Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-03-05
EsUnworthiness
 of John
tCopyrieht. is0s, by JSssph B. Bowlss,
By J. J. BELL

filling his pipe from tobacco-jar on tho mantelpiece
 He bent down as he spoke and kissed
 the bright curls of his little daughter,
 Daisy.
 Where you goin'?..' she inquired, holding on to g button of his jacket.
 At that moment 1t was on John Lang lands tongue to say: ''To the devil '
 but the clear eyes of his child checked the bitter reply, and he simply an swered: Going out, dearie."
 Santa Claus comin' tonight, Daddy, 7 she informed him, irrelevantly, her eyes beginning to dance and sparkle.
 Is he really Daisy?" said her father Tor want of better remark.
 Course he is Not know that, poor Daddy?"
 "well, lop. hell bring you all you want, pet" said John, unioosening the
 small plump hand from his coat and kissing her cheek.
 Goodnight, Daisy.'
 Kiss Muvver, tool" cried the cherub.
 Johns face went stern and white. He stepped round the table to where his wife sat.
 Goodnight, Katie,'' he said, softly and almost humbly Then he stopped as If to kiss her. But her face was hard and her eyes repellent, and without another word, John straightened himself and left the room. A moment later Daisy slipped loff her chair and sought her mothers knee.
 Want to be cuddled-feel bad, she said.
 'Oh, but you shouldn't feel bad, dear. Santa Claus is coming tonight, you know"
 Not care-feel bad And so there was some weeping and much betting and comforting, till presently Daisy, who could not put her trouble in words, sat up on her mothers knee and expressed herself as being Kite better now"
 And then followed a glorious hunt through the house, with the object of finding stocking large enough to ac- commodate all that Daisy expected from the Saint. With ecstatic shrieks she at last discovered in cupboard a pair of her fathers waterproof "waders," which he used on his fishing excursions. One of these being promptly annexed, it was trailed to her room and suspended in triumph at the foot of her crib.
 Kate put her cherub to bed, and, after watching beside her for half an hour. betook herself downstairs to the parlor. The room, with It's glowing fire, crimson shaded lamp and cozy hangings, looked an ideal chamber of comfort, and Kate sat down in one of the big chairs which stood on either side of the bright Are, and opened her workbag.
 She was an injured woman-injured beyond her forgiveness by the man whose name she bore. And yet, John Langlands had never proved aught but faithful and loving and tender to his wife. His sin had been committed long ere he met Kate for the first time, but it had been concealed from her all through the five years of her welded life. h. deed. having suffered for and repented of his misdeed at the time, Johns con- science and memory had troubled him but little afterwards. Six months ago, however, some one-a 'friend"-had thought fit to open the cupboard of his past. and disclose the ugly skeleton to his wife.
 To Kate, whom everyday people called "a dresdfully good woman the wrong appeared magnified by its con- cealment, and she was quite blind to the extenuating circumstances, of which there were not few. She was pos sessed of the feeling that she had right to her husbands past. and she argued. rather unfairly-that now there could be no further trust on her side.
 John endured indescribable shame and sorrow in confessing the truth to his wife. but he never doubted her wom- anly gentleness and forgiveness. When these were withheld, and when she re- fused him her hands and lips in token of confidence and pardon, the man felt, not unreasonably, that his wifes love had been poor affection from the very 
 You arc unjust, Kate, 1" he said. God Himself does not refuse man second chance. never pretended to be saint. but I've tried to keep a straight course since the day saw you first. have kept c straight course"
 He waited in vain for her to speak, and then he went on: Why can't you forgive? Itell you love you more than ever. even though have been shamed la your sight Good Godi could I bear To stand before you if love did not hold mel Think Can't my love be my sal vationf Kate!"
 But she was as stone to his pleading. And 90 1t came to pass that John. too, rev cold and proud, secretly rebellious, never showing the passion in his heart which sometimes, in his lonely hours, threatened to overcome him altogether. There vas no change made in the sr- 'angement of the household. save that i he husband vent out every evening to escape the torment of looking at bis rffe across the impossible gulf which Ter pride set between them
 So. on this Christmas eve Kate sat lonely by the parlor fire. breeding over he past. Her husband. she fsncied. Eaz at the club. enjoying himself after he fashion of mankind As natter of 'sct. John vas doing nothing of the kind. ae v.s valkins slowly up and down street. careless of cold,