The Jasper news., 1907-12-05

IOTWdTQ. u LuOuLu III Lu6 IuluT6.
The third month there was bank
rupt sale of Austrian Cut glass, and
they decided 1t would neyerido to let
such an opportunity pass. s
I'VE might never have another
chance to get these things so cheap,
they said; and we will not be satisfied
withoutk them. :, And they tried to put
from their minds the thought of the
postponed trip, as they looked proudly
at their new treasures and saw wl1at
an air Of elegance they gave to the
rooms.
The fourth month they resolutely
turned their eyes from the = attrac.
tions of the show-windows and would
not see the. erupty nooks and wall,
spaces they, had already filled-in their,
Imagination. ~.
1t was a happy day for Sylvia when
she had balanced her housekeeping ae-
counts and found I surplus OF the
amount they had agreed upon as the
monthly contribution to their Euro
pean fund. 81 =
81 will take 1t to the-bank this very
day." she decided; ,sfer--4f ] don't, a
burglar might '.take this inopportune
time to rife the house"
=, She told her husband Of her deter
mination. at lunch, and when he came
home in the evening 1t was with the
thought that she would meet him with
the announcements that the European
fund was started. But she did not
come into the hall as he entered, and
she was not in the parlors or the din
ing room. He found her at last in the
bedroom, sitting in rocking-chair in
an attitude of detection,
GOOD heavens, Sylvia" he ex-
claimed, whats the matter? Is some
one, at home sick or-or dead?"
His wife shook her head. She had
risen and stood dropping before him,
her hands clasped, her eyes down
cast. e =.
Chester" she said, with unusual
solemnity. II have done something
dreadful"
The anxiety ofiFlils face relaxed;
and seating himself in the chair she
had vacated, he drew her down on hs
| knee.
What terrible thing have you
done?" he asked, smiling.
II have spent the money!" she burst
out desperately.
"Spent the money! he echoed.
Eyes, the European money" she
| replied. II was taking it to the bank
and / had to pass, johnson & Bays,
you know; and they had the most ex-
1 quisite Castellina marbles in the win
/ dow. There were three Venuses and
a Cupid and Psyche and Gladiator
and the loveliest Apollo. They have
never had anything of the kind here
before, you know; and / could not re-
sist going in to look at them. Then
thought how lovely the Apollo would
be in that empty corner In the front
parlor. And KEEP looking at it until
it seemed to me 1t was the one thing
wanted to make me completely hap
py. After while lady came in and
said she wanted to select a piece and
she looked at the Apollo Then Il
said had already decided to take It.
After THAT the clerk asked me II
had a pedestal. or "a suitable table for
l'it; and I knew L hadn't. SO got an
.onyx table; 1t had. to be nice one
4 you know. and-and it took all the
money" u
She looked at him anxiously, like a
repentant culprit. For moment he
regarded her grayely. then he broke
into laugh.
'a.Well," he said, II can stand 1t Il
you can. It's only another month
added sto-the time
You're so good to take It thar
way" she said. 'sBut this is the las
thing ! shall buy; I'm determined OF
that"
But show me your acquisition h,
said; I'm burning with impatience t,
!. psee it."
& sheyled the way into the parlor an,
a pointed to 1t tragiSAlly.e The pure
translucent marble was carved In
. figure of the most = exquisite grace
Sylvia sat down and sighed deeply.
/ TITS lovely" she said; .sbpt Icanno
s help feeling sorry that Igot it,
, AS time passed she could not thro,
) of the feeling, and the statuette bt
came a kind of Moloch on whose alta
J. tshe sacrificed her desires. She ha
d Intended making little visit to he
mother this month. but she gave
q up.
8 II cannot afford II" she expiaine
:. L L, q A.