The weekly times-record. (Valley City, N.D.) 1912-1922, 1914-09-17
A Surreptitiious
Gift
By F. A. mitchell

Martin" said my father to me one
day, II have been speaking with your
mother about you, and we have decid.
ed that it would be pleasant for US all
II you would go to Stuttgart and make
the acquaintance Of your cousins.
When l came to America left Sis
ter, Of whom I was and am today very
fond. l cannot leave the business to
make the trip myself, but later. when
you have taken my place In its man.
agement, l hope to do so. 1t is better
that you should 80 now before you
have become absorbed In other mat
ters."
l was delighted with the prospect of
a trip abroad. My father not only
gave me liberal sum for the trip, but
a separate amount which he intended
that should turn over to the family
was going to visit. They are very
sensitive" he said. land l rely on your
tact to turn this money over to them
without hurting their feelings. ! don't
know exactly how they are situated,
but l fear they are not overburdened
with this worlds goods"
found my aunt and my cousins ex-
actly what my father had described
them. Never was there more anus
ing and, to me. touching instance Of a
family striving to put the best foot
forward. Having been coached as to
this by my father. on my arrival at
Stuttgart put up at a hotel and an
nounced my arrival by mail rather
than 20 at once to their home. thus
giving them time to make any prep
arations they might wish to hide their
real circumstances. l heard nothing
from them for twenty-four hours.
when my uncle called on me and apol-
oeized for the delay 10 welcoming me.
saying also that on no condition would
the family permit me to remain Mt
hotel, but that their guest chamber
needed attention, and they had been
overhauling 1t.
l thanked my uncle for the profered
hospitality. but declined on the ground
that was troubled with insomnia and
must be In a house in which J could
70 about at all hours Of the night
However. l accompanied him to his
home, a house of diminutive size. but
very neat. and my aunt welcomed me
aKectionately. My cousin Anna. girl
OF eighteen. l found 40 comely and
with such kissable pair Of lips that
] took advantage Of my c0usinsh5p and
tasted them ut once.
All expressed much disappointment
that 1 would be prevented by my In
somnia from making their house my
home during my sojourn at Stuttgart.
but was quite sure that they were
much relieved. They invited Ne to
dine with them. and. fearing they
would he mortified at having to- sit mt
n meager table; l declared that I was a
victim Of dyspepsia and would only
ACCEPT their Invitation II they wouk1
PROMISE not to- tempt me with any ex-
cept the plainest food. And, remem-
bering that sausage was common and
Inexpensive food In Germany, said
that sausage was abont all l ate. II
did not occur to me that no worse
food could be ased by dyspepkie TIL
my aunt expressed surprise.
! spent couple Of weeks with my
relatives. they trying to hide their pow
erty and l trying to hide the fact that
l noticed It, or, rather, pretending that
! could not use what they were unable
to give me. And all this time ! was
studying how could turn over II
them what my father had sent then
without their knowing whence i
came, for ! feared their pride woult
be burt If l offered it In the form o
money. yet ! knew that was the onl!
form in which it would meet their re
Quirements.
The only method Of giving then
pleasure without racking my ingenuft!
was to ask my cousin Anna to SHOW
me the attractions Of Stuttgart pay
ing the expenses. Of course. myself
Going about in that way with prett.
!, girl brought about love affair." In
deed, though my father bad not men
toned the matter to me. when l say
Anna l suspected his real motive u
sending me abroad was to make
match between her and me. At an
) rate, long before the end Of my visit
g proposed to her and was accepted.
i The time Of my departure drew neal
and l had found no plan by which
leave my fathers gift without hnrtfn
the benef1ciaries. The amount was tn
/ equivalent of $1,000 in America
n money and could rot be surreptitiousl
l. transferred in any ordinary manne
v There was an old clock in the hous
10 which thought ! might pay tn
amount for, but when | expressed
desire to possess it my aunt begge
~ me to accept it.
ID All ordinary plans / tried having Ia
n ed, was forced to special expedier
n Anna consented to return to Ameri'
r. With me- and went. for u tour throut
:, Europe. said goodby. then went
" nv hotel, made myself up as an
III man. watched for my uncle to lea