Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1910-04-21
WEDDING
GIFTS

ooh, Fred!" exclaimed the engaged
girl to the engaged young man who
had just entered the hall door. Then
burst into tears.
"Why, Kathie," gasped the mysti-
fed Fred, what's up?"
"Oh, Fred!" moaned Katharine amid
strangled sobs. did you ever see
anything more hideous in all your
life?" She held up something round,
smooth and pearly White in color.
Think of wearing it! Think of it,
Fred! Oh, of all spiteful creatures.
girls are the worst!"
Katharine shifted recuperatively and
dabbed bit of lace upon her discol-
ored eyes. Presently she was in q
condition to tell her story.
"The Alpha Zeta girls did it just be-
cause it makes them jealous to think
that I'm about to marry such splen-
did man as you. They are, Fred she
insisted as the young man smiled a
bit incredulously. Though in fair
ness to them, will admit there is the
smallest chance possible Of their hav-
ing actually imagined that I'd like
this frightful thing.
You see" began Katharine conf
dentially as she settled herself COM
fortably beside the young man, when
Clara Frazier was married last June
the Alpha Zetas decided to give her a
handsome bracelet. And gave in my
little $1.50-I, who love Clara as
should love viper Do you remem-
Der, Fred, when you both happened to
be on the same train going to Detroit
a year ago? OF course, know that
you were merely polite to her, but she
actually made so much out of your at
tentions to her when she told about
them that the girls thought you and
were on the point of quarreling. Since
then Clara and have kept up per-
feet fiction of friendship. If we meet
as often as three times a day she al
ways kisses me on both cheeks and,
opening her eyes wide, inquiries sweet
ly, How's Fred?'
We'll, to get back to Clara's we'd
ding present, I was one of the commit
tee of three appointed to select the
bracelet. For some reason or other
we put off making the purchase till
the last day. BY that time Carrie had
sprained her ankle roller skating and
Helen had to help her mother pack
for trip to New York, so | was left
to choose the gift all by myself.
i had perfectly miserable time,
Fred. All the way downtown / Jug
gled impossible designs up and down
in my mind. By the time the sales
man began bringing out tray after
tray of bracelets for my inspection l
was utterly confused.
"Of course, some of them were
dreams. There were gay Partisan de-
signs and hand-wrought orientals. 1
saw a silver bracelet set with tur-
quoise, native drilled and warranted
never to fade. There was beauty in
rose. gold with enamel flower tracings
and studs of pearls. But did select
one of these? Never!
II waved aside all the lovely ones
and chose silver beaded affair. 1t
was an ugly Wall of Troy pattern set
with eight lapis lazulis and three
cream jades. There wasn't a bit of
high light on the article. Altogether
1t was the ugliest bracelet ever saw
In all my life-except this one here.
II was ashamed to think what the
L ho NJ
clude about my intellect. so 1 told him
that the bracelet was not for me- but
for an elderly person of peculiar
tastes. OF course rs is elderly, and if
Clara weren't odd she never would
have dreamed that she could make
that sweet-minded Billy Thompson
happy for life.
"As expected. the girls all looked
rather shocked when opened the
white velvet box for their inspection;
but though the praises were tame, no
| serious complaints were lodged, so the
bracelet was sent to Clara"
Tears were in Katharine's voice as
she went on. Fred, we received a
wedding present today" She crushed
tightly in her hand the white velvet
box. Inside was an Alpha card.
There were also the same beaded sill
yer and the same Wall of Troy, with
eight lapis lazulis and three cream
jades! A twin monstrosity to the
bracelet selected for Clara!" Tears
rolled down her cheeks.
"Oh. I'm nearly through crying" she
declared, "but l want to tell you,
Ferdinand Augustus Milton Stoll, that
you can just make up your mind to
/ use this bracelet to chain on the
| cover of the ash can or bolt the kitch-
en- door. 1t may do to tie up the bull
pup. AS for my wearing it"
She rose impulsively and the white
velvet box went spinning across the
room The bracelet rolled out and lay
on the rug.
"Oh, Fred" sobbed Katharine, as
she sank pathetically back on the
divan, wouldn't you be awfully afraid