The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1911-05-05
He CHOSE
A GIFT

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Your present has been so much ad-
mired." said Miss Emerson, dangling
. silver purse from one finger and re-
sarding it anectionately.
Young Jetson looked prodigiously
pleased. "You don't say SOL" he re-
marked. beaming first on the young
woman and then on the gift which
had proved so acceptable.
"of course" said Miss Emerson,
looking somewhat embarrassed and
trifing with the silver meshed toy, "of
course, you understand that I am not
In the habit Of accepting such hand
home birthday presents from my men
friends. It is-that is, my married
sister says 1t is-awfully bad form
and oughtn't to be allowed"
Young Jetson frowned. tits q fun
ny thing" he began, haughtily.
Yes, indeed, that's just what l told
her" interjected Miss Emerson. g"
told her that with ones old friends 1t
was quite different-almost like broth.
er and sister, you know" z
Jetson's frown %deepened.
"And, BESIDES" she added, looking
at him with an Independent tilt of her
chin, II know Just as much about it as
she does"
Certainly you do" agreed Jetson.
II should have been very hurt If
you had not been willing to accept a
trivial token of esteem from me on
your birthday" he went on. "More-
over" he said. crossing one leg COM
fortably over the other in placid recol-
lection of a past struggle. I'm no end
grateful to you for liking it. You sec
we'll, to tell the truth, I'd heard you
express yourself to the effect that a
gift was not a gift unless it was per-
sonally chosen by the giver for the
givee."
Miss Emerson nodded emphatically.
"And." continued young Jetson, IF
q fellow sends a girl the usual flow
ers or candy he doesn't exercise any
particular niceties of taste; do you
think he does? He simply dives in
at the florists door and tells him to
send a dozen long ones to a given
address. and then he rushes back to
his desk. When he wants to get
candy he sends the Office boy. That
is still worse. And nobody but an
.imbecile sends books to a girl with
out knowing her TASTE"
II should think" remarked Miss
Emerson, raising her eyebrows .
fraction Of a shade, that you might
be tolerably familiar with NINE"
"Oh, certainly" agreed young Jet
son. hastily. II am, indeed; but. you
see, on this occasion I wanted to give
you something that would prove to
you that I had gone to personal trou-
bic in selecting a remembrance"
Really" said Miss Emerson, grow
Ing chiliier each moment. II regret
that I was the cause of 10 much in
convenience. You seem to have been
positively agitated in the matter"
Naturally. I was" he retorted, get
ting to his feet and regarding her.
sternly from his superior height. "con-
sidering that I never really selected
10 present for a girl before"
He thrust his hands into his peck
Ists and continued to glare. She bit
her lip in a vain effort to repress 4
smile.
II was looking for something USE
full" went on Jetson. II didn't sup
pose you would care for a yard Of
copper neckchain, or an engraved PIE
knife. or a hand painted umbrella.
"'Why not an umbrella? urged one
salesman who was wasting time on
me. Umbrellas are always useful
".My dear SIR I said to him, 7
should prefer to hold my own umbrel-
10 over this particular young lady.
besides. why buy an umbrella? Ev-
cry household has a private collec.
ttion.'
THE man sighed. Get her q gold
pencil he suggested next"
Miss Emerson glanced up with .
very special smile.
"But l told him." went on Jetson.
that she usually borrowed mine.
Try again. I said to him"
Jetson coughed gently, and there
wal a pause. HE was . most dis.
corning fellow. that salesman. he. N.
marked to the top Of Miss Emerson's
head. S"Do you want to know what
he said next!"
She nodded. Jetson drew : long
"'Young man. said that salesman.
looking at me over q pair Of wabbly
nose glasses. what you want to eive
that young lady 10 q hoop ring With Z
cut glass dewdrop!'"
There Vas another silence.
THE impsftinent thing!" said Miss
Emerson. finally. in q very small
voice. -
See hers. Jessie" protested young
Jetson. sitting Nown beside her and
speaking With determination, s.ayou do
that fellow q injustics. Hs wass III
right. that man! Erin fact. / took
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