The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1912-10-03
THE WINNER OF THE PRIZE.


THE WINNER OF THE PRIZE.
Mary and Marie, strangely enough,
were sisters and rivals. When the
first, wee, pink-fngered babe came to
the Edwards home Grandma Thomas,
who sat in her arm chair from morn
ing until night distributing smiles
and kind words to all who came her
way, was the patron saint of the fam
lily. She never interfered, never sug-
gested that her daughter-in-laW take
a new way for doing things, never
complained. But on the occasion OF
naming the baby, when Icy and Ivy
and Cecile were rejected as mot good
enough for our precious pet" grand
ma looked up from the tiny white
sock which she had begun to fashion
for the baby feet and smiled; her
face was transformed by q heavenly
brightness.
Call her Mary" she breathed,
then added in a tone most prophetic:
"She shall be thrice blessed If she
bears the name of the mother Of our
Lerd."
Somehow the tongue an dthe words
affected the daughter and the babe
was called Mary. When the second
baby arrived and a few weeks later,
q letter from Mr.. Edwards wealthy
sister who had apparently forgotten
all about them. the family read the
last lines with great dismay.
khnk d 10
girl In the family. Name her Marie
and will not only educate her but
provide for her future life!"
"The ideal" fumed Mrs. Edwards;
two children of the same name in one
family People will think that we
are ignoramuses. Money Or no mon
ey, we'll do nothing of the kind"
cit would never do to offend Ma
rie." objected Mr.. Edwards. "She
probably intends leaving us all her
money or she would not have inter-
ested herself in naming baby when
they are as plentiful as polly-wogs
among the connection. We do not
want to stand in the children's
light"
The last argument was "sQuelch-
er" and consequently the second baby
was christened Marie.
Never were two sisters more un-
like. Mary shot up tall. slender and
saint-like, with golden hair, forget
me-not eyes, and cream and roses
complexion. Her disposition was as
sweet and sunny as a day in June.
Marie was petite, plump, with coal
black hair and eyes which sparkled
with fun. She was as quick temper
ed as her sister was calm.
The Thomas family adored Mary
because of her resemblance to them
and supplied the finest bonnets and
dresses which the country store af-
forded. The Edwards Aunt Cecile
deluged Marie with finery from all
parts of the globe. But there was
one thing which the wealthy aunt's
money could not buy.
Mary's sunny smiles and sweet
ways made every one her willing
slave. She had a talent for music
a splendid voice, a gift for painting
and a leaning" toward literature
Marie could scrub, bake and cook
but she heartily despised these hum
BILE accomplishments. One day he
opportunity came.
Mary returned from church earl,
one March evening. She was talkin;
exeitedly.
''Oh. Marie, the young folks ar
going to give an exchange on tn
Saturday before Easter in the oil
township house. They want us t
help. They're going to give priz
for the best cake. 1 thought yo
might win, your cakes are so ele
CANT. Will you try"
81 don't know" snapped Marie in
differently, cts too much sugar for
cent"
Ralph Henderson is to be one G
the judges" volunteered Rob fro1
over the paper. "The boys said b
claimed he couldn't tell which of 20
girls he likes best. The old 50
about the way to a mans heart is b
his stomach is pretty true. kno'
I'd rather have decent meal than I
hear a hundred jigs on the piano G
to admire all the pictures Mar
paints. Go in and win, Marie; bak
the cake, help the heathen-that
what the collection is for-and wi
Ralph Henderson's heart. HUH"
Marie's black eyes danced.
there was one thing which she coul