The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1881-12-08

to pick it up.
The young lady recognized it as well
advertised compound, and dc emed it
worthy of being deposited in the reticule
she carried.
As she laughingly exhibited her prize
upon her return home, favorite SER
want begged for it. She knew per-
son who suffered greatly from the COM
plant it would cure. she said, and the
medicine was forthwith handed to her.
The person for whom she intended it
was a good looking coachman, who had
paid her considerable attention. He was,
in fact. expected at the garden gate that
very afternoon.
He came. and was given the bottle. He
received i. with an expression of the
most grateful affection; but, although
afflicted with slight cold, did not feel
impelled to use it.
Indeed. the false-hearted man thought
as he placed it in his breast pocket, that
it would make fine present to hand
some young cook of his acquaintance,
whom he purposed next to visit.
The cook was none other than the one
employed by the lady first introduced to
the reader of this story.
Upon the following morning, rs Mrs.
Minton entered her kitchen, she saw the
bottle upon the dresser, and surprisedly
took it up, for she recognized a peculiar
ity on it, :,
'"How came this here, Susan?" asked
She
THAT'S mine, num-"
But. as the cook spoke, her mistress
had p1lled the cork from the bottle, and
saw the slip of paper she had the previ-
GUS morning inserted.
"Susan, l gave this to my husband.
How did you come by it?''
st was Mr.. Thompsons coachman
left it here, mum. If it's yours, you're
welcome to it,
1T certainly is mine, Susan. I wrote
this paper myself"
Mister Minton must have dropped it,
l suppose. num-
That's it. of course
But as the wife reread the words she
had penned aud meditated in the privacy
of her own room, she ceased to believe
her gift had merely been lost.
How could it have dropped from the
pocket in which it had been securely
placed? And it was her parting gift!
She had dwelt with delight, in her
musings, upon her husbands surprised
smile, as his eye fell upon her written
directions. She deemed her expressions
of affection therein as prettlly and wittily
conceived.
For four days more she would have to
await his return. Mrs. Minton shut the
bottle up in "a drawer with sigh.
The anxiously awaited knock was at
last heard, but it was accompanied by
sound which made the wife think at once
of her gift, and very shortly after their
mutual embrace, ask her husband if he
had experienced no benefit from the
medicine which she had given to him.
At such moment, what could the poor
man say?
cts all gone, but, as you see" he
replied, and coughed.
II do not see that it is all gone, either
cough or cure" she returned, rising and
giving him an indignant glance, and an
instant thereafter held the bottle before
his astonished gaze.
Mr. Minton fell back in his chair, with
a confused laugh.
"Ah, see; Jobson has been here!"
$50 you gave it to him, did your
tlouSut AO A"A SicotCi hccU
than l."
"Of this?' asked the wife, uncorking
the bottle, and handing him the slip of
paper.
"Ths is meant for your head,
But it should touch your heart
wfes love is in it.
Though YOU far from her stray,
If on take this each day
No other can win it,
"Am to conclude that I have lost
you?" continued Mr.. Minton, as he fin
ished reading the verse; land am l to
suppose that old Jobson has gained
your
"Mr. JobsOp has not been here"
Then, how comes it you have that
bottie?"
81 found it upon the kitchen-dresser."
But neither Mr.. nor Mrs. MintoD will
ever know exactly how the 'cure" re-
turned to them, unless they read these
lines.
It's singular temperance in their
household has had. however, the good
result of making Mr.. Minton conhne
himself to the strict truth when talking
to his wife She has only to say dot
tie" to curb in him the slightest ten
dency to exaggeration.
To Protect a Single Roof from Fire.
The editor of an Eastern paper says