The Lamar register., 1919-01-08


mother.
"Why, Nell," she reproved, "you are
hiding away u valuable piece of bric-a-
brac; If you do not care for 1t in your
room. / will place 1t upon the piano"
How many beautiful symphonies
that wretched thing interrupted, to my
embarrassment, no one may know, Dut
happily, for time ut 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. 1t
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
We're donated by the girls In alphabet
ical order, and we tried to make them
us 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 dlzzlly before my eyes
when Billy Bronson gave out the
judges decision.
"Creditably won." ne shouted. by
Miss Nell Wentworth"
Then all ut 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. II was only
when slipping Into my coat to leave
for the contest that l remembered.
Then, like flash 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
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 fiendish.
invincible face.
Miriam looked. then laughed. "Con-
gratulations." she remarked, "the cat
came back"
left the sorority crowd at the great
gateway. ostensibly to board car at
the corner, but my purpose was differ
ent. Safely away upon the stone walk.
4 lhltnutu W itl hthtstuoiC hihh8~
slip cnrelessly to Its fate. China Will
break. no matter how ancient, and
the time OF the Hindu god had come.
The street lamps were lighted when
I looked about furtively, and-let 60.
There was an encouraging crash as
hurried on.
"Madame," cried n deep voice, "al.
low me-" A young man was bending
over the pavement. and MS hesitated.
he rnised handsome. regretful face.
81 am sorry" he said. "the statue
might be mended."
"ohi no." ! gasped. then the humor
of It all came over me. and I buried
my face in my nun. in silent laugh.
ter. at doesn't matter" added.
blinking at him.
He was evidently mistaking the
laughter tears in my eyes. his own
were so sympathetic. 81 am very
sorry" he repeated, and stood staring
after me as 1 turned the corner. I
was so glad to be rid of the thing that
/ went about singing and l 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 curio store, and
young John had taken that smashed
image Of mine TO his fathers store.
and had II all nicely mended. Then
he brought II to my address. which he
found upon the card tied about the
heathen gods neck. And l was so cold
In my appreciation. that had to mako
up for 1t by inviting him in. and being
entertaining.
You win remember that the image
was supposed to bring true love TO Its
owner. Wei. II the love of John Cur
lis for me Is not true, then never was
true love in the world. As he says:
"Surely 1t was the little old chap
who brought us together" and for
that reason he is determined never to
part from the Hindu god. But in
Johns home and mine, the smile OF
the image above our hearth fire Will
beam with the light of our reflected
happiness.
(CopyriEht, 1917, Western Newspaper Union.D