The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1881-05-26

ner, Jnat III WOulu De my napplnesS uo
serve her.
1 suppose there was an honest fervor
about this declaration that impressed
Mrs. Robinson. 1t had so happened
that 1 was able to show her some little
favors and attentions in return for the
many that her husband had done for
me. L had told her was under obli-
cations to Robinson. Of course 1
didn't explain that it was in his desir-
ing to help me select my hat and coats
and boots; it wasn't necessary to enter
into these little details, but she under
stood that a natural gratitude on my
part led me to send her in return a few
little trifes, like bouquets, or new
books, or music, or opera tickets, once
in a while. So she knew the declaration
of mine that day at the store, that /
would be happy to serve her, came
straight from my heart.
"You are so good and kind" she
said. Then all at once an eager wist-
fulness leaped into her eyes. "I wish
could dare ask you to do me a favor,
Mr.. Smith-a very great favor" she
said.
"Do," I replied. "I won't abuse
your generosity"
"Oh wonder if it will be right ?"
she said, clasping her little gloved
hands, and looking up in my face with
a charming air of indecision. ct Won
der if ought to do such thing?"
"The fact that you desire to do it is
proof that it is blameless," 1 replied.
81 do desire it, ever so much," she
said; "and it is perfectly blameless.
I've set my heart on giving my husband
present upon our marriage anniver-
sary,"
:" Is that all, Mrs. Robinson"
"All!' she replied, tapping her foot
with her parasol, with an air of vexation.
She was looking upon the floor now,
and warm color burned in her cheek.
cts so hard to explain to you," she
said. II don't like to borrow money of
mamma, because she don't understand
my husband, and makes so many un-
pleasant remarks, and it's quite large
sum want for the present. I'm afraid
it will cost ten dollars" Here she
hesitated, and her color grew more and
more vivid.
"Ten dollars isn't very lalge sum"
/ said. L had decided now that she
wanted to ask me to lend her the money,
but didn't know how to go about it, and
I was at loss how to help her. 1 had
two crisp five-dollar bills in my vest
pocket, but how to get them into her
hand was problem. In the meanwhile
time was flying and Robinson would be
back.
"You understand my husband, Mr..
Smith. You know how kind and good
lie is to me. He has told me how he
confides in you. You must know he is
the dearest, best of husbands"
"Of course L do, Mrs. Robinson. We
are like brothers," said, with intense
friendly fervor
81 hate even to deceive him for a
moment, Mr.. Smith. Of course 1 shall
tell him afterward; but 1 want to sur
prise him. wouldn't care to give him
anything if it wasn't surprise"
"Of course you wouldn't, Mrs. Rob
| insOn. Any other way would be SO
humdrum and commonplace. 1 know
just how you feel about it,"
"And my husband is so thoughtful,
he is so anxious to relieve me of every
care, that he knows just where every
penny goes; and, oh dear, it's too bad p
Big tears gathered in her beautiful
eyes it was too much for me.
81 understand it all, Mrs. Robinson, .
I blurted out. "Don't fret over such O
trihe as this" and L thrust the two five,
dollar bills in her hand.
She was on her feet in an instant
White now to her lips. and an awful ex.
preston in her eyes of reproach, rage,
regret, heaven knows what and all. The
ive-dollar bills had dropped on the
floor.
"Good-morning, sir" she said. 81
have been mistaken in you. Please tel
my husband 1 could not wait for him.
She was a little woman, but she
seemed about ten feet high as she swept
out of our department. Fortunately
some foreign cases 4ad effectually
screened us from observation. 1t was
some time before 1 could pick up the
bills. / felt stunned, bewildered, anG
exceedingly humiliated and miserable
L had made an ass of myself in some
way, and innocently outraged the feel
ings of this excellent little woman whom
1 was most desirous to serve.
When Robinson came back he thought
it so strange that his wife hadn't waited
for him. He wanted to know when she
came, how long she staid !; whether she
sat down or stood up, or said she'd come
in again, and if so, when. AT last wa
desperate, and went out into the street
Before knew what was about 1 wa
uptown, and ringing the bell of til,
brown-stown house that Robinson hired
The servant he had selected came to tn,
door, and showed me into the parlor HI
had furnished. His wife came righ
down to me, and the moment she entereC
the parlor / saw that her good sens
and kind hear had gained their owl
again.
"Not another word, Mr.. Smith," sh
said, when began pouring out apollo
gies and explanations. 81 was mysel
to blame for it all. I wanted you T.
sell something of mine for me, and wit
the money help me to get the presen
at cost. There, now, that's the Who'll
of it. If L had only told you at once
instead of beating about the bush i
! that way But I've given up that idea
because he'd be sure to know if L part
ed with anything, he's so interested
he'd know if silver thimble was gone
But I've hit upon another plan, and T.
tell you all about it, if you'd like t
! hear"
! "Of course I'd like to hear" I e1
/ claimed. "You are an adorable littl
woman IN forpiva that stnni1 hlundar =