The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1904-08-05

the small room. La Cigale turned the
lamp up higher and bent over tie
lounge. In a voice as soft as a cooislg
doves she called a name:
Toni Then passing caressing
hand over the head Of the sleeper. she
knelt by his side Tom, dear. wake
up; I've got something great to tell
YOU"
A hand went out to meet hers.
! IN not asleep, Katy. ! was Just ly-
ing here thinking what a cussed burden
] was on the best of wives 1t would
have been better for you if the falling
brick that dashed enough lime in my
eyes to put them out had fallen on my
skull instead and knocked my brains
| out"
Now you are talking like a fool,
Tom, and I've great notion not to
tell you my good news
Salary raised?'
La Cigale got up from her knees with
gay laugh.
Better than that. But l shan't tell
You another thing until | have fixed
supper. ! expect You are starved, and
1 KNOW 1 am.
From an inner cubby hole, which by
courtesy was called the other room,
La Ggale entered presently, a sweet
demure looking young matron, in a
quiet house gown. With deft fingers
she went about spreading supper for
two on table near the lounge. The
grateful aroma of good coffee succeed
| aI 70 e H.
The man with the bandaged eyes sat
up, as he was hidden to La Cigale
lowered over him with ministering
tenderness. Her own wants were en-
tirely subsidiary.
"Had enough!" she asked, as Tom
leaned back on the lounge with a sat
isfed sigh.
More than enough. But 7 haven't
heard your knife and fork, Katy"
ooh, Tom, I'm entirely too happy
to eat. I wish you could see it. My
fortune, l mean. The fortune that
came to me tied to the stem of a rose.
Such beautiful rose among it's fell
lows, lying perishing this moment on
the floor In my dressing room. For,
oh, Tom, how could I give the roses
thought when / was so full of YOU
When l saw it, glittering among the
roses, I snatched at it with the one
thought. Now, Tom can go to the best
eye doctor in town.
But l thought We were never to
take presents from men, Katy? You
promised me-"
80 l did, Tom-so We won't, dear /;
but this time it just came from the
skies, and / couldn't send it back TO
the good Lord. Now, Tom, you ate
not to fly in the face of Providence.
Providence put it into the heart bf
some rich simpleton to throw this riSg
at La Cigale's feet. Your little graz :
hopper has brought it home to ply
your doctors bill with It, Tom L,
couldn't send it back If | wanted TO.
And I wouldn't wear it for all the oil
vines and diamonds in the wide
world"
She was glad he could not see the
tears that were shining on her long
lashes.
Tom, old boy, if the ninny who tied
this lovely ring to that rosestem and
pitched it at my feet could have known
how much good it would do my hus-
band, do you suppose he would want
it back"
Not if he knew La Cigale for what
she is, Katy. The dearest and most
useful little woman in the world strug-
Cling honestly under heavy load"
"Only temporarily, Tom. Only for
little while, dear"
And perhaps. if Teddy Yates could
have looked into the home of the dis
abled bookkeeper and seen the happi-
ness his Divine ring had brought to
two devoted hearts, he would have
been reconciled to the fate of the oil
J vine ring