Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1920-07-16

WI - ny
"IPs My Gift to You. But Before You
Open It,"
risk everything he had in the world
q. not his yaluables in the sense Of
money but all his ambitions for
everything; all his dreams; all his
ideals; all his hopes o.. on a Christ
mas gift? What would you?"
She frowned adorably.
"And he's not just a little BIT
quixotic?"
Not at all -. suppose he did it
deliberately. and after a great deal Of
thought. Just on the chance that it
might please you? When it would
Their do that-or end their friendship
She fingered the small package over
and over.
why. I should think that if this
.. mythical person were 50 very anx-
ious TO please me he wouldn't take
quite so much risk
But when I'm the mythical person
myself-that's different. isn't it?"
why should it be-" She gave him
no opportunity to see her face.
you've forgotten a great deal. l
told you once that if you knew all that
I've been E. all that I've done
you might not be so willing to have my
friendship, anyway"
>, eosI -,rbIuaI rfnf
forgotten, but you have. I said that I
didn't believe YOU"
You're holding it all in your hands"
said Hilliard His expression, as he
gazed at her. was infinitely yearning;
but his voice was even and low. Il
spent a good many hours over this
wondering whether it was right
for me to take such risk Oh this day,
above all others d. and finally, |
thought it out this way if it pleases
you, it ought to make the day better
yet -. if it doesn't, it would have
been just as unwelcome to you at any
other time. Understand, I'll never at
tempt to excuse anything :. we're
beyond that. All l can do is TO wait
I'm giving you =. will you open 1t
now. please"
Her fingers bungled with the knot.
and he made as though TO help her.
NO" she said. holding the package
away from him. Il want to open it all
myself"
HilIiard, rigid, watched her. 4
phrase was beating heavily against his
consciousness one of the Proverbs
something about the bread of de-
ceit, and ashes =.
The knot gave way; and the tissue
wrapping, falling aside, disclosed an
oblong pasteboard box. Carol lifted
the lid and billiard caught his breath
There were two cabinet photographs;
uppermost was a very excellent like
ness of billiard himself. She looked
Mt him perplexedly; he was getting OUT
his fountain pen. His hand was cold,
unsteady.
1T lacks something. doesn't it," he
said. IN an undertone. Let me have
il a moment" While she followed
his every movement. he wrote. with
his left hand and somewhat painstak-
ingly, an inscription and gave back the
picture.
Christmas. 1915" she read. "with
love from Henry HlEsrd." She
flushed hotly.
Now look !" be said. Ignoring her
reaction. '"The :. next one" Ne
h. n1nf
photograph; it was q duplicate OF the
picture Of DicEy Morgan on the Doc
tors desk. Her cheeks were suddenly
devoid Of color, she stared fesrfully AT
him without speaking.
@Thst lacks something. too" be said;
and his voice was yielding to the tire
mendous strain upon him. With con
spicuous care he shifted the pen..tt
his right hand. held It poised for
moment, gave her smile Of iDeffable
pathos, closed his teeth hard. Il have
a very useful little trait" he said;
I'm ambidextrous." And wrote his
message.
She had the evidence before her
the immitable, unmlstakable, orIamen-
tai script of another personality.
christmas. 1916-snd love from Dick
to Carol"
1.-THE real gift Is underneath" he
said, and his diction now was foreign
even to himself. But >. no, no; 20
on :"
Her uncertain. exploring fingers had
touched a smaller box; it spang open
m her palm: within was gorseously
lashing. Scintiliating, living gem. SCI
n platinum Her hands. unsteady now
Is were his own, closed over J -