The Montgomery tribune., 1910-11-11
GIFTS FOR
BEATRICE

Allen found lying on his desk mes
sage telephoned by his wife while he
was away In court. 1t read; "Am
downtown. Will take the $40 home.
Can your"
He had been in court all day and
was very tired, yet somehow his eye
, fingered on the date that had been
added by his methodical stenographer.
June 30. Why
He staggered to his feet, overcome
with direful thought. Yesterday was
Beatrices birthday and he had forgot
tent
He took out his pocket notebook
from habit Yes. her birthday was
| the 2sth. He remembered with blush
of shame his own birthday, not two
months ago, when she had had the
Williams into dinner and there had
been birthday cake with its gleam-
ing candles.
He flung down his roller top with
| a c1atter. It was 4: 30 o'clock If he
could catch the 5:15 express he could
I reach home before Beatrice and may
be flx up something that would make
1t up to her.
Telling the Office boy that he would
not be back he slammed the door and
rushed away without a systematic
thought.
He plunged headlong into depart
ment store with but 80 minutes to ac-
complish anything and make the train.
He passed before a counter laden with
half a dozen pairs, adding hastily.
''Ill take them with me. Hurry the
package!" AS he left the counter he
remembered despairingly that he had
given her silk stockings at Christmas.
These won't do for the zeal thing,
then" he murmured. Here's wells.
Does she want wells? Yes, for the
Williamses auto, since we have none"
So he bought three beautiful long
wells in shades of brown.
That's surely the shade to go with
her tan coat" he thought. Though
why l should give her wells l can't
see. Handkerchief" he muttered, as
he passed a counter laden with them.
Yes, anything! like them myself"
He beckoned frantically to clerk. "A
dozen, best quality. And hurry the
package"
Then came the disquieting thought,
"But these won't do for the real
thing" So he bought two pretty hat
pins and wasted several precious min.
| Co \; no
AS he turned from the hatpin coun-
ter he gasped at the sight Of clock
pointing triumphantly at five. He
rushed for the door. Perhaps with
flowers and candy this helter-skelter
choice of gifts might do. If he could
only think of something she wanted
his forgetfulness might be overlooked
At the entrance the inspiration came
in the shape of parasol. She had
wanted one last Sunday-a pink one
This would be the gift, then. He
ordered it eagerly. Pale-pink chiffon
1t was, with an ivory handle.
| On his way to the train he took
roses. Then he swung aboard just
| as the train pulled out.
He turned the latch key Of his own
residence softly and slipped in with
| the air of a burglar arriving home
with a rich haul. In spite of himself
he smiled as he threw his bundles
| down and mopped his brow. He had
reached home first! There was JOY
In the thought and he hurriedly open
ed the bundles.
He opened the pink parasol, threw
the wells over it and the stockings
over them. The hatpins and the hand
kerchiefs were in evidence and tht
candy was unwrapped, displaying 6
| festive bow.
Just as he put the roses in vase
without water the door opened and
| Beatrice walked in.
why, John Allen!" she cried
whatever in the world! Didn't 20,
get my message? You're day early
at this, aren't you? This Is the 27tl
surely. It's like having presents
Christmas eve, isn't it?"
christmas eve!" he stammered, al
he kissed her in apologetic fashion.
"You didn't forget, did you, sill!
man?" she laughed. Tomorrow II
the 2Sth, isn't it?"
Allen had been an emergency mai
from his youth up and he seized thu
situation with mighty grip.
"Of course, 1t is, Beatrice. Blu
don't you know that that stupid Carol
case takes me out of town tomorrow? /?
Then as he watched her exclaim owe
her gifts he murmured to himself:
nJtfa that hl00minp atenO1ra NH q