"
Margaret laughed aloud. "Those will do her past Christmas," she exulted.
"What else did you buy?"
"Well sir," said Wesley, "I saw something to-day. You told me about Kate
getting that tin pail for Elnora to carry to high school and you said
you told her it was a shame. I guess Elnora was ashamed all right, for
to-night she stopped at the old case Duncan gave her, and took out that
pail, where it had been all day, and put a napkin inside it. Coming home
she confessed she was half starved because she hid her dinner under a
culvert, and a tramp took it. She hadn't had a bite to eat the whole
day. But she never complained at all, she was pleased that she hadn't
lost the napkin. So I just inquired around till I found this, and I
think it's about the ticket."
Wesley opened the package and laid a brown leather lunch box on the
table. "Might be a couple of books, or drawing tools or most anything
that's neat and genteel. You see, it opens this way."
It did open, and inside was a space for sandwiches, a little porcelain
box for cold meat or fried chicken, another for salad, a glass with a
lid which screwed on, held by a ring in a corner, for custard or jelly,
a flask for tea or milk, a beautiful little knife, fork, and spoon
fastened in holders, and a place for a napkin.
Margaret was almost crying over it.
"How I'd love to fill it!" she exclaimed.
"Do it the first time, just to show Kate Comstock what love is!" said
Wesley.
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