Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1886-12-31

ltrunk-ro on? g asked Jonas, esr,v POO
other bought it at an aucti ion. !. Sin
meant to use it for q coyerlet; but It.,
g very pretty green, don T you thinl
50, sarasS and such nice material NJ
There is q limit to woman 8 patience
this suggestion measured Sara's. Sh,
started to her feet and get herring III
ner bonnet and shawl walked out q
the room. After she had gone Iona.
really looked at his check book anG
for at least two minutes, contemplate
ed drawing large check, and telin,
his wife he had been teasing her. Buj
be could not bring himself to do it. !.
After awhile his wife looked into tn,
room with her old bonnet and shaw
on and said: <:,. ,.S..
J onas, ! am going to spend the day
with my sister.in-law, but shall bt
home before dinner time" =,
Il hope you will enjoy yourself, my
DEAR said Jonas. t..5,S=.
He saw her eyes were heavy with
weaping and looked away ashamed
OF himself. Then he betook himself
to his office where he ground out bis
money and during the day compro.
missed with himself He would do nc
extravaganza thing, but when be went
home he would give his wife what was
necessary. And after all, as he said
to himself it would have been better
to do 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 along, being light upon
his feet yet-for who has ever heard
OF q .miser growing fat?-he thought
he would never again bring the tears
to those good, kind eyes. Never
never again. and then-what was that
crowd? People were coming his way
looking backward as they came. Men
boys, women, all the rifraff that al
accident Or an arrest will collect, in the
city. And now he was in the midst
OF the throng and close to four police
men, WHO. with set faces, marched
in time, bearing between them 9
stretcher on which lay human
form. TWAS covered-covered with
q shawl. Jonas looked. Oh heavens!
he knew the pattern Of that shawl
only a few hours before it's dingy palm
leaves OF yellow brown, it's faded fringe
It's shabby brown center had been
spread out before him. 1t was his
wife's shawl!
"stop-stop-stop!" he cried. "Let
me see her--let me see her.
"Do You know herr" asked q police
man.
'Iet me see her face" said Jonas,
growing so faint that o kindly man,
near by, supported him by the arm.
"You would not know her face; a
telegraph pole fell on her; it is crushed
all out OF shape" said tue policeman.
"But shawls are alike; keep up your
courage. I do not think This is any
relation OF yours; she's too shabby.
See here, this is her bonnet, you don't
know that?"
The policeman held up q bonnet.
1t was crushed and soaked with blood;
but Jonas knew 1.-THE streaked rib
bon, and q flower among the other
flowers had lost its petals. He had
fingered it as it lay on the table beside
him.
eyes, know it," he cried, :'she is
Sara; it's my wife,
Then he pulled away the shawl from
the crushed face, and tainted outright.
just as his senses left him he heard
some one say:
His wife? Why, l thought she was
a beggar."
And another answered.: *Like
enough-they call him a miser.
know him. His name is Jonas Pray"
They carried tho poor woman to
Jonas Pray's old house. helping him
to follow, as he became himself. She
was laid upon her bed, and there was
a coroner's inquest and then women
prepared ner body for burial, talking
among themselves of the shame it was
that she, q rich mans wife, should be
SO clad; and then their work finished;
they went away, that he might be
alone with her, II he would. But BE-
tore the time came he had a cab called
and went away in it. He was driven
to a large dry.goods store, where he
asked to see the manager. and was
shown to his office. Il .-
! .''He has come to beg" thought the
manager; and what can / do for your"
was curt. But Jonas cared nothing
for anyone's manner now. He an
swered, sadly: III want to buy
a shawl" -.--
: "A salesman will attend to you,
sir" said the manager.
NO." said Jonas, II am too ill, too
broken to talk to salesman, can
trust you.s l want the costliest shawl
you have" - ..~e r.
"A mailman, Thought the manager,
Sour costliest is $5,O0O," said he re-
pressing q smile. \. ~ Sa;:s. <sss..
Have it put up for me- said Jo-
mas. H.. 81 4
Certainly mad" said the manager
to himself. e. .s W. ..;,5.ss-...* 4
But Jonas had taken check from
his pocket, and with trembling hands
was filling up the blanks. ..@ IS s
The manager looked it over
carefully Jonas Pray" he said
more respectfully Then it fash
ed upon him that he had read Of
q fatal accident to- this mans wife
that day. Il was 9 strange proceeding,
altogether. Secretly he called others
to look at his Gust TONER. One knew
him; financially he was all right. 5 s#
# &: And the rest is mona of our bust.
ness" said the manager, a. he saw
the bundle Of splendor carried down
stairs after Jonas Pray. They spoke
of him as q Iniser, in the paper. That
ID a nrattv nurch aae for n Iniif,i. = n