Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-10-14
The Argus Daily Story
Mrs. GadwalTs Premium-By Clarissa Mache
Copyrighted 1919. by Associated Literary Bureau

articles displayed in the large pre-
MUM rooms of the Bubble Froth people.
and she came home with renewed con-
fidence and enthusiasm concerning n
very handsome lamp she had seen.
Wrought iron base, Henry, and has
an art shade highly ornamented with
art glass In amber. and 1t has a long
beaded fringe. It's just beautifuly'
Very we'll, my dear: I'm glad you
like it." returned Henry Gadwall. who
was quite weary of the lamp by this
time. In gloomy moments he had de-
clared that his dishes, his clothes and
his home smelled rankly< OF Bubble
Froth soap.
Mrs Gadwall had changed three
washerwomen on account of the soap,
and she had only retained Bridget be-
cause she had promised that hard
working damsel her own choice of
soaps IL she would remain Then there
were more unused cakes added to the
pile in the cellar, and after awhile no
| one In the house used 1t, but Mrs. Cad
wall continued to purchase II, for the
lamp was a tangible thing now, with
only ten more soap wrappers standing
between it and the Gadwalrs front
parlor.
At last one snowy morning in Febru-
airy Mrs. Gadwan united the small
package her husband had brought
home the night before and disclosed
the last ten cakes OF soap that she had
asked him to purchase. Gayly she
stripped OF the wrappers and once
more counted the total number she
possessed-1S4 at lastI
Half an hour after luncheon she
came into the kitchen dressed for out
doors. Bridget" she announced, I'm
going into town on the 2:O3. You will
look after little Horace when he wakes
from his nap?"
Yes. ma'am,- said Bridget cheerfully
as her mistress laid a shining half
dollar on the kitchen table. I'm
afraid you'll be havin' a terrible time
OF it It's rainin' now and freezin' as
1t falls"
IT shall probably return with Mr.
Gadwall," said she hastily, land, oh,
Bridget
Yes, ma'am."
IF the charities department wagon
should call for contributions you can
give them all that soap in the cellar"
Yes, ma'am-there'll be 142 cakes,
I'm thinkin'," returned Bridget.
Mrs. Gadwall clutched the bag con-
tanning her soap wrappers and walked
warily to the station. 1t was all up
hill, and she had to tramp in the mid
die of the snowy road. 1t was raining
and freezing as 1t fell. She told her
self that they would have to take a
cab when she and Henry returned that
evening.
But somehow she missed her hus-
band. Delayed street traffic made her
late in reaching his office. and he had
departed for home on an earlier train.
so his stenographer said. 'On account
of the storm" the young woman had
added.
Mrs. Gadwall was late in reaching
| the premium store of the soap com
pany. but at last she surrendered her
precious wrappers and received In re-
turn a large and snowy lamp with
} much art glass in its makeup.
shall we send it, madam" inquired
} the clerk. but Mrs. Gadwall reeollected
that the Colvins were coming over to
play cards that evening. and she want
ed the lamp to display to their admir-
ing and possibly envious eyes.
81 will carry it if you will wrap II
carefully" she said. and in spite of his
protestatiOns against the icy and in
clement weather Mrs. Gadwall set forth
with two huge bundles one containing
the lamp and the other the precious
art glass globe.
She dismounted from the train al
Lawn Villas with several other com
muters. who, laden with bundles, rail
ed at the delayed service on the line.
The storm had ceased, stars shone over
head, but underfoot the walking was
icy and treacherous.
At different turnings one after an
other of her fellow travellers left her
until Mrs. GadwaIl had to make her
way down her own dimly lighted
street alone. She passed the Colvins'
house and, seeing a light in an upper
room, decided that they were preparing
for their card game.
The sight caused her to hasten her
steps. Faster she walked, noting with
= satisfaction that Henry had cleared
the walks in front of their place and
wondering why he had not come forth
to meet her. The lamp and shade were
fearfully heavy. and her arms ached
from carrying them, as well as her
clumsy fur nun.
} She managed to open the gate with
an elbow and started down the walk
. toward the front door. which few open
at that instant. disclosing the anxious
face of Mr.. Henry Gadwall.
rs that you. Sarah?" he asked
, Before Mrs Gadwall could reply her
, weary feet struck bit of ice and
treacherously deposited her in a crash
ing heap at the foot Of the front steps.
. What is all this?' demanded her
husband after he had picked her up
and assured himself that she was IN
, harmed. What Is all this broken
stuff. SARAH
"My-my-my lamp-my-mv Bubble
Froth soap premium sobbed Mrs.
Cadwall on her husbands shoulder.