The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1883-12-21
SELECT STORY.
HER BIRTHDAY.


And handsome Dick Everett, seal
capped and overcoated, bent to kiss hi.
pretty little wife.
"Must you really go, Dick?" implor
ingly.
"Must | really go9" he repeated
"What a dreadful solemn face! Yes
you ridiculous darling, l really must y
"Why? persistently.
"Oh, because of an--an engagement
II canuot break, dearl" trihe
guilty. "Goo1 gracious what al
inquisitive little mortal it is, to bt
sure Don't trouble your pretty heaC
about business engagements, and once
more, my pet, goodbye And-oh,
say, Dolly turning back and putting
a furry head inside the door, ''if yot
are in search of job, l just wisi
you'd mend my other overcoat.
noticed big tear in it for the first
time to night. win your
And to his rather disconnected
speech Mrs. Dick nodded, and smiled
a bright acquiescence.
The door slammed behind Dick
and she glanced round the cozy, home
like ROOM
'1f Dick had not been obliged to &C
out-and such cold night, too.
The gas bm ned brightly.
The CHEEKY fire in the CRATE was
bed of golden Goals.
The French clock on the mantl,
ticked musically.
Towards the crimson-covered table
on which lay pile of unopened mag
azines, looked two wistful blue eyes.
But the bride of six months shook
her dainty, bronze-brown head will
resolute determination.
The rosy lips repeated the hackney
ed formula-"Duty first, pleasure
after.
So, accordingly, the little whit,
hands laboriously lugged and hauled
Dicks big overcoat into the room
turned it over, and began their wifel,
occupation.
She smiled softly to herself, for he
thoughts were pleasant ones as she sa
and sewed.
A rarely pretty picture in the par
lor s tire-lit glow, the childish figure il
the soft, dark dress and snowy muslil
apron, the busy hands flying briskl,
through their task.
Tomorrow will be my birthday
aud Dick has forgotten it, l know
How sorry he will be when l tell hin
tomorrow
And as she broke merrily iptt
"Comin' Thro' the Rye the French
clock on the low marble mantel STRUCK
ten.
Her task finished, she turned th,
coat over to see if it needed other re
pairs, and as she did so a small squar,
sheet of creamy paper futtered from
an inside pocket and fell upon the car
pet.
She bent forward and picked it NJ
with Il low laugh.
Which of Dicks friends are suffi
ciently foppish to perfume his love let
ters, wonder.?"
Then she turned it right side up ant
looked at it.
And she saw-what
Nothing very alarming.
Only thick sheet of embossed
paper, stamped with a monogram il
blue and gold, incomprehensible al
monograms usually are.
A woman's letter, decidedly, writer
in pretty, scrawling, irregular hand
unmistably woman's.
The bird-like song died on Doll,
Everett's lips.
The soft, bright color faded slowl,
out of her face.
The blue eyes grew wide and start
led, as deliberately, though almost in
voluntarily, she read the few words OF
the page before her.
The note ran:
'DIcK, DARLING.-I have misse,
YOU dreadfully of late. Come. Ex
ercise diplomacy to night and slil
away. l hate her for keeping yol
from me. Besides, Gerster is in town
Is the hint too broad In spite of all
Dick, ever your ESTHER.
That was all.
But it was enough.
For few moments Dolly's eyes
blazing, terrified, stared straight at thu
fatal sheet, as though they would shriv
el it up with their blue fire.
Then she flung it shudderingly from
her, as though it was venomou
thing, and could sting her.
Who was the woman who dared t.
write in that manner to Dick-he
Dick ?-yes, she told herself, with al
air of defiant proprietorship, hers only
She crushed her hands tightly to
gether, till the diamond next the plail
gold circlet cut the white flesh cruel
ly.
Then, as horrible suspicion leape'
TO life in her brain, with low moal
she slipped from the chair and crouch
ed, shivering, against the great shagg.
overcoat
Her fears took shape.
| What if he had gone to meet thi
woman 4?
For the first time he had evaded an
swering her questions.
And how guilty and hurried he ha
seemed 80 horribly happy and light
hearted, too,
A thousand words and glances, bt
fore almost unnCticed, now fiashe
quickly upon her.
She snatched up the note again an
looked at it.
1t was dated the evening of tha
day:
"Oh, Dick, Dick !" she cried, wildl,
how could you, how could you9' An
| loved you sol"
Then, with a sudden storm of sob
she broke down altogether, and bury
ing her face in the crumpled overcoa
wept and wept as if her very hear
would break, the graceful little tigul
shaken and so convulsed.
The fire burned low in the graf
under coating of gray ashes,
Eleven!
| Now she did not pause to listen I
the music.