San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1925-09-13

We just put JunloT 10 Deu'
Mrs. ellison came out of the nur-
sery. "He wants to stand on his
head and do all his stunts-then
that cxcites him and he doesn't go
right to Sleep"
But it's good exercise" laughed
Helen. "Oh, what lovely flowers"
"Yes, aren't they? Fred never
I forgets my birthday. He had to go
to Boston, but he'll be home tonight.
You haven't brought back that de-
canter?" glancing at the package.
"Oh, really want you to have it"
"That's awfully kind but we have
three-and / felt l ,oughtn't to-"
You can't hive too many decan-,
ters-and l remember how you adj
mired it. Here's the ones Alice
sent me-" turning to present..
strewn table. "And | want you to
see this Florentine desk set"
There were many presents. AS
Helen admired them, her resentment
deepened. Trying to force her 10
keep the decanter She wouldn't
be forced. Why should she be the
outlet for Mrs. Gilson's regretted
purchases?
How to bring the conversation
back to the decanter? And how to
say she didn't want it? She must.
say it dccisively-Mrs. ellison was
so insistcnt.
mo, thank you, we've Just fin
ished dinner" at proffered box
of bonbons. "And Imust run down
-Warren's alone. ! just came up
to bring this. / really don't"
HELEN is FRUSTRATED.
mo, no, you must keep it I've
no place to put it-and it just goes
with your lovely old things"
1t was harder, much harder than
she had thought.
But really, Mrs. ellison, II
J flushed and disconnected.
Then suddenly Mrs. Gilson's smile
stiffened-frozc!
you didn't think meant you to
BUY it?" -
The hot blood scorched Helen's
face. Her hideous blunder, She
saw it now. She should've known.
I'm sorry, Mrs. Curtis, if you
misunderstood my note" frigidly. II
don't Remember just what | wrote.
but / certainly had no thought of
you paying for it."
"0h, l should've knownl" in
flaming confusion. "I-Oh, it's all
so awkward-I don't know what to-
say"
wen try to forget it, with aus
teTe formality. "Did / show you this
lace scarf?" taking it from the table. !
Desperately Helen CROPPED for
some excuse to escape. Her hull
initiation was too poignant. And
Mrs. Gilson's cold withdrawal
You've had a wonderful birthday
so many lovely presents" she /;
floundered for the third time. "ButI
i mustn't stay-we're going out this
evening"
They were not going out-but
anything TO escape.
A brief strained goodnight, and
she was out in the hall, racing down
the three flights.
"Oh-oh, / did the most CHASTITY
thing" bursting in on Warren.
"Eh? What now" glancing up
at her crimson, agitation.
where's her note? What'd I do
with it? I want to see just what
she said. Here it is -
sHcre is the old decanter you so -,
admired. told you how / picked J
it up at that absurd price. ] bought
it for our sideboard but today, my
birthday, Alice sent me a pair ot
old Waterford decanters. So I am
wondering if you wouldn't like TO
have this? 1t really belongs with
all your lovely old things"
well. what bout it? What's the
trouble?' demanded Warren, as she
still stared at the note.
ADMITS HER BLUNDER.
"Oh, we were all wrong-it was a
PRESENT! She meant TO GIVE it
to me :"
The devil she did!-
al read you the note-you didn't
see It'll" sinking on the couch.
You let me go up there-and make
that AWFUL blunder!"
Il let you? What in blazes did
/ have TO do with it?"
"You might've read It yourself.
You never take any interest-you
never try to help me-
"What've l got to do with your /
fool mix-ups? Here, let's see that"
snatching the note. Huh. she
didn't make it any too plain"
How COULD / know from
that?" eager for self classification.
"All she says is I'm wondering ifs
you wouldn't like to have it, Does
that sound like n PRESENT."
Not to me-" tossing back the
note. "And why'd she ring in that /
bout the price,"
II suppose so / wouldn't feel UNI I
der such obligations. Oh, if we'd I
only known! For me to go up
there--I was never so Inundated in
my life!"
"whatd she say? How'd you
tumble to it?'
Il didn't! I just Slundcred on
until she saw ! thought she wanted
me to buy it. Then she just froze
up"
That was awkward, Kitten. YoS
certainly pulled a bloomer that
time -
-Oh, I never felt so small!v COW
erihg her face. "Itll always be be-
tween us-and to have to meet her
every day! Dear, can't you think
of some way out of it--somcthing
i can do or say to make IL right?"
LESS you say the better! Said too
darn much already. Better let it
drop-not keep stirrin' it up. 1t
you'd been sport enough to come
across with the twelve - YOU
wouldn't be in this mess. Now
she's got Won down ne niler
Well. snap out Of it," with "A dis
missing shrug. eth straighten
out after awhile. Most things do.