Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1907-11-29

WIZ lblii VII, utuT. why Iluu Sn0
been SO hasty: She had been warned
plenty times enough about marrying
In haste and rcpenting ut leisure To
be sure. She had known Tom six years.
man stepped on her foot In the
crowded train. and she drew In the
injured member with Il scowl that was
scant reward for the mans apology.
1t was dreadful to have TO ride twice
a day In this mob
The man seated next to her drew
away from her. and she turned to see
that he was cndeavoring To protect
tissue paper covered parcel from the
crush of swaying strap hangers In
front OF him.
'S"". look out. Will you?" he said
sh;: To the long liIlbed youth who
threatened the parcel rs the car stop
ped suddenly. Then he turned to Mel
lie. with an apologize smile:
II don't mind the crowtling so much
usually. but these flowers are for my
wife. and, by Eorry, I'm going to get
'em home safe If have TO fight for
'em,"
Nellie looked at him In surprise His
hands were work worn. his clothes
clean. but we'll worn. his tie distinctly
rusty. But his happiness was infcc-
tiouS
TOmorrow'S our wedding anniver-
sary. Amt 1t fine that 1t comes on
Thanksgiving day this year? tell
you 1t makes me think how much more
than ordinary l have to De thankful
for. My wife's just back from the
hospital. safe and well. thank God,
and we're celebrating double tomor-
row. tell you, young woman. It's
fierce to live three weeks alone with
the woman you've loved thirty years
lying twiXt life and death ten blocks
away. / used to get So nervous some
nights I'd 90 and walk up and down
In front Of the hospital where could
watch the light In her ward. So
thought we'd celebrate special this
year, and bought her some flowers
real flowers out Of real store, not
those bargain punches on the corner
And ! got maidenhair fern stead of
the Boston kind. She always did love
maidenhair And got her new dish,
toO-one Of those bonbon dishes wo-
men are crazy about. It's glass with
gold grapes on II. Just as tiny and finel
! got 1t Mt good store. too. and bet
that violet box they packed 1t In will
tickle her to death. Funny how some
women set store by little things like
that This IL my station. I wonder II
I can get through without breaking
the stems
Nellie looked after him with pcrplex-
Ell eyes. Thirty years-and this man
with the rusty tie, the oft cleaned suit
and the obviously slender purse was
buying flowers from real store for
the woman he loved. The man on tho
other side rose to leave the car. drop
ping his paper. Nellie picked 1t up.
Somehow she did not want to think
Big black headlines caught her eye
Countess Sues Her Husband
For Divorce. Cruelty Beaten Her
Pride Rebels"
And the countess had a lovely fig
ure and charming face and ate cx-
quisite lunches every day In the year!
Nellie laid aside the paper and star
ed straight ahead until the guard call
ed her station: then size went forth in
to the storm with shuddcr. She
came back to grim realities. 1t was
cold and ralny-and five blocks to her
home. Suddenly by the glare of IL pea
nut yender's oil light she saw n sturdy
form step forth from the gloom. A
strong arm drew her into the nearest
doorway. and hearty voice said:
"Never dreamed could make 1t.
Had to run from the shop to your
house and then here, but something
just told me you wouldn't have your
ralncoat or rubbers."
Tom was putting on her rubbers.
Then he held the raIncoat for her, fas-
tened It at the throat with his own
bunglIng fingers. smiling oil the while
into her tired face.
This amt as good as q hanson.
Nell." he said as he tucked her arm
under his. but It'll have to do until
get my wages raised" and then he
added, with laugh. RAISED quite con-
siderable too"
Nell clutched his arm tightly. How
big and comforting he was and how
much warmer she felt as he gripped
the swaying umbrella and asked her II
she was all right
"Why, you silly, I'd cut a fne figure
In a hanson. wouldn't Irs'6ha- asked
merrily, but with new noto In her
voice that Tom might have noticed II
he had not been fighting that northeast
wind. And. oh. Tom. there was the
funniest little man sitting next to me
tonight on the train. He was having
a special Thanksgiving celebration be-
cause his wife was out Of the hospital
And he was fifty. Tom. II he was a
day. Fifty and still In love-"
"Sure." said Tom placIdly. "I'll be
still loving you when I'm fifty too"
And then the friendly blackness Of
the quiet street swallowed them both.
and Nellie deliberately cuddlcd her
drcd head against Toms big, broad