Emmons County record. [volume] (Williamsport, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1884-current, 1918-01-03
DETESTABLE IMAGE
BY MILDRED WHITE

images. and the china is as rare an 1t
Is quaint"
ann afraid my thanks lacked en-
thusasm. as took the leering Hindu
god into my. hands, for she added
coldly, ut Is also supposed TO bring
true love- and Miriam smiled eng
mnt.cal!y, "the image can never be
parted from its owner"
1t did not Seem to me, as I looked
into the squirting features. that this
WIS q thing much to be desired. but
1t was gratifying to possess such n
priceless bit of china, its stamp was
undoubtedly genuine. From my Dress
ing table each morning the image
leered an awakening greeting, and ut
h,ght when the last light had been e:s-
tinguished, the whiteness of the SQUAT
ty figure shOne out lii the darkness.
ana j was uncnmfortubly aware of
that diabolicnl smile as passed into
troubled dream. The thing was ac-
tualy getting on my nerves, its pres
cnce seemed SO ail-pervading. With
contempt for my own weakness.
locked 1t in an unused cabinet, from
which it was litter drawn forth by my
mother.
why, Neli," she reproved, "you are
hiding away valuable piece Of bric-a-
brac; IL you do not care for 1t in your
room, l will place 1t upon the piano."
How many beautiful symphonies
that wretched thing interrupted, to my
embarrassment, no one may know, but
happily, for Il time at least, l became
so busy that the provoking image lost
Its power To annoy. Our sorority girls
had formed habit of meeting each
month, to brush up their knowledge
upon forgotten college subjects. It
was interesting, for the boys were
asked in to be judges at the Contests"
MS we called them, and prizes were
given the successful. These prizes
were donnted by the girls in alphabet
lea! order, and we tried to make them
as unique as we could. I was study
ing up TO beat Miriam Smith ut the
latest contest, and-l did 1t.
The rooms with their chnttering oc.
cupants swan diZzily before my eyes
when Billy Bronson gave out the
Judges decision.
"Creditubly won," he shouted, "by
Miss Nell Wentworth"
Then all Mt once it came upon me,
why, in my excitement had I over.
looked this public moment. 1t had
been my turn to donate the prize, and
in stress of constant study the pur.
chnse had been forgotten. 1t was only
when slipping into my cont to leave
for the contest that l 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, rs I tied my card about the
things neck, that should never more
be troubled by that grinning face.
And here, now, in presence of Miriam,
whose gift it had been. Billy Bronson
was holding out to me that fendish,
invincible face.
Miriam looked, then laughed. icon.
gratulations," she remarked, 1.-THE cat
came back"
I left the sorority crowd ut the great
gateway, ostensibly to board a car ut
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
brenk, no matter how ancient, and
the time Of the Hindu god had come.
The street lamps were lighted when
looked about furtively, and-let go.
There was IN encouraging crash as
hurried on.
MADAME" cried a deep voice, "al.
low me-" A young man was bending
over the pavement, and as hesitated,
he raised a handsome, regretful face.
Il am sorry" he said, 1.-THE statue
seems to be broken In two, still 1t
might be mended."
ooh! no." gasped. then the humor
Of 1t all came over me, and buried
my face in my muff, in silent laugh.
ter. ut doesn't matter" I added,
blinking at him.
He was evidently mistaking the
laughter tears in my eyes, his own
were SO sympathetic. II am very
sorry" he repeated, and stood staring
after me rs I 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 I was
singing love song he came to our
front door. The young mans name
was John Curtis, son of John Curtis,
proprietor of the curio store. and
young John had taken that smashed
image OF mine to his fathers store,
and had 1t all nicely mended. Then
he brought 1t to my address, which he
found upon the card tied about the
heather gods neck. And was SO cold
In my appreciation, that had to make
up for 1t by inviting him In, and being
entertaining.
You will remember that the image
was supposed to bring true love to it's
owner. Well, IL tile love of John Cur
lis for me is not true. ther Yeye- was
true love in the world. AS he says: