Devils Lake weekly world. (Devils Lake, N.D.) 1911-1914, 1911-08-25
A GIFT
And What 1t Brought
BY F. A. mitchell
Copyright by American Press Assoc
citation, 1911.

romance. II wish you would tell me
a love story. Tell me one that really
"
VERY WE'LL dear, know one that
happened right in the family. I'll tell
you about it. One summer day little
girl-well call her Emma. though that
wasn't her real name-was about to go
to the store the village in which she
lived to buy dress. Her birthday
was soon to come round, and her father
had given her five dollar gold piece
to buy the dress for her birthday pres
ent. The day was hot, and she took
care to. keep under the shade of the
trees that lined the road. Presently
she came upon boyle looked to be
about fifteen-lying asleep in the grass
under one Of the trees.
Emma stopped to look at him. He
was handsome lad, slender and tall
for his age. with profusion of black
curly hair tumbled over his forehead
His shirt was open at the neck. ex
posing his throat. His whole figure
was relaxed as only can occur in slum-
Der.
But even in sleep his face was
troubled. His clothes had evidently
been good when new. but they were
now shabby. Emma wondered who
he was and what troubled him. There
is something very winning about a
sleeper. Perhaps it is that relaxation
have spoken of-that nonresistance
which is so endearing in innocent chill
dren. At any rate, Emma. as she stood
looking down at him. took him right
into her heart.
"She would like to do something for
him to take that troubled look off his
face and replace it with smile. 1t
occurred to her to drop her gold piece
into his fattened straw hat that lay
beside him. then stand off and watch
his expression when he awoke and
saw it lying there shining in the sun
light Pickering through the trees. But
If she did this she must 60 without
her dress. She Involuntary clutched
the half eagle in tighter grip. Again
she pictured the boy awakening and
his pleasure at seeing the coin in his
hat. And thus she wavered till hel
sympathy and the pleasure of giving
pleasure triumphed, and she dropped
her gold piece into the hat Then she
climbed the fence beside the road ant
hid in some tall wheat which was
nearly ready to be harvested.
"She waited nearly half an hour. no
daring to take her eyes off the boy
for an instant. fearing she would miss
that first look of surprise she was Civ
ed himself, rubbed his eyes with hi
fists and sat up. He seemed to be try
ing to nerve himself to get up and g
on but was too tired to do so. Pres
entity, with sigh, he reached for BIZ
hat and saw the half eagle.
1T is questionable which would hav
been more delightful to third person
the look of surprise Of the boy or tn
expression of the little girl hidden ii
the wheat. clasping her hands over he
breast as If to still the beating of he
little heart. her eyes beaming witt
pleasure and expectancy.
Ills eyes were fixed on the coli
for moment, then he began to lool
about him for the donor. Emma enjoy
ed it all immensely for awhile. thel
she began to think about what sh
should do. Would she make hersel
known or remain in hiding and let tn
boy go away with her treasure withou
knowing who had given it to him? l
she took the former course he woul;
! return the gold piece. II she took th
latter she would have given ava.
her birthday present to one who coul'
not even know her as the giver o
it.
"But Emma was not girl to e.
this far in doing a kindness and turf
back. She kept very still. watching
the boy. and it seemed as if she coult
read his thoughts. She fancied hin
saying, holding the coin in his hant
and looking at it. I'm going to inves
this money and work and save an(
make a fortune out Of it. Then, stand
ing on his feet after looking all about
him, he put the coin in his pocket ant
reluctantly went on.
"A great many years passed"
"How many years. mother?"
"Let me see. Emma had grown tx
be twenty-five years old. and she was
about twelve when she gave away bel
birthday present. That means thir
teen years.
"One day she heard that a man hai
offered to build social clubhouse an6
give it to the town. The reason he
offered it was that when poor boy
on his way to the city to look for 6
situation he had gone to sleep on the
outskirts of the village and some one
had dropped a five dollar gold piece
into his hat. he had made lucky in
vestments with the money, and it had
grown from S. to $4,000. But more
! than this. it had given him hope and
courage, and he had succeeded in 9th
er directions. He wished to return
the gift with interest. and. not know
ing the donor, would give it to tie
town.
"Well. Emma met this man and be
came very much interested in him anC
he in her. One day when they were
together
II know the end Of the story" in.
terrupted Edith. HE was the boy to
whom Emma had given the halt
eagle" ..
''That isn't all there is to it." replied
the mother.
"What else is there?"