Evening Republican, Volume 14, Number 94, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 April 1910 — Wedding Gifts [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Wedding Gifts

“Oh, Ferd!” exclaimed the engaged *irl to the engaged young man who had Just entered the hall door. Then «he threw herself into his arms and burst Into tears. “Why, Kathie,” gasped the mystified Ferd, "what’s up?" "Oh, Ferd!" moaned Katharine amid strangled sobs. “Did you ever see anything more hideous In* all your life?” She held up something round, smooth and pearly white In color. "Think of wearing it! Think of It, -Ferd! Oh, of all spiteful creatures, girls are the worst!” Katharine sniffed recuperatlvely and dabbed a bit of lace upon her discolored eyes. Presently she was in a condition to tell her story. - "The Alpha Zeta girls did 1$ just because ft makes them jealous to think that I’m about to marry such a splendid man aB you. They are, Ferd,” she insisted, as the young man smiled a bit Incredulously. "Though, In fairness to them, I will admit there Is the smallest chance possible of their ttavlng actually Imagined that I’d like this frightful thing.

"You see,” began Katharine confidentially, aB she settled herself comfortably beside the young man, "Vhen Clara Frazier was marled last June the Alpha Zetas decided to give her a handsome bracelet. And I gave in my little |1.60 —I, who love Clara as I should love a viper. Do you remember, Ferd, "when you both happened to be on the same train going to Detroit a year ago? Of course, I know that you were merely polite to her, but she actually made so much out 9 f your attentions to her when she told about them that the girls thought you and I were on the poftt of quarreling. Since then Clara and I have kept up a perfect fiction of friendship. If we meet as often as three times a day she always kisses ,me on both cheeks and, opening her eyes wide, Inquires sweetly, ‘How’s Ferd?’ "Well, to get back to Clara’s wedding present I was one of the committee of three appointed to select the bracelet For some rason or other we put off making the purchase till the last day. By that time Carrie had sprained her ankle roller skating and Helen had to help her mother pack for a trip to New York, so I was left to choose the gift all by myself. “I had a perfectly miserable time, Ferd. All the way downtown I Juggled possible and impossible designs up and down In my mind. By the time the salesman began bringing out tray after tray of bracelets for my Inspection I was utterly confused. “Of course, some of them were dreams. There were gay Parisian designs and hand-wrought orientals. I saw a sliver bracelet set with turquoise, native drilled and warranted never to fade. There was a beauty In rose gold with enamel flower tracings and studs of pearls. But- did I select one of these? Never! * "I waved aside all the lovely ones and chose a. sliver beaded affair. It was an ugly Wall of Troy pattern set with eight lapis knolls and three -cream Jades. There wasn't a bit of Algt fight on the article. Altogether

It was the ugliest bracelet I ever saw in all my life—except this one here. “I was ashamed fC think what the handsome young salesman might conclude about my intellect, so I told him that the bracelet was not for me but for an elderly person of peculiar tastes. Of course, 25 Is elderly, and If Clara weren’t odd she never would have dreamed that she could make that sweet-tninded Billy Thompson happy for life. “As I exected, the girls all looked rather shocked when I opened the white velvet box for their inspection; but though the praises were tame, no serious complaints were lodged, so the bracelet was sent to Clara.” Tears were in Katharine’s voice as she went on. “Ferd, we received a wedlng present to-day!” She crushed tightly In her hand the white velvet box. Inside was an Alpha card. There were also the same beaded silver and the same Wall of Troy, with eight lapis lazulis and three cream Jades! A twin monstrosity to the bracelet 1 selected for Clara! ” Tears rolled ‘down her cheeks. ! “Oh, I’m nearly through crying," she declared, “but I want to tell you, Ferdinand Augustus Milton Stoll, that

you can Just make up your mind to use this bracelet to chain on the cover of the ash can or bolt the kitchen door. It may do to tie up the bull pup. As for my wearing it ” She rose Impulsively and the white velvet box went spinning across the room. The bracelet rolled out and lay on the rug. “Oh, Ferd,” sobbed Katharine, as she sank pathetically back on the divan, "wouldn’t you be awfully afraid to marry me to-morrow If I were as spiteful as some girls?”—Chicago News.

“THE VERY SAME THING.”