Norwich bulletin., 1915-04-24
THE RIDDLE

THE RIDDLE "A letter for you, mother!" cried I Rolfe as he clattered noisi1y up the stairs on his return from answering the postman's ring and burst into the big, shabbily furnished room where his mother sat with her children. From Monford, too; must be from Great-aunt Mary!" he exclaimed, toss ing the missive into his mothers lap. Let's sec" with a mischlevous glance ! at the tall youth with eyeglasses, \ bending over his books, the last time she wrote was when she deigned to express the opinion that in her Judg- ment it would be much better for Don-to be learning a trade than en- tering college Just what favor IS she now conferrfng upon us
 N. -why-why, children, what do you tilink;'' and the mother looked up from her letter, her usually pale cheeks flushed with excitement. Tt is from your Great-aunt Mary, and she has sent a check for $500!"
 Five hundred dollarsi". in mingled accents of joy. astonishment and in credulity.
 'Yes a check for $500, and short note saying that though she has heard nothing from for couple of years, yet she feels confident that" the en- l closed check will not come amiss, as ' l was always such notoFiously bad manager, even while poor dear Nal colm was alive, and probably have not &learned much in the later years; you
 ee," smiling, i've must take the bit er, with the sweet .~- l But five hundred dollars, motheri" broke in Rolfe excitedly. "Oh, can't have a canoe and go on that camping trip with the other fellows week after l next?"
  garet interrupted, "of planning to spend so much money just for your self Look at this room! Positively, it is so shabby hate to sit in it. Just think how lovely it would be with fresh paint and paper, new draperies and great handsome rugl"
 E.'Oh, mother, with all that money couldn't I have something nicer for my graduation dress? I am so tired of simple white muslin. Belle Grant has such a beauty, of. a silk. null. Couldn't Ehave one,stoo?'
 Why girls! Rolfe!'' And. Kathleen let the dainty piece of lace and in sertion upon which she had been at work fall fin her lap, "the thing to do Is to have mother go somewhere on good long vacation
 Pardon me for calling it to your attention, but if you will allow me to remark the taxes in the natural course of events will be due in the fall There is the winters supply, of coal to be thought Of. The furnace, as you will remember, is pretty old, and certainly gave us plenty of trouble last winter. Then again, the house Is badly in need of painting and there \ Will De host of repairs for which it will be necessary, to have the car- penters before the work of painting actually commences.' And Don re- moved his eyeglasses and having pol shed them industriously carefully re- placed them and looked genialIy lround upon his brother and sisters.
 .:'Oh, pshaw, sDoni- What are you al ways croaking for?. We always. have managed to pay the taxes Why fhouldnt we this year as well as other \ years? It wouldn't be bad thing if the whole. of us had a little outing | for one, advocate it once in awhile. 3; And the boy looked rather sulkiIy Lround at his mother and sisters.
 Of course, Don, you know don't \ are to go anywhere said his mother. but 1t does seem as though Rolfe night %" for a little camping trip. You know his heart has been set on | all along, and certainly the room. iss Margaret says, is shabby'' And he smiled sympathetically at her daughter. Perhaps we can do some an1ng- in2the way of fresheriing it. LID. AS for the matter Of the graduation iiress, Ellen, it seems to me-" she aao, mechanically smoothing out the IS we have already planned will he lest With fresh gloves, flowers and pair or new shoes, you ought to do rery nicely. and then we can take he money" she paused in her occuna = aon of smoothing the check, a look 1T consternation dawning in her eves-
 Why, what is 1t? Whats the mat ers mother?" cried Kathleen, Jumping 1 & rom her seat and hastening to her
 "oh. girls!. Oh Don, Ro1ft. Oh That will you think of me? What tave donei What mistake!" And af laughing half crying, she hysteri- ally thrust the check in their aston shed faces. tTt isn't for $500. It,s mly $500.
 "Ffvew 'Ffve!" ~only fre.,. in aryins keys of surprise. disappoint- oent and disgust, followed for a moment by utter silence. Then with
 glance at his mother. Rolfe spoke ut boldly: Well, what of it! We are 70 worse off than before"
 NO. mother" Margaret began ad. If the boys will only help after chool is over. Pm quite sure we can aint the woodwork ourse1ves-tslxe m he old carpet off the summer. at sast, and stain the floor The -shops Lugust and we can probably pick up 0me window draperies at a very little ost- Oh, feel confident we can make uite an improvement" holding her cad with satisfaction.
 T don't care about the dress, really. iother-as Kathleen has planned if
 will look every bit as dainty as ielle Grants null." and Ellen smiled her mother
 Well" the mother said. dashinr way the bright drops that cluns to CT long lashes, Tets take the money nd buy tickets for the concert next Neek* You know we have all been snEang to go, but 75 cents ticket sade if rather expensive for six. Be-
 with a slight smile, 1t would
 5eye -tos Aunt Mary, if she could hear it. Chat I am stfIl a poor-.rnan.
 ker."=Bostou Post.