Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1881-07-14

4 haPyg " seIfe Lcff cAtne Stralght iEoul
my heart
You are so good and kind She
said. Then all at once an eager wist-
fulness leaped into her eyes. Il wish
could dare ask you to DO me favor,
Mr.. Smith, very great favor, she
said.
DO Ireplied. i won't abuse youi
generosity
'0hl | 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, Il wonder
if ought to do such a thing ?
The fact that you desired to do it is
proof that it is blameless.' / replied.
Il do desire it, ever so much, she
said, and it is perfectly blameless. I've
set my heart on giving my household q
present upon our marriage annivers-
sry.'
is that all, Mrs. Robinson?
All ! she replied, tapping her foot
with her parasol. with an air of vexa-
tion. She was looking upon the flool
now, and warm color burned in her
cheeks. Its so hard to explain it to
you, she said. Il don't like to borrow
money OF mamma, because she don't
understand my husband, and makes so
many unpleasant remarks, and it's
quite large sum want for the pres
ent I'm afraid it will cost ten dol
lars Here she hesitated, and her col
or & rev more and more vivid.
Ten dollars isn't very large sum,
l said. | had decided now that she
wanted to ask me to lend her the
money, hut didn't know how to go
about it, and l was at loss how to
help her. l had two crisp five dollar
bills in my vest pocket, but how to get
them into her hand was a problem. In
the mean while, time was flying and
Robinson would be back.
You understand my husband, Mr..
Smith. You know how kind and good
he is to me. He has told me how he
confdes in you. You must know he is
the dearest and best of husbands.
'Of course | do, Mrs. Robinson. We
are like. brothers, l SAID, with Intense
friendly fervor
4 hate even to deceive him for mo.
ment, Mr.. Smith. OF course | shall tell
him afterward; but want to surprise
him. I wouldn't care to. give him any
thing if it wasn't a surprise.
of course you wouldn't, Mrs. Rob-
inson. Any other way would be so
hum.drum and common place. I know
just how you feel about it,
tAnd nay 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 badr
Big tears gathered in her beautiful
eyes; it was too much for me. >,
4 understand it all, Mrs. Robinson,
| blurted out. Don't fret over srtfife
as this and l thrust the two five-dol-
lar bills in her hand.
She was on her feet in an instant.
White now to her lips, and an awful
expression in her eyes Of reproach, rage,
regret, Heaven knows what and all.
The fve-dollar bills had dropped on
the floor.
Good morning, sir, she said. Il
have been mistaken in you. Please tell
my husband I could not wait for him.
She was a little woman, but she
seemed about ten feet high as she
swept out of our apartment Fortu-
nately some foreign cases had effectu-
ally screened us from observation. 1t
was some time before I could pick up
the bills. l felt stunned, bewildered,
and exceedingly humiliated and mis-
erable. l have made an ass of myself
some way, and innocently outraged the
feelings of this excellent little woman
who 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 was desperate, and
went out into the street. Before |
knew what I was about I was up town,
and ringing the bell of the brown stone
house that Robinson hired. The SER
want he had selected came to the door
and showed me into the parlor he had
furnished. His wife came right down
to me, and the moment she entered the
parlor, l saw that her good sense and
kind heart had gained their own again.
mot another word, Mr.. Smith, she
said, when I began pouring out apollo
gies and explanations. 4 was myself
to blame for It all. I wanted you to
sell something of mine for me, and
with the money help me to get the
present at cost. There, now, that's the
whole of it. If had emily told you at
once instead of beating about the bush
in that way But I've given up that
idea, because he'd be sure to know it I
parted with anything, he's so interest
ed; he'd know if silver tnimble was
gone. But I've hit upon another plan
and I'll tell you all about it, if you'd
like to hear
of course I'd like to hear I ex-
claimed. you are an adorable little
woman to forgive that little blunder of
mine. l was SO miserable to have Of
Tended YOU; and your husband ] ad.