defiantly' You told me to do it."
 q 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 ain't plain English I'd like to know the reason why"
 Once again Clarissa jared upon Mrs Blander's nerves. and with sweeping gesture the latter waved away the hamper.
 "Ain't you going to take it, after all?" asked disappointed MT. Booder, loath to recommence his labors.
 "Never" cried Mrs. Blander Not after it has been desecrated by ridi- cule and inhabited by ignorance"
 MT. 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.
 '.The magenta border is a blow to me-" she explained to MT Booder, 'as the room in which it is to be placed is in ethereal blue, and I fear d two"
 "The price of this" began MT. 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, I beg of you. l make it point never to sully an ob- ject at the time of purchase by iden- tifying it with the cost. If, when it is delivered, l find it beyond what l can afford, I simply return it. In this way I contribute my mite toward spiritualizing trade. Now let us go, Clarissa, and as we go let us cast fre- quent glances at the new symbol, for I wish to carry away distinct pic. ture, unconiused with environing ob- 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 its magenta border.