Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1877-05-07

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more, Sara he said. "Just one.
1.-The shawl is very thin," she said.
81 shall catch cold again as l did last
winter"
"Poor girl !" he said, softly, and look
ed toward the desk where his check book
lay. But the grip of the fend that rules
a miser's soul nipped him sorely as he
did SO.
The momentary impulse vanished.
Besides this thought occurred to him.
"They wear sacques good deal, Sara,
don't they ?" he said.
"Oh they are very fashionable" re-
piled his wife.
.Then couldn't you make one of that
old billiard-cloth that is in the trunk
room % he said. "My pcsr mother
bought it at an auction. She meant to
use it for coverlet but it's very
pretty green, don't you think, Sara, and
such nice material ?"
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, and, for at
least two minutes, contemplated drawing
a 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:
'Jonas, Pm going to spend the day
with my sister-ln.law, but I shall be
home before dinner-time"
81 hope you'll enjoy yourself. my
DEAR" said Jonas. He saw her eyes
were heavy with weeping, and looked
away, ashamed of himself.
Then he betook himself to his Office,
where he ground out his money, and,
during the day, compromised with him.
self. He would do no extravagant thing,
but when he went home he would give
his wife what was necessary. And, after
all, as he said to himself, it would have
been better to have done it. He had
grieved 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
briskly along, being light upon his feet
yet-for who ever heard of miser grow
ing fat ?-he thought that he never
again would bring tears to those good,
kind eyes. Never. never again, never
again and then-what was that crowd
What had happened People were CON-
ing his way, looking backward as they
came. Men, boys, women, little chill
dren, all the riff-raff that accident, OF
quarrel, or an arrest Will collect in the
streets of New York and now he was
in the midst of the throng and close to
four policemen, who, with set faces,
marched in time, bearing between them
stretcher, on which lay human form
1t was covered-covered with shawl
Jonas looked Oh, heaven he knew
the pattern of that shawl. Only few
hours before its dingy palm leaves Of
yellow brown, its faded fringe, its shah
by brown center, had been spread before
him.
1t was his wife's shawl.
"Stop-stop-stopv' he cried. "Le
me sec her-let me see her p
"Do you know her ?" asked the po
liceman.
"Let me see her face" said Jonas
growing SO faint that kindly man hare
by supported him by the arm.
YOU'D not know her face; tele
graph pole fell on her; it's crushed ou
of all shape" said the policeman. "Bu
shawls are alike. Keep up your cour
age. l don't think this any relation o
yours; she's too shabby. Look at he
shoes. See here. this is her bonnet
You don't know that p
He held up a bonnet. 1t was crushe
and soaked with blood but Jonas kne,
it. The streaked purple ribbon, and
flower amongst the other flowers tina
had lost. half its petals. He had finger
ed it as it lay on the table beside him.
"Yes. 1 know it p he cried. at
Sara It's my wife %
Then he pulled away the shawl fror
: the crushed face, and tainted outrigh
just as his senses left him he hear
| some one say
, 'His wife why, 1 thought she was
, beggar !" And another answered:
E Like enough they call him mise
f | know him. His name is Jonas Pray.
i They carried the poor woman home
Jonas Pray's old house, helping him
follow as he came to himself. She W;
laid upon her bed, and there was Co
e oner's inquest, and women prepared h,
body for burial, talking among then
v selves of the shame it was, she. ric
v mans wife, should be so clad and the
o there was pause, and he might
v alone with her if he would.