Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1877-11-02

lu0u COIIuIlU YOU uldho O1O 'e'o VI oA'e'o
old billiard-cloth that is in the trunk
room?" he said. "My poor mother bought
it at auction. She meant to use 1t Tor
coverlet. It's very pretty green. Don't
you think SO, Sara? And such nice ma
terial!''
There is limit to woman's patience.
This suggestion measured Sara's. She
started to her feet, and, gathering up her
bonnet and shawl, walked out of the room.
After she had gone, Jonas really looked at
his check-book. For at least two minutes
he contemplated drawing large check,
and telling his wife he had been teasing
her. But he could not bring himself to do
it..
After while his wife looked into the
room, with her old bonnet on and her old
shawl about her shoulders, and said IA
''Jonas am going to spend the day
with my sister-in-law; but shall be home
before dinner-time.''
81 hope you will enjoy yourself, my
DEAR" said Jonas. He saw her eyes were
heavy with weeping, and he looked away
ashamed of himself.
Then he betook himself to his Office
where he ground out his money, and during
the day he compromised with himself. He
would do no extravaganza thing, but when
he went home he would give his wife what
was necessary. After all, as he said to
himself, it would have been better to do
it. He had greYed her, and she was the
only thing he loved on earth.
He went home earlier than usual that
evening, to make what amends his soul
would consent to; and as he walked brisk
ly along, being light upon his feet yet
for who ever heard of a miser growing
fat?-he thought he would never again
bring tears to those good, kind eyes. New
er, never again; and then-What was that
crowd? People were coming that way,
looking backward as they came. Men,
boys, women, little children-all the riff
raft that accident, or quarrel,gor in arrest,
will collect in the city Of New York. And
now he was in the midst Of the throng,
and close to four policeman, who, with
set faces, marched in time, bearing be-
tween them a stretcher, on which lay a
human form. It was cOvered-covered
with shawl. Jonas looked. Oh, heaven /!
he knew the pattern of that shawl. Only
few hours before it's dingy palm leaves
of yellow-brown, its faded fringe, its shah
by brown centre, had been spread out be-
fore him. 1t was his wife's shawl
'Stop! stop! stop!' he cried. LET ne
see her! let me see her!"
man.
s.Let me see her face!'. said Jonas,
growing so faint that a kindly man hard
by supported him by the arm.
''You'd not know her facessA telegraph
pole fell ON her. It's crushed all out OF
shape" said the policeman. ''but shawls
are alike. Keep up your courage. do
not think this is any relation of yours.
She's too shabby. Look at her shoes. See!
this is her bonnet. Y GU don't know that?"
He held up a bonnet. 1t was crushed
and soaked with blood, but Jonas knew it;
the streaked ribbon, and a flower among
the other flowers had lost its petals. He
had fingered it as it lay Oh the table beside
him.
Yes, know it - he cried. It's Sara.
It's my wife!"
Then he pulled away the shawl from the
crushed face, and tainted outright. Just
as his senses left him he heard some one
say:
ellis wife, Why, thought she was a
beggarl''
And another answered: Like enough
they call him a miser. I know him. His
name is Jonas Pray"
They carried the poor woman home to
Jonas Pray's old housekeeping him to
follow as he became himself. She was laid
upon bed, and there was coroner's in
quest. Then women prepared her body
for burial-talking among them selves Of
the shame it was that she, rich mans
wife, should be so clad. Then there was a
pause, that he might be alone with her if
he would.
Before the time came he had cab
called, and he went out in it. He WAS
driven to large dry goods establishment,
where he asked to see the manager, and
was shown to his office. The manager
found him there--a pale miserable object,
trembling and faint, as one in deep illness.
He was shabby, too.
''He has come to beg, thoughtthe man
ager; and his what can do for you ?"
was curt.
But Jonas cared nothing for anyone's
manner now. He answered sadly
II want to buy shawl"
"a salesman will attend to you sir p
said the manager.
"No! said Jonas am too ill, too bro
ken, to talk to a salesman. [ can trust
you. want the costliest shawl you have"
"a madman!'' thought the manager.
"Our costliest shawl is five Thousand dol
lars" he said, REFRESHING asmile.
''Have it put up for me, said Jonas.
d'Certainly mad," said the manager to
himself.
But Jonas had drawn check from his
breast, and with trembling hand was
filling ny the blanks.
The manager looked it over carefully.
'Jonas Pray he said, more respectfully.
Then it flashed upon him that he had read
of a fatal accident to this MANS wife that
morning. 1t was strange proceeding al
together. Secretly he called others to look
at bis customer. One knew him-fnan-
cial1y he was all right.
''And the rest is nene CT oRr business"
said the manager, as he saw the bundle af
splendor carried down after Jonas Pray.
"They spoke of him as a miser in the pa
per, That's pretty purchase for q mi
serI"
Mean 1uhilo innas droxa homo Iarapo Tho