The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1900-11-09

an impulse, he took 1t out and counteu
the money.
Twenty dollars short again" he
thought. What does she mean by itY
What can she want money FORT Why
doesn't she ask me for it?"
He buttoned the coat angrily, and
left the house with an emphatic clos
ing of the front door.
what can be the matter?" he asked
himself again and again in the train.
IT'D have staked my life on her honor,
and here she's taking by stealth what
she knows would not refuse her If
she asked me-"
The memory of the mornings incl
dent followed him all day. Is she
developing mild kleptomania?" he
asked himself, as he stood at the win
dow watching the restless street. He
turned and seated himself again, irri-
tated and perplexed. IF any one would
give me the formula for woman's ma
ture-the species / have at home-I
would make 1t worth his while"
He sat a long time drumming idly
upon the table. 'I-I have always tried
to do the best" Had he? He Won
dered if he could not have been more
patient at the close of those weeks
during which he had gone day after
day to her darkened room to speak
word of comfort, always to be met
with the stif1ed, moaning cry, PLEASE
go away"
Perhaps he had not understood how
sick and weary she had been, but he
had thought such conduct as that not
the outcome of true sorrow, but Of
morbid self-indulgence; and one morn
ing he had left her, after the same use
less attempt at kindness, thinking he
would never put his foot upon that
threshold again till she should come to
ask him.
1t was years since then, but he had
kept that silent promise
AS he closed the office for the day.
he smiled remembering a plan that
had suggested itself as means of de-
tending his purse. photographers
sign reminded him Of it again when he
was going down the street, and he
paused.
What if / do it!' he thought. 1T
would tease her a little, perhaps, for
taking such liberties with my proper
ty."
He went into the photographers and
found the proprietor himself.
"Going to sit for your picture, Mr.
Frensham? asked the photographer.
mo, I've done with such vanities,
was the reply. II haven't cared for
my picture since it began to look gray
But I'd like to buy photo, If you'll
sell me one. I'd like a pretty wonian's
likeness-the prettiest one you have
and young"
The photographer rummaged in his
case, and, at length, laughing rather
oddly as he u.- -,
photograph.
"There!" he said; that's as pretty
picture as 1 ever had"
Mr.. Frensham picked up the picture,
looked at it carelessly, thought there
was something singularly familiar
about it, and put it away carefully
among the notes in his pocket-book.
Next morning he was careful to
leave his coat near the open door: but
he was disappointed, on coming UP
from breakfast, to find it apparently
untouched and his money intact. He
continued to put the garment within
tempting reach for a few days; but as
nothing occurred to indicate that his
wife had seen the photograph, it was
not long before he had almost forgot
ten his scheme of retaliation.
He came home one evening for din
ner at 8. There was no one to receive
him, as usual, and he went alone into
the diningrroom. He paused as he en-
tered, for his wife was standing by the
bank of ferns, and looking so like her
old, girlsh self. that he half doubted
his sight. She was dressed in some
thin, green stuff over silk, old in fash
ion, but exquisite in color and style.
He recognized it at once as d gown
of which he had been especially fond.
Against the ferns and above the beau
tiful green textile her face showed,
with it's delicate lines, its graceful
curves, and its soft opaline color Her
eyes filled with light, like translu-
cent gem in the sunshine, as she saw
him standing there. And better than
mere beauty-far better there upon
her face was the light of the old ten
derness that he had thought he should
never see again.
Mabel" he seid as he came towards
her
YES" she said. rive been waiting
she went on TREMENDOUSLY; II wanted to
tell you how l have come to know my
fault. / understand now how wrong
1t was for me to shut myself in so to
my grief. l have been sitting all day
up there in the nursery thinking how
kind you were to me when | would not
see nor hear. And I know now that l
drove you away. / have been selfish
and inconsiderate, but have come to
understand. / thought you did not
care; but IL went to your pocket this
morning, and when l saw there my
old picture that l gave you before we
were married-there under the naples
at grandfather's l brought it out to
you; do you remember?--I knew you
loved me still, Thank God, l said
he loves me still!' and prayed had
not prayed before since Daisy oied"
She broke down with a half sob He
drew her to him and pressed his cheek
against her hair.
Il have been so wrong, so wicked,
she went on breathiessly. II wanted
money for Arthur-you don't know
how they need it"
Il would have given you
yes | know: but / could not bear
to ask. was so proud. thought yon
did not love me. But when l saw the
picture she stopped and hid her face
against his shoulder.
I'VE win begin again." she sobbed
YES" he said. as he drew her hand
to his lips. I'VE will begin again"