The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1902-10-28
THE GRAND PRIZE.
by JOHN FLEMING WILSON.

The sick man lay back upon the I'M
yielding, upturned mattress end and lin.
gered his threat nervously. The last fit
of coughing had given him a very queer
sensation of instability, and he rather feared
that his heart was weakening. Still, he
was alive and life was very pleasant just
now In truth, he had discovered a very
delightful piece of good fortune, and he
was waiting for his wife with a joyous I'm.
certainty as to how he should tell her. The
source of his information and his voucher
were carefully folded away under the thir
blanket.
The room began to seem very comfortles.
before she returned. San Francisco lights
are cool and there was no fire to warm the
invalid. But his querulous mood had not
time to fully develop before his wife pushed
open the door and came softly in. His face
burned when he saw her, and he stretched
out his hands. "Lita," he whispered,
hoarsely.
The dark face and understanding eye.
responded silently, and she took his hands
firmly in her own. There was an instant's
pause, and she stopped over him. Dear
boy!!" she said, so softly that only his eX.
pectant heart knew what the words were.
He relaxed upon the mattress and stiied
a cough. did you get some supper!S he
asked, solicitously.
"Yes, l am all right. It's positively won.
derful how well one can dine for ten cents.
l spent ten on you, boy, and we've a nickel
left for tomorrow"
I'm afraid" he answered, closing hi.
eyes, chat we'll not eat very heartily to.
morrow, will we, Lita?"
She drew up the solitary chair and spread
out upon it three bananas and three rolls.
Then she sat down on the edge of his bed
and wrapped the blanket about his heav
ing chest as he sat up. He looked at what
she had brought him, and then turned to
her with a smile. She put her strong arms
about him and held his face against her
breast, looking over his head the while with
eyes of fire.
He ate %uneasily and weakly, for he tried
to conquer the dizziness that was mas.
tering him, and he feared it would hurt her
if she noticed it.
When he had eaten all he had appetite for,
she rolled the remainder up in a paper and
put it way. He watched her dreamily
until she once more sat down on the edge
of the bed. When her firm hand again held
his, he said: "Lita, do you know what be-
came of that silver quarter you missed day
before yesterday!
81 suppose you spent it-for beer" she
answered, with almost genuine gayety.
mo, grille; it wasn't for beer"
A paroxysm of coughing left him once
again helpless, and his wife laid her hand on
his heart. Their glances met, and she put
her head on the mattress beside his in sob
bing agony. ooh! boy! boy!!" she cried.
You bet" he said, gathering his strength,
cts all off with me-"
Whats to become of me?" she wills.
pered, and raised her head to look dow
into his eyes.
He canned again the clear, sad, beau
tiful face from the broad, low forehead
to the mobile mouth. His lips twitched
and he could not answer.
Presently he put his arm about her with
some OF the old strength, and his voice
was quite firm. "Lita, we have made low
everything. You and l have walked the
paths of hell in absolute happiness. lought
( suppose, to repent bitterly of having
brought you with me; but, honestly, grille
l can't regret it. Do you!"
No. she responded, truthfully.
"Of course, we've had hard luck. AT leasi
some people might say it was luck, Lita.
know better. I've deliberately chosen love
snd you to-life, dearie. I've dragged yo,
down. I've dreamed of doing things. Blu
it's been in the clouds. You've had little
to eat and less to wear. We're quite alone
She kissed his damp forehead, and hi
arm frightened again. But we've taught
each other" he went on, what love means
and it means-it means all"
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS." she finished
bravely.
That's it, girl. 1 hate death because i
means l lose you. It's hard"
His arm held her with almost painful VIC
lence, and neither spoke further till pres
emily she said. cts harder on me, boy
All l care to remember or hope is simply
you. Boy, my hearts breaking"
Il know, l know. I've thought of 81
many things lately. I've made nothing t,
keep you after | die. We've trusted t.
Providence or chance our luck up to now
And our luck has held. We've lived SO hap
PLY. But now that I've been laid up
month, l couldn't see where you were t,
get your living"
Don't worry" she whispered.
Worry! Why, girl, you haven't bee,
out of my sight since I've loved you tina
concluded, simply, 81 love you"
. oSA " H II ooDOSo. -
"Now," he vent on, "God has given NJ,
comfort at the last. He is good, Lita, an.
Pm glad He is, for I'll soon have to leav
you in His keeping"
The woman nestled close to him and fel
his heart throbbing against her side. "H
gave us a year together, boy" she whis
pered, "and-and l love Him for it."
you know that quarter you missed
grille? l went and bought a lottery ticke
with it, and l found a paper tonight arouns
your work you brought home to do. l
won the grand prize. You won't starve an.
thank God!"
!, He could not speak, but he thrust int
her hand the crumpled lottery ticket an,
the newspaper. She laid them on the chat
and forgot them over her dying huskend.
When he was in an uneasy dose she swep
the paper off the chair and took the ticke
to the light. She looked at it a minut
and then opened the paper and ran her ey
{ down the column of winning numbers. Yes
!, it was the capital prize. Suddenly he
!, glance caught the date line and her moutl
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