The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1905-02-11

slightest effort to find his runaway
wife. She had gone-it was her choice.
and he accepted it in the same phleg-
matte way he lived his life.
There came q day when he had to go
into his wife's room for something. at
least IL months after her disappearance.
Until now he had not entered 1t from
that day when he had come home to find
her gone, and to-day. as he stood on the
threshold. the daintiness and emptiness
Of it struck home. Where was she, the
dainty owner of this pretty room?
On the dressing table withered bios
som lay. quite dry and shriveled. but
bearing a very faint semblance to that
he had flung away the last time he saw
her-a bachelors button!
He picked it up. and 1t cracked In two.
Wondering at himself. he pressed his
lips on the dead thing, then laid it care
fully away in his pocketbook.
Come with me-" said friend to him,
meeting him in town the next day. I've
got case on in the police court. and it ID
likely to be amusing. Milman Smith.
you know, can be awfully witty at
times"
Godfrey had lain awake all night; he
was tired and unfit for work. So he ac-
cepted his friends invitation because he
felt disinclined for anything else, and
the two men were soon listening to the
case before the one to which his friend
had alluded, which had not yet come on.
Il seem to know that voice." Dare
muttered. as a steady. girlish voics
broke on his ear.
He looked up to get glimpse Of the
speaker. She was defending herself
a slim, young waitress-from an accuse.
ton made against her by another wait
ress from the same establishment-it
was charge of stealing five-dollar bill,
and though no one had seen the defend
ant commit the act, a bill of that de-
nomination was found upon her when
she was searched. She denied that il
was the other girls; it was her own, she
said.
Dare's friend had taken the opportun-
ity for an after-luncheon nap. the girls
voice broke in the middle of long SEN
tencc, and Godfrey. looking up, caught
a startled gaze fixed upon him.
In an instant 1t flashed across him. e.
lice!
He scrambled down from his seat,
and came up behind Milman Smith, who
greeted him with hasty smile. Then
ensued slight consultation. The mag
istrate spoke.
This eminent gentleman, Mr.. Goef-
frey Dare. will defend you," he said.
And defend her Dare did to the best
Of his ability. Following his sugges-
ton. the other waitress jacket lining
was searched, and the lost money was
found; there had been hole in the pock-
eft. and it had slipped through.
The accused was acquitted.
Come along" Dare said, giving her
arm gentle squeeze. "Ellice, am
going to take you home. dear"
She still hung back-he looked I'D as
they were passing down a narrow street,
and little florists store met his eye.
Displayed in the windows were various
plants, and among them a variety of
daisies.
He drew her toward It.
"Ellice." he said, ever so humbly, "of-
fer me bachelors button again. and
will take 1t. Darling. am so tired of be-
ing bachelor, won't you come and re-
lease me?"
There were few people about, and he
stopped and kissed her forehead. Then
he drew cut his pocketbook.
II found this on your dressing table
he said. holding out the
dead daisy, "and then realized that
should never be happy until I found
you again"
She turned a smiling face up to his.
'T-haven't even-a copper" she said
$50 II you want one of those you will
have to buy it for yourself"
And he debut she presented II to
him, and since that day they have lived
happily together, while in their garden
on the cliffs the crimson daisies flourish.
the daisies that go by the quaint name
Of bachelors buttons"-N. Y. Weekly.