Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1917-08-24
~ ~ ~ ~ AAaAah6AV
|. THE JAPANESE JUG !
BY SYLVIA TURNER.


- BY SYLVIA TURNER. -
WhhhhhAAAAAAV
But there's no place for it," pro-
tested Evelyn. II am 50 sick and tired
Of these baby white elephants that
people call wedding gifts don't know
what to do, and it's blue and white.
Imagine that with JacObean furniture
and dull olive decorations. I think I'll
put it In the bathroom. It goes beau
tifully with the white thing"
'You poor fish"
"Bennie-"
II mean goldfish, darling. Don't
you know the value of that thing2"
The recent bridegroom stood before
the long, dark oak table beaming ON
the object that had just emerged from
many wrappings. 1t was nearly two
feet high-a jug Of blue and white
porcelain. About 1t coiled In sinuOus
folds most engaging dragon.
"Uncle Barnaby has collected Chi
nese pOrcelains ever since l can re-
member" informed the young hus-
band. 81 am sure IL Is worth its
weight in gold. Wen have to make
place for it somewhere"
'The dear old thing" Evelyn said.
happily. Let's invite him down for a
week. Perhaps he'd take a fancy to
you, and do something wonderful"
The following month Uncle Barnaby
arrived. He was a little, light-eyed.
alert man. with not very much to shy.
but nothing escaped his ken. Almost
the first thing he spied was the porce-
lain Jar on its pedestal In the sunny
dining room. Evelyn had put tall
sprays Of Towering almond In 1t and
a japanese print on the wall behind 1t.
"Humph!" said the old gentleman.
Looks pretty good, doesn't it,"
ave prize it highly" Ben answered
reverently. And Eve added:
"Pve been up to the library and
read up all about japanese and Chi
nese pOrcelains."
you did, did you? Then you prob
ably found out that this is an imita-
tiOn."
The silence In the dining room for
moment was unbrOken.
"Yes," Uncle Barnaby went on,
pleasantly, II fatter myself It's one Of
the best limitations I have ever seen.
l had a lot Of them made before 1
started disposing Of my collection 1
don't suppose you heard. Ben. two Of
the companies l had stock In went up
In smoke, so to speak. I've been rid
ing close to the wind for good many
years. One reason why 1 came down
here was to look around quietly for II
tidy little job of some SORT"
"The worst of Ii is" Ben told his
wife that night, you can't tell wheth-
er he's joking or in earnest"
"Well, I'll tell yOu." Evelyn was
braiding her long brown hair thought
fully, as she sat before the three-fold
mirror of the dressing table. Lets
treat him just as II we believed every
thing he said. There's one comfort, II
the old thing does get broken now, II
doesn't matter. I'm rather sorry
invited Miss Rutherford up for tea to
look ut it,"
Don't tell her." advised Ben
"Oh, but she'll know. she's q con-
noisseur on porcelains."
The following Saturday Ann Ruth
erford arrived. When Uncle Barnaby
saw her a look Of utter amaxement
spread over his face, while she gave
little exclamation Of pleasure. yWhy
Mr.. Wynne-Jones, to think Of seeing
you down here In New York at this
time of the year. You've come for the
Creighton auction haven't your The
pieces are marvellous, hear"
After she had gone the old mar
beamed happily at Evelyn.
Found me out. didn't your he
asked. swell, did come down fol
that sale. and your jars a real one
Just wanted to try you out. and
tell you one thing. If you'll invite Ann
Rutherford down often and help me
make her Bennie's aunt I'll give yot
some porcelains that will make tha
look like a toothbrush mug. She's thu
only person that / believe knows more
about porcelains than I do"
Evelyn went into the campaigr
heart and soul. She willingly fo"y av'
the old gentleman his kindly deception
in the spur Of the chase. 1t wasssucl
fun chaperonIng this pair Of lovers
she told Ben. From being a hermit
Uncle Barnaby suddenly developed In
to joyous spendthrift and Bea'
Brummel, and at the end Of anothe
month, when they returned from
motoring trip through the Catskills
EVELYN sank into the willow chair II
her own room with a little sigh Of re
lief.
Ben" she said thankfully. I've 60
them married. Really married. You'l
never know what I've gone through
I've trotted that couple to every poo
sible Cupid's trap l knew Of. Blu
they're safely married now and o.
their honeymoon. Uncle Barnaby'
given me q check. Never mind 10
how much. It's enough, and your
going to stop work for a month an
20 camping with me up In the Wild
L need q rest cure"
(Copyright, 1917. by the Mcclure Newsps
per SyndicateO
/ Not Altogether Unappreciated.
Dorothy had been the pet Of tn
. household for three years when a III
, tie sister came. Dorothy at ono