The herald., 1912-06-27
An Internal
Gift
By EUNlCE C. SUMMERS

Dear me, so l am to be married!
Listen to this: The wedding between
Schuyler Van Horn and Helen Martin
dale will take place on the 18th inst at
St James church. Schuyler Van
Horn! I'm to get q husband with an
aristocratic name anyway"
with so many people in the world"
said Mrs. Martindale. Ito find names
for. it's wonder there are not a doz-
en- Helen Martindales and as many
Schuyler Van Horns"
Miss Martindale said nothing more.
scanning the society columns. thus
turning to the advertisement of lin
gerie.
Nevertheless the odd announcement
Of the forthcoming marriage OF one of
her own name affected her. A certain
Dick Owens and she had been what is
in slang called spoons" for some time.
and she thought how would she feel if
she saw q matrimonial announcement
with the name Owens substituted for
Van Horn.
There was no indisposition on the
part Of Mr.. Owens to see his name In
print linked with that Of Miss Martin
dale. nor was Miss Martindale herself
so indisposed Ttrre was, however.
q barrier between them in the person
Of certain Martin Wynkoop, who had
made a great deal Of money out Of
patent medicine and whose suit was
favored by Miss Martindale's father.
1t was the old story of wealth and all
wealth can accomplish against, to say
the least, the mediocrity of a small in
come.
But since this Mr.. Wynkoop was
short, fat. bald and homely and Dick
Owens was tall, slender, curly headed
and handsome Miss Martindale, who
was too young to look far into the fu-
ture, infinitely preferred the latter. 1t
was her father who, with the usual
matter-of- f-factness of age and expert
ence, stood in the way Of loves young
dream.
1t was 8 o'clock in the afternoon.
Mr. Martindale had come back home
from business and was sitting in the
| library looking at the evening paper
The doorbell rang and an express
package was handed in and receipted
for 1t was a square parcel about big
enough to hold easily a large sized ap-
pie, addressed to Miss Martindale. The
butler carried it to her room and plac-
| ed it upon q table before her. She
looked at the address and wondered
what the package contained, then took
up a pair Of scissors to cut the string,
when she heard faint ticking. She
took the thing up and carried it down
into the library.
Father" she said, some one, |
know not who, has sent me package.
and l can hear ticking
"Drop itr'
The package fell from Miss Martin.
dale's hands on to the floor, where 1t
lay motionless. Mr.. Martindale made
dash for the door and. seizing his
daughters arm as he passed, dragged
her with him out Of the room, not stop
ping till he had put a wall between
them and the package.
"What do you think 1t Isl" asked
Helen.
"An internal machine, Of course"
"Who could have sent itT'
"Your name on 1t is blind. It was
intended for me. There are several
reasons why certain persons whose de-
mands l have ignored might send me
such a thing. Are you sure you heard
it ticking?"
Certain"
go and telephone for the police"
At that moment there was another
ring at the doorbell. and who should
appear but Mr.. Dick Owens.
| "Oh, DickI" called Helen. Hurry
past the library. There's an Internal
machine In there. Somebody, l don't
know who, sent 1t to me-"
Mr.. Owens stood a few moments
gaping at Helen and her father, who
were in the rear end Of the hall, then
asked II he might see the thing.
without waiting for reply he walk
ed into the library. looked at the pack
age lying on the floor, picked 1t up and
put 1t to his ear. He smiled. Being
something of a mechanic. he knew
that the ticking was too delicate for
an Internal machine. 1t was probably
q watch.
He carefully opened it and found that
1t was a watch-a lady's watch-and
with 1t was a visiting card with the
names Of Mr.. and Mrs. Joseph B.
Ward, persons Of whom he>had never
heard. Helen bad told him Of the
wedding announcement, and he infer
red at once that It was a wedding
| gift intended for the other Miss Mar
tindale.
An idea popped into Mr.. Owens
head. He would make some capital
with Mr.. Martindale.
'T'll take the thing home with me"
he called. "and disarrange the clock
work"
"Don'tr cried Helen, IN agony.
"You'll be blown sky highr called
Mr.. Martindale.
Nevertheless Dick went out with the
box, and In half an hour a telephone
message came:
"Have opened the box and removed
the contents / congratulate you on
your escape"
by JoveT exclaimed Mr.. Martin.
| 81 xno- xhak niotx Oxuonc