Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1918-01-18
DETESTABLE IMAGE.
BY MILDRED WHITE

my birthday. 1T may seem queer as
q gift, Nell" she remarked. ebut the
girls are sil raving over these old
images, and the china is as rare as III
is quaint"
am afraid my thanks lacked en-
thusiasm, as took the leerlng Hindu
god into my hands, for she added
coldly, III is also supposed to bring.
true love- and Miriam smiled enig-
matically 'tthe Image can never be-
parted from its owner
1t did not seem to me, as looked
into the squirting features, that this
was q thing much to be desired, but
1t was gratifying to possess such
priceless bit of china its stamp was
undoubtedly genuine. From my Dress
ing table each morning the image
leered an awakening greeting. and at
night when the last light had been ex-.
tinguislled, the whiteness of the squat
ty figure shone out in the darkness.
and | was uncomfortably aware of
that diabolicaI smile as / passed into.
troubled dream. The thing was ac-.
tually getting ON my nerves, its pres
ence seemed 50 ail-peryading. With
contempt for my own weakness. /
locked it In an unused cabinet. from
which 1t was later drawn forth by my
mother.
why, Nell" she reproved. eyou are
hiding away a valuable piece of bric-a-
hrac; II You do not care for it in your
room, win place it upon the piano.
How many beautiful symphonies
Tint wretched thing interrupted, to my
embarrassment, no one may know. but
happily, for time at least, / became
SO busy that the provoking image lost
its power TO annoy. Our sorority girls
had formed q habit of meeting each
mouth, to brush up their knowledge
upon forgotten college subjects. It
was interesting. for the boys were
asked in to be judges at the contests
as we called them. and prizes were
given the successful. These prizes
were donated by the girls In alphabet
ical order, and we tried to make them
as unique as We could was study
ing up TO beat Miriam Smith at the
latest contest, and--I did 1t.
The rooms with their chattering oc-
cupants swan dizzily before my eyes
when Billy Bronson gave out the
judges, decision
eCreditabiy won.' he shouted, .by
Miss Nell wentworth"
Then all at once it came upon me.
why. in my excitement had ! over
looked this public moment. 1t had
been my turn to donate the prize, and
in stress of constant study the pur-'
chase had been forgotten. 1t was only
when slipping into my coat to leave
for the contest that | remembered.
Then, like fash of inspiration, came
the thought Of the Hindu god. Quaint
and costly, the appropriate thing.
There was satisfaction IN the
thought, as / tied my card about the
thing's neck, that ! should never more
be troubled by that grinning face.
And here. now, in presence of Miriam.
whose gift 1t had been, Billy Bronson
was holding out to me that fiendish,
invineible face.
Miriam looked. then laughed. "Con-
ordinations she remarked, s'the cat
came back
left the sorority crowd at the great
gateway. ostensibly to board a ear at
the corner, but my purpose was differ
ent. Safely away upon the stone walk.
| intended to let that detestable image
slip carelesSly to its fate. China will
break, no matter hCw ancient, and
the time of the Hindu god had come,
The street lamps were lighted when
| looked about furtiveiy, and--let go.
There was an encouraging crash as
hurried on.
Madame" cried deep voice. .al-
low me- A young man was bending
over the pavement, and as hesitated,
he raised handsome. regretful face.
II am sorry. he said s'the statue
seems 70 be broken In two, still it
might be mended."
ooh no. ! gasped, then the hnmor
of 1t all came over me, and / buried
my face in my muff, in silent laugh
ter. 1T doesn't matter" | added,
blinking at him.
lie was evidently mlSIaklnE tne
laughter tears in my eyes, his own
were so sympathetic. Il am very
sorry" he repeated. and stood staring
after me as / turned the corner
was so glad to be rid of the thing that
went about singing and couldn't
forget the nice young mans kind eyes.
And the very next night when was
singing love song, he came to our
front door. The young mans name
was John Curtis. son of John Curtis,
proprietor of the cnrio store, and
young John had taken that smashed
image Of mine to his fathers store.
and had 1t an nicely mended Then
he brought it to my address, which he
found upon the card tied about the
heather gods neck. And ! was so cold
in my oreciation, that had to make
up for 1t ~ Inviting him In, and being
entertaining.
You win remember that the image
4.