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Show T L DoivaU THE most delightful part of my life was that age when boys and girls freely mingle with eucl) other as friends, half boy and girl, half man and woman. There was one Thanksgiving when the head of our large family invited every member that could be reached to spend a week in his large country house, including Thanksgiving day. Those of us of my generation went in for a good time together. The girls were of that age when a taste for mischief mis-chief predominates. One night when I was getting ready for bed I found the legs of my pajamas sewed up. When I had ripped the sewing, got them on and tumbled into bed I found the sheets scratched. I had turned otT the light, so, springing out, of bed, I tiptoed hastily to the door, opened it and was in time to grab the last of a bevy of girls who ran away in the darkness. Throwing my arms around my captive, cap-tive, I gave her a smack, she struggling strug-gling to be free, then let her go. Slipping back into my room, I turned on a light, and there, sticking onto the breast of my pajamas, was an elongated pin of chased gold set in the center with a single sapphire. The problem was to identify the girl I had kissed by discovering the owner nf the pin. I consulted with my men cousins, and it was decided that I should put the article up at auction at ihe Thanksgiving dinner, bids to be accepted only from the men. Accordingly when the nuts and coffee cof-fee came on I took the pin out of my vest pocket and, holding it up before the company, said : "I found this ar- ABB "I Will Put It Up at Auction." ticle recently and would be happy to return it to the owner If he will claim it and prove ownership." I swept the board with my glance, but saw no sight of a give-away on any girl's face. Then I continued : "Since there is no claimant for the article, I will put it up at auction, reserving re-serving the right to bid to the men present of my own generation, the proceeds of the sale to go to charity." I called for bids, and one of my cousins, Jack Somers, bid 25 cents. There was an exclamation of disapprobation disap-probation for such an offer, and when another of my confederates bid 50 cents it was repeated. The gem alone could not have been worth less than $25. When every man who was permitted per-mitted to bid had done so, $2.75 was the highest offer received. I knocked the article down to the successful man, Jim Atwood, and he handed me the money. "What luck !" he exclaimed, holding the pin before him admiringly. "I've wanted something some-thing like this for a gift to my fiancee, and now I have found it." The fact of another girl possessing her jewelry was too much for its owner. Becky Aldrich showed by her expression that she was at least to be suspected. I took the pin from Jim and tossed it to her. A telltale blush confirmed my suspicion, and, the eyes of all the company being concentrated on Becky, it deepened into scarlet. Then there was a burst of laughter, in which everyone joined heartily but Becky. Becky pretended to be very much offended with me for the course I had taken. This caused me to feel uncomfortable, uncom-fortable, and I endeavored to placate her. Becky for a long while refused to be appeased. To make a long story short, Becky played me as an angler would play a trout till I was madly in love with her. Having refused me, she seemed to be satisfied and thereafter treated me so considerately that I tried again and was successful. Naturally, the anniversary of Thanksgiving brings to me interesting memories. (Copyright. 1917, by the McClure Newspaper Newspa-per Syndicate.) |