Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1920-05-13
TOYS AND! JOYS
BY ANNA L. FINN.

20. 1920. by Mcclure Newspaper Syndicate)
The senior member of the firm Of
Hill & Company hastily donned hat and
coat, preparatory to leaving on an ex-
tended business trip. AS usual. he
had allowed himself only the minimum
time in which to catch the train, and
had very few minutes to spare. He
was about to leave the Office when he
hurriedly remarked: ."Oh, by the way,
Miss Emerson. / just happened to
think: tomorrow is my young nephew's
birthday, and I've quite forgotten to
send him a remembrance. wish you
would select an appropriate gift and
have it charged to my account and
send 1t to him, inclosing my card"
1 Without Offering any suggestions,
and without waiting for even a casual
! question, Mr.. Hill departed, leaving
i his secretary, Edith Emerson, quite
bewildered, idly lingering slip of pa
per on which was written only the adj
dress of her employers nephew, in a
+, nearby city.
AS secretary to Mr.. Hill. Edith's
duties were indeed varied. His latest
request, however, was the most I'M
usual he had ever made, but she real
lied, strange as 1t was, she would have
to go through with it.
IAN appropriate gift for my young
nephew" she repeated: Every explicit
fnstructions-if that isn't just like a
mani'
For several minutes she sat in deep
thought and then suddenly she remem-
bered the picture on Mr.. Hills desk.
Entering the private Office of her en-
L ployer she picked up an oval frame
containing the picture Of a chubby
faced boy, presumably ten or twelve
years of age. Yes. she was quite GER
tain this was the nephew Of whom
Mr.. Hill had spoken quite frequently.
Noontime found Edith Emerson In
the toy department Of one of the large
empOrlums, fairly revealing in the
various models Of miniature airplanes,
Of which her knowledge was rather
limited. After enlisting the services
Of the very affable salesman. however,
she succeeded in selecting one, and
had 1t sent to the address she had
as instructed.
It was indeed relief to realize that
the irksome task had been accom-
plished and Edith now plunged into
her work with renewed vigor.
Affairs at the office proceeded as
usual during the absence Of Mr.. Hill,
and 1t was not long before he re-
turned. Apparently he had complete
~ forgotten his nephew, as we'll as the
birthday gift, because no mention was
made Of It, Edith. too, had quite for
gotten the incident by this time. un.
til one day about two months later,
when 1t was recalled to her mind
quite wildly.
1t was in the midst of busy fore
noon, and she was unexpectedly
called into the private office Of her
employer, to he confronted by very
pleasing looking young man with a
pair of smiling brown eyes. Mr.. Hill,
usually very serious looking. was now
wreathed in smiles and Edith could
not quite account for It,
"This is my nephew, Theodore Hill
] Miss Emerson" her employer began
by way of Introduction. You will
remember we sent him birthday gift
] some time ago. and he now wishes to
express his appreciation" Edit
looked with amazement from one to
the other, and then her gaze rested
! on the photograph on Mr.. Hills desk
She could not quite get the connec
ton, and then gradually 1t all dawnet
upon her-she realized just what hac
happened - she had mistaken thu
young man who now stood before hel
for the little boy whose picture SHIT
had so much admired. Explanation
were beyond her; she was embar
raised to the point OF modification
and Mr.. Hill, approaching the circum
stances, Mt once came to her rescue.
ut was all my fault, Miss Elmer
son." he said as he placed fatherl.
hand on her shoulder; you see,
can't quite realize that Ted has grow
: to be mani still think of him a
mn the little boy Of yore, and my refer
!. ence to him simply misled you. AS t
Z the photograph" he continued, 81
] was taken some fifteen years ago. bu
4 still cherish it for its fond recollet
/. tons of bygone days"
= BY this time Edith was more 8
ease, and was able to appreciate tn
II humor of it, as we'll as Ted, who stoo
4 silently by. apparently immensel
J. amused. From the admiring glance
he was casting at Edith. however.
4 was apparent that he was very muc
smitten with the little secretary. An
e Edith, although she would not adm
it even to herself could not help b,
think how charming Ted Hill real
II was.
/. II was strange, but neverthele!
true. how many subsequent visits TIE
- found 1t necessary to make to h
uncle's office, and particularly VIII,
| an jmunrt0nt mart Edith plavnd