Goldsboro weekly argus. [volume] (Goldsboro, N.C.) 1885-1909, 1900-11-08

to be given her freely? He would not
r~i~s il ~ ~c-h@-S World tr.:-I- +ha+
he had lost it somewhere. And if he
did 1earn and did despise her for it,
what would it matter?
She went on to her own sanctuary,
the old nursery where the toys still lay
as Daisy had left them, curled into her
nook in the window among the stocks
OF paper-covered books of all sorts and
conditions, and tried to lose her mem
Dry of the present in the plot of the
newest novel.
Mr.. Frensham finished his breakfast
at leisure, and, after lettering about
the library for a few minutes, went to
his room to get ready for the city. AS
he was putting on his coat his hand
struck the pocket-book, and, obeying
an impulse, he took it out and counted
the money.
Twenty dollars short again. he
thought. What does she mean by it?
What can she want honey for? Why
doesn't she ask me for it?"
He buttoned the coat angriiy, and
left the house with an emphatic clos
ing of the front door.
What can be the matter p" he asked
himself again and again in the train.
I'D have staked my life on her honor,
and here she's taking by stealth what
S1iC L "Oo4o ~ LoS HNA ~
she asked me-"
The memory of the mornings Incl
dent followed him all day. "Is she
developing mild k~leptomania? ?" he
asked himself, as he stood at the win
dow watching the restless street. He
turned and seated himself again, irr1-
tated and perplexed. eff any one would
give me the formula for woman's ma
ture-the species I have at home-I
could l.. - -v@~&L I;1 -hi1a
He sat a long time drumming idly
upon the table. Il have always tried
to do the best" Had he? He won
dered if he could not ave been more
patient at the close of those weeks
during which he had gone day after
day to her darkened room to speak a
word of comfort, always to be met
with the stihed, moaning cry please
go away"
Perhaps he had not understood how
sick and weary she a been, but he
had thought such conduct as that not
the outcome of true sorrow, but Of
morbid sel~f-indulgence; and n morn
ing he had left her, after the same use
less attempt at kindness, thinking ne
would never put his foot upon that
threshold again till she should come to
ask him.
It 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 a means of de-
! lending his purse. A photographers
sign reminded him of it again when he
was going down the street, and he
paused.
What if I 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. ct haven't cared for
my picture since it began to look gray.
But I'd like to buy a photo, if you'll
sell me one. I'd like a pretty woman's
1keness-the prettiest one you have
and
The photographer rummaged in his
case, and, at length, laughing rather
oddly as he did so, threw out a faded
photograph.
t'There!" he said; that's as pretty a
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 dining-room. He paused as he en-
tered, for his wife was standing by the
bank of ferns, and looking so like hel
old, girlish self, that he half doubted
his sight. She was dressed in som
thin, green stuff over silk, old in fash
ion, but exquisite in color and style.
} He recognized it at once as a cow
Of which he had been especially fond
l Against the ferns and above the beau
tiful green textile her face showed
with its delicate lines, it's graceful
! curves, and its soft opaline color. He
l eyes filed with light. like. a translu
: cent eef1 in the sunshine. IS she saw
him standing there. And better than
mere beauty-far better there apo
! her face was the light of the old ten
: derness that he mad thought he shoul'
never see again.
. "Mabel!" ne said as he came toward
! her.
= yes she said. 1--WE been waiting
' she went on TREMENDOUSLY; Il wanted t
= tell you how I have come to know N,
fault. I understand now how wroni
> it was for me to shut myself in so t
my grief. I ave been sitting all da,
up there in the nursery, thinking hoy
kind you were to me when I would no
= see nor hear. And I know now that
, drove you away. I nave been selis-
= and inconsiderate, but I have come t