The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1901-03-14

provided for. So. one by one, the trifes
which had constituted their luXuries
were curtailed The last thing to be
given up was fresh fruit, almost the
only article for which the invalid re-
tanned a 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 a 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
revolved 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 it 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 a 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
Margaret's singular fondness for april
cots he prices them. His silver piece
would buy but few or fine quality, so he
took them in preference to more of an
ilANii w hIilt' pCllIil SIONIN Ddck 10
his room he arranged the apricots on
a plate in the center of a small table
and walked toward the door to view
the effect. They were so few! He
looked at them distressfully, and bit
terly renewed sense of his poverty and
helplessness overcame him and the
tears ran down his cheeks. But sud-
n =
heavy heart. He would multiply them.
work miracle, to the eye, at least. On
the wall opposite the door hung a long,
narrow mirror; he pushed the table in
front of it and placed the dish of fruit
so that its reflection, its double. could
be Immediately seen by his wife as she
entered the room. Taking a few green
leaves from vase, he skillfuIly ar
ranged them among the fruit Then he
seated himself near the table where
he could watch Margaret's face as she
opened the door and caught the first
sight of his gift. Impatiently now he
awaited her return. Several times he
thought he heard her footsteps on the
landing, and his heart beat faster as he
pictured to himself her surprise and
her pleasure.
At last she came, and as she opened
the door she instantly recognized the
loving device. In the feverish bright
ness of his eye, in the flush of his wan
cheek, in his eager, strained attitude
as he sat there, leaning a little forward
with his hands nervously clasped to-
gether. She saw all it had cost him.
Then another miracle was wrought
she saw nothing, all had vanished; for
one brief moment all mortal barriers
disappeared; she seemed to stand in
the very presence of the spirit of the
man who had won and always kept her
heart. She threw herself upon the
bosom of her husband and in their
mingled tears there came vision of an
eternity of devotion and love.