The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1885-11-07

soul nipped him sorely as he did so. The
momentary impulse vanished. Besides, a
thought occurred to him.
sThey wear sacques a good deal, Sara,
don't they ?" he said.
"Oh, they are very fashionable, = replied
his wife.
"Then couldn't you make one of that old
billiard cloth that is in the trunk room %
he said. "My poor mother bought it at an
auction She meant to use it as 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 awhile his wife looked into the
room with her old bonnet on, and her old
shawl about her shoulders, and said
"Jonas, I'm going to spend the day with
my sister-in-law."
81 hope you will enjoy yourself, my
dear" said Jonas.
He saw her eyes were heavy with weep
ing, 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 himself He would
do no extrayagant thing, but when he went
home he would give his wife what was ne
cessary. And, after all, as he said to him
self, 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 aleng, being
light upon his feet yet-for whoever heard
of miser growing fat ?-he thought that
he never again would bring tears to those
good, kind eyes Never, never again.
And then-what was the crowd ? What
had happened? People were coming his
way, looking backward as they came.
Men, boys, women, little children, all the
riff-raf that accident, or quarrel, or an
arrest will collect in the streets; 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 a
stretcher, on which lay human form COW
cred with a shawl. Jonas looked Oh,
heaven He knew the pattern of that
shawl Only a few hours before
its dingy palm leaves of yellow brown,
its faded fringe, its shabby brown centre,
had been spread out before him. 1t was
his wife's shawl.
"Stop, stop, stop!" he cried. "Let me
see herl"
''Do you know her?' asked the police
man.
"Let me see her face, " said Jonas, grow
ing SO faint that kindly man hard by
supported him by the arm.
"You'd not know her face; stone fell
on her; it's crushed, said the policeman.
"But shawls are alike Keep up your
courage. | don't think this any relation
of yours; she's too shabby Look at her
shoes. See here, this is her bonnet You
don't know that ?"
He held up bonnet. 1t was crushed.
But Jonas knew it, The streaked purple
ribbon, and flower among the other flowers
that had LOST half its petals. He had fin
gered it as it lay on the table beside him.
eyes, [ know il" he cried. "Its Sara.
It's my wife. !"
Then he pulled away the shawl from the
face, and tainted outright. But as his
senses left him, he heard some one say
'His wife,
And another answered.
'Like enough They call him a miser.
| know him. His name is Pray"
They carried the poor woman home to
Jonas Pray's old house, helping him to
follow as he came to himself
She was laid upon her bed, and there
was a coroner's inquest, and women pre-
pared her body for burial, talking among
themselves of the shame it was she, rich
mans wife, should be so clad.
Before the time came he had cab called,
and went out in it. He was driven to
large establishment, where he asked to see
the manager, and was shown to his room.
The manager found him there, a pale,
miserable object, trembling and faint, as one
in deep illness.
II want to buy shawl he said.
GA shopman will attend to you, sir,
said the manager.
''No," said Jonas, II am too Ill, too
broken to talk to the shopman. | can trust
you. [ want the costliest shawl you have, "
"a madman," thought the manager.
"Our costliest is five hundred pounds,
said he, repressing smile.
"Have it wrapped up for me" said
Jonas.
Certainly mad" said the gentleman to
himself
But Jonas had drawn check out from
his breast pocket, and with trembling hand
was filing up the blanks. The manager
examined them carefully.
'Mr. Jonas Pray" he said, more respect
fully. Then it flashed upon him that he
had read that morning of fatal accident
to this mans wife. 1t was strange pro-
ceeding altogether. Secretly he called
others to look at his customer. One knew
financially it was all right
"And the rest is none of our business,
said the manager, as he saw the bundle of
splendor carried down stairs after Jonas
Pray "They spoke of him as miser in
the paper. That's pretty purchase for
miser.
Meanwhile, Jonas drove home. No
sweet face smiled greeting. Within, all
was silent. Carrying the shawl under his
arm, he went up stairs to the darkened
room, where, under straight folds of white
drapery, seemed to lay the sorrow of the
house A watcher sat there. He sent
her away. Then, alone in the room, he
knelt down upon the floor.
"Sara," he said, "Sara, can you hear
me? l loved you, Sara; but 1 was such a
miser. I've bought you shawl at last.
Oh, Sara, Sara; I've paid as much as l
could for it, my dear. You shall be wrap
ped in it in your coffin. I'll put it about
you myself Sara, Saral''
Hespread out the costly folds. He lifted
it in his hands A moment more he would
have folded it about the dead form, but at
that instant voice cried:
"Oh, Jonas, Jonas, dear. Oh, my poor
Jonas. My poor, poor Jonas'
And turning, he saw his wife, either in
the spirit or the flesh, standing behind him.
His knees trembled under him. He cried
out to heaven to help him. But the figure
came closer 1t was no ghost, but living
woman. She took him in her arms.
ooh, how i'll you look p she said. "Did
you really love me so? And it is all my