The Minneapolis journal., 1901-11-15

= She had hoped, even in her most sanguine
! moments, to make no more than S25 from the
venture-the price she had paid so guiltily for
| her camera But the figures showed-and she
| gasped bit when the columns were added
that precisely sixty-nin books had been dis
posed OF and that she had suddenly become
| possessed OF the stupendous sum of ss2 25, Of
which $40 was profit Her conscience passed
at that moment into the calmest and most de-
| llghtful slumber. She kissed the baby rap
turously, and, Mr.. Boxley arriving home at
that instant, she kissed him also and scattered
| tears Of joy adown his shirt front
Dear me!' exclaimed Mr. Boxiey return
ing the endearment perfunctorily. what has
happened?"
| Mrs Boxley had INDUCED in no such dem
onstrations for number OF weeks, having
| been too fully engrossed with other matters:
consequently Mr.. Boxley had fallen into the
habit OF expecting nothing 6f the sort He
returned the kiss in a half-hearted, chilling
| way, because he felt that it was not compatible
with his dignity to conduct himself like a boy
who has come, after period OF undeserved
punishment into favor again.
| What has happened?" he repeated.
"Eighty-two dollars and twenty five cents!"
replied his wife, Withdrawing her arms from
about his neck. He looked at her with an
admiration he could not repress, and took
from his pocket letter.
''It is from Tom Elliott" he said in expla-
nation dropping into a chair and drawing her
to his side He is coming back to spend the
| holidays, and he says he is so happy that he
cannot describe it. You see, dear, some one
sent him Of your books, and it seems to
have dlspelled the gloom that has been upon
him since he left here. He is quite himself
again, he says, the same man that he was
| before-before-well, you know how Madge
| treated him. 1t was"
Eyes, know" Mrs. Boxley sighed. ''They
were both to blame; but / do think, dear
that your sistet was more at fault than Tom.
! After the quarrel-when he had left her, tell
| ing her that If she wished him to come to
her again she should place a bouquet OF roses
! in the landscape window-Madge might have
| saved herself and him much sorrow. 1t all
| rested with her then. But she would not
| give IN, and the roses were not placed in the
| window, and poor Tom went away never to
return. and it was more than two years ago.
and-and 1 am SO glad! What else does he
! say, dear?"
Mr.. Boxley slowly unfolded the letter. ''He
says he replied, that in the picture-the
| picture of the house in your book heaven
| bless 1.-THE notices bunch of roses. They
are in the landscape window, where he told
Madge to place them. He thinks they mean
| that he will be welcome-and he is coming
that is all. But do you think, dear, that
Madge was aetuated by sentiment when she
placed them there. did it just happen2 VIII
| she-wiu She
'She will" said Mrs. Boxley with convic-
ton. ''She has been very miserable; she told
me so. But she has not given in. Tom will
come, and she will think it is he who has
taken the first step toward reconciliation
| They. will be married. and then-and then
! they will get over their foolishness, 1 hope. .
| "She has not given in2'' Mr. Boxley's eyes
| opened in amazement Didn't she place the
roses in the window"
mo, dear" Mrs. Boxley gave utterance to
nervous little laugh, half sob. ''Madge
1 was not at home the day ! took the picture,
and-and I placed the roses in the window
myself. And-and 1t was 1 who sent Tom
the book.
! Mr.. Boxley whistled Then he kissed the
artist and looked into her eyes.
And to Think he said that have held
your camera in contempt for all these weeks
| Consider me, dear, from henceforth your
most humble servitor. Consider me-er-
sQuelched." "
| II do, love-" said Mrs. BoxIey, sweetly
| And then she danced away to the kitchen
while Mr.. Boxley took the baby upon his lap
| and mentally commented, with much satisfac-
! ton, upon the resemblance borne by the di-
minutive chap to his mother.