The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-12-22

crib, and then came back to him.
Sweet mother" he said, taking her soft
hand in his 80 the family goldpiece is
gone; wish it had bought something for
you before ii vanished.
'Oh, we shall have plenty without it, by
and by she smiled, encouragingly;
Shall we?" He shook his head Per-
maps! All our illusions are vanishing. since
the old firm dissolved | can't get a situa-
ton anywhere. in spite of all that were
off in Montana, if Herkimer succeeds. but
most of the chances are for young men,
think" He glanced at her apologetically.
Old '''O' -4N''0-S ''''
And 1 am quite sure that I ami" she re-
| torted quickly.
Sometimes 1 feel as if had done you
wrong by marrying you'll seem to be such
q failure; think of all you might have had
For all answer she laughted softly and
kissed him.
ny, You are the dearest. the bTavest 1vt the
more do l want than 1 have? / am the rich
est woman in the whole world
Lenore often wondered afterward that she
was not really depressed or unhappy in
the toll and struggle of the dark days that
| followed-days best left unchronicled. From
she drew a glad vitality. They had to move
soon from their little house to a third-rate
| nat and John remained out of a situation,
but she had such intense faith in her hus-
| band that, no matter how respondent he
came home at night she sent him forth
brllght-panoplied with hope in the morning.
No amount of failure could lessen her
belief in his high qualities, Infinitely supe-
rior to those of the men who distanced him
in the race. How they lived was one
of those secrets which such poverty keeps
to itself. They still at least bore the out
ward marks of responsibility, but there was
| a corroding care in the husbands heart that
was almost physically sickening at times
and made him harsh and unjust to the chill
dren. To Lenore he was always gentleneSS
| itself. The mere speaking of her name
seemed a comfort and rest. The quick tears
came to her eyes many time at the note
of his voice.
She sympathized with him in all the in
tuition of her divining love, and yet, Q irony
hurt of his soul. No woman guarded and
| shielded in the struggle can comprehend
the burden man carries who is, the visible
| providence of his family - the mereSt
| chance acquaintance in like case could give
him more compromising sympathy than
| she. afet
They had searched the house over when
they moved to find the bright luck penny,
but without avail. Every week Alice APP
| which was always proved mistaken. 1t was
astonishing what a difference it's absence
| made in the daily economies, and Nora
sulked for whole week because there was
| no double eagle to add to the slender store
of gifts on her birthday. Even Lenore wept
| a little to think that she could not drop 1t
| Into Johns stocking at Christmas. 1t had
| been associated hitherto with every festal
anniversary of tn cir joint lives:
I'VE shall find it some day." said Alice
dauntlessly, on Christmas eve. You mark
my words Mrs. Ferguson, We'll find it yet
| ana Wnen We 90 the luck Will turn.
1T is time" said Lenore in a low voice
"John said his last chance went yesterday"
Nora looked at Alice with scorn. You
| don't know what you're talking off, said
She Its going to be a horrid Christmas
and we never have new clothes any more
and there isn't any money to buy coal, for
YES" chimed in little Jack land Nora
says wen freeze. and freeze, and first my
toes will crop off and then my fingers will
Alice swooped down upon the child and
shook him.
Il am going to take your mother for a
Ferguson, l haven't had you all to myself
for months; / hope you don't mind my being
reduced to this old green gown again"
1T is rather poyerty-stricken garment"
| said Ienore smiling. 1T seems to be
changing its spots.'
Alice regarded 1t critically 81 think l
| shall be obliged to paint it over" she said
But do hurry and come out before the sun
| light goes away"
it was bright winter afternoon. Lenore
was very glad to be out; she did not often
get away from her home now and the air
| felt deliciously good to her 1t was crisp
! and clear, sleigh bells went jingling by
| fresh snow crunched under their feet, and
| the two women laughed and chatted merri-
| ly, although the shops filled with all the
festive paraphernalia of Christmas eve
| brought pang to IGNORES heart. Alice had
been to dance the night before;
| And never will go again." she said de-
cidedly. 1T was all as nice as could be,
and was glad to be asked, but, dearest,
am too tall for strangers to like me, and
| it's no use your denying it,
you dance Beautifully said Lenore,
warmly, land you grow prettier every
| day."
Alice shook her head with a whimsical
| smile. You are my only admirer. l sat In
! the corner all the evening. and (you need
| not look SO pityingly) 1 really did not care
| at all. had other things to think of, my
| picture, for instance. I've worked so hard
| on It, and j begin to dream that it will be
a success. And then thought of you. Do
you mind riding a little while in this car
| with me?' t1
1t was a cross-town car. and crowded.
find them, separated by a tall young fellow
7 in an ulster, who was occupied in getting
out his fare They glanced across him at
riveted on coin which lay in his open
pocketbook. 1t was a 500 gold piece with
| the initials l.. F. it, a little cross below,
and small dents marking the surface irreg-,
| ularly. The eyes of. Lenore and Alice met
| in speechless inquiry and assent, then Alice
| changed her place to her friends side and
! whispered.
1t could only be- it must only be, the coin
they sought. Had it been lost or stolen on
tnsether beforey If he would onlv show ut it
| again. Lenore trembled in her seat; she
| felt it almost absurd to be so agitated. They
| murmured all sorts of conjectures to each
other, excitedly. You must speak to him.
| said Alice.
At that moment the young man rose, and
| pulled the strap, the car stopped and he
| got out, but Alice had rushed after him. He
| ran up the steps of a dwelling house.
| opened the door and disappeared, with Alice
| close behind; another second and she had
| disappeared also 20 =
| fiat with glowing cheeks and mien trium-
| plant.
| "Oh tell me!' cried Lenore.
| II rushed after him-you saw me. When
| I was inside the door l said Will you
| kindly allow me to Nok at a twenty-dollar
| gold piece ] observed in your pocketbook
| Just now? 1t is like one that a friend of
| mine lost lately He looked at me so pc
| culiarly that I felt in a moment that he had
! stolen it, but for all answer he opened the
| purse and held the money out between
his thumb and finger, and did not say
word, but snatched it and slammed the
! door behind me- and ran, and I've run
| nearly every inch of the way here. o Mrs.
| Ferguson, I've been just praying that [
might do something for you. and l am so
| glad Here it is at lastl'' She threw the
| gold piece into IGNORES lap.
! The children raised a shout of rejoicing.
| ''Oh mammal what will you buy for us?'
| and she forbore to quiet them. The tears
| came in her eyes; she could hardly see the
| coin, but it felt heavy in her hand, it rang
| true it was like money out of the sky; she
| passed it to her lips and kissed it.
| "You are brave girl she said to Alice;
"a brave girl and love you. Perhaps this
| is the beginning of good fortune. who
| knows? See Herbert it yours last,
| dear" She smiled divinely. with a trem-
| bling lip. Here is where Nora bit it first,
such cunning little teeth as she had and"
She stopped short, and her eyes dilated.
"Alicew
Eyes. dear
1T isn't my gold piece at ALL"
| WHAT"