Lavender and Old Lace

"Well, now, I don't know," she answered, visibly softening, "but I'll

think it over, and let you know."

"What would you like, Uncle James?"

"You needn't trouble him about it," explained his wife. "He'll like

whatever I do, won't you, James?"

"Yes'm, just as you say."

After dinner, when Ruth broached the subject of furniture, she was

gratified to find that Aunt Jane had no serious objections. "I kinder

hate to part with it, Ruth," she said, "but in a way, as you may say,

it's yours."

"'Tisn't like giving it away, Aunty--it's all in the family, and, as you

say, you're not using it."

"That's so, and then James and me are likely to come and make you a long

visit, so I'll get the good of it, too."

Ruth was momentarily stunned, but rallied enough to express great

pleasure at the prospect. As Aunt Jane began to clear up the dishes,

Mr. Ball looked at his niece, with a certain quiet joy, and then,

unmistakably, winked.

"When you decide about the wedding present, Aunty, let me know, won't

you?" she asked, as Mrs. Ball came in after the rest of the dishes. "Mr.

Winfield would like to send you a remembrance also." Then Ruth added, to

her conscience, "I know he would."

"He seems like a pleasant-spoken feller," remarked Aunt Jane. "You can

ask him to supper to-night, if you like."

"Thank you, Aunty, but we're going to Miss Ainslie's."

"Huh!" snorted Mrs. Ball. "Mary Ainslie ain't got no sperrit!" With this

enigmatical statement, she sailed majestically out of the room.

During the afternoon, Ruth finished her packing, leaving out a white

shirt-waist to wear to Miss Ainslie's. When she went down to the parlour

to wait for Winfield, Aunt Jane appeared, with her husband in her wake.

"Ruth," she announced, "me and James have decided on a weddin' present.

I would like a fine linen table-cloth and a dozen napkins."

"All right, Aunty."

"And if Mr. Winfield is disposed to it, he can give me a lemonade

set--one of them what has different coloured tumblers belongin' to it."

"He'll be pleased to send it, Aunty; I know he will."

"I'm a-layin' out to take part of them two hundred dollars what's sewed

up in James's belt, and buy me a new black silk," she went on. "I've got

some real lace to trim it with, whet dames give me in the early years of

our engagement. Don't you think a black silk is allers nice, Ruth?"

"Yes, it is, Aunty; and just now, it's very stylish."

"You appear to know about such things. I guess I'll let you get it

for me in the city when you buy the weddin' present. I'll give you the

money, and you can get the linin's too, while you're about it."