The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1902-03-08

toNguinC moments, To make no more
than SO from the venture the price
She had paid So guilty for her camera.
l3ut the figures showed and she gasp
ed h't WHEN the columns were added
that prcci sely SiNtyninc books had
been disposed of and that she had sud
denly become possessed Of the stu
pcudous sum OF $50. of which so
was profit. Her conscience passed at
that moment into the calmcst ana most
delightful snmhcr She kissed the
baby raptmouSly. and. Mr.. BoNlcy ar
irving home at that instant. She kissed
him also aud scattered tears Of JOY
adown his shirt front
Dear me" exclaimed Mr. BoNley.
returning the cndearment pcrfunctori-
". "What has happened|
Mrs BoXlcy had INDUCED in no such
demonstrations for number of weeks,
having been too fully engroSsed with
other matters; consequently Mr. Box
ley had fallen into the habit Of expect
inc nothing of the sort. lie returned
The kiss i'm half hearted. chilling way,
because he felt that it was not COM
patihlc with his dignity TO conduct
himself like boy who has come, after
period OF undcscrved punishment, in
10 favor again.
"What has happeucdT he repeated.
"Eighty-two dollars and twenty-five
cents" replied his wife. withdrawing
her arms from about his neck. lie
looked at her with an admiration he
could not rcprcsS. and took from his
pocket a letter.
1T is from Tom Elliott" he said In
explanation. dropping into chair and
drawing her to his side. He Is com
ing back to spend the holidays, and lie
SAYS he is 50 happy that he cannot de-
scribe il. You see. dear some one sent
him one Of your books. and ii seems 10
have dlspelled the gloom that has been
upon him since he left here. lie Is
quite himself again. he says. the same
man that he was bcfore-before-wen,
YOU know how Madge treated him. II
was
"Yes. know" Mrs. BoXley sighed.
They were both TO blame; but / do
think. dear. that your sister was more
nj fault than Tom. After the quarrel
when be had left her, telling 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 sor-
row. II 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 1t was more than two years ago.
and-and am so glad. What else
does he say, dear
Mr.. Boxlcy slowly unfoldcd the let
ter. "Ie says" hc replied, that in the
plcture-thc picture Of the house I'm
your book. heaven bless 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 Madse was actuated
by sentiment when she placed them
there. or did it just happen: VIII she
will She
"She Will" said Mrs BoXley with
conviction "She has been very miser-
able: she told me so. But. dear, She
has not given i'm. Tom will come, and
she will think 70 is he who has taken
the first step toward reconciliation.
They will Ice married. and thcn-anf
then they viii get over their foolish
ness. hope"
"She has not given in" Mr.. Box
ley's eyes opened in amazement.
didn't she place the roses In the win
dowT'
NO. dear" Mrs. Boxley gave utter
ance to a nervous little laugh, half a
sob. "Madge was not at home the day
| took the picture. and-and ! placed
the roses I'm the window myself. And
and it was 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 i'm contempt for all
these weeks. Consider me, dear, from
henccforth your most humble seryitor.
Consider me-er-squelched"
Il do. love" said Mrs. BoXley sweetly.
And then she danced away to the
kitchen. while Mr.. Boxley took the baby
upon his lap and mentally commented,
with much satisfaction. upon the re-
semblance borne by the diminutlve
chap TO his mother.