The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1901-04-13

which ndu constituted their luXurleS
were curtailed. The last thing to be
given up was fresh fruit, almost the
only article for which the invalid re-
tanned relish.
But of late their diminished and pre-
carious income had forced them to face
the stern necessities of their situation
and reduce to the last point every item
of their expenditures. Ambrose often
demonstrated whenever Margaret
brought home to him delicious peach
or single pear, not knowing that she
had walked the weary miles to and
from her work in order to have the car
fare whereby she could purchase the
dainty for her husband.
Never since his marriage had Am
brose failed to remember his wife's
birthday. He had SO few opportunities
now of showing his affection by tan
gible tokens that it was with real dis
tress he saw the day approach, and re-
allied the impossibility of making his
usual gift. 1t was already August, and
her birthday was the 18th. With the
morbid persistency of an invalid he had
reyolved various futile plans in his
mind until he had grown feverish, and
it was with unusual anxiety that his
wife left him on the morning of her
birthday, which she had herself FOR.
gotten. After she had gone IL oc-
CURED to him how fond Margaret was
of fruit, although she seldom tasted
that which she brought to him. The
small silver coin, long treasured, the
last remnant of his earnings, would buy
a little, enough at least to show he re-
membered the day. Although he had
not been out of his room for MANY
months he felt new vigor inspired
within him by his loving purpose.
Painfully he struggled down the
stairs and into the street he managed to
walk, with frequent pauses for breath.
to the nearest fruit store. Recalling
singular fondness for april
cots he prices them. His silver piece
would buy but few OF fine quality, so he
took them in preference to more of an
inferior kind. Getting slowly back to |
his room he arranged the apricots on |
a plate in the center of small table
and walked toward the door to view
the effect. They were so few! He
ooked at them distressfully, and a bit
Ierly renewed sense of his poverty and |
lelplessness overcame him and the
tears ran down his cheeks. But sud-
ienly a lively thought came into his
heavy heart. He would multiply them,
work miracle, to the eye, at least. On
ne wall opposite the door hung q long.
narrow mirror; he pushed the table in
ront OF it and placed the dish OF fruit
o that its reflection, its double. could
'e Immediately seen by his wife as she
entered the room. Taking few green
caves from vase, he skillfully ar
anged them among the fruit. Then he
eated himself near the table where
le could watch Margaret's face as she
pened the door and caught the first
light OF his gift. Impatiently now he
waited her return. Several times he
bought he heard her footsteps on the
anding, and his heart beat faster as he
ictured to himself her surprise and
er pleasure.
At last she came, and as she opened
ne door she instantly recognized the
wing device. In the feverish bright
ess of his eye, in the flush of Lis wan
heck, in his eager, strained attitude
ne sat there, leaning little forward
nth his hands nervously clasped to-
ether. She saw all il had cost hin,
hen another miracle was wrought
ne saw nothing, all had vanished: for
ne brief moment all mortal barriers
lsappeared; she seemed to stand in
ne very presence Of the spirit Of the
IAN who had won and always kept her
eart. She threw herself upon the
,som Of her husband, and Ia theiv
an9!eo tears there came z vinjon Nl a |
Arnity Of devotion snd lovo, 4,