The Press., 1907-12-04
Surprising : Sen1ple.
By WILLIAM F. BRYAN.
Copyrighted, 1907, by P. G. Eastment.

l j' Copyrighted, 1907, by P. C. Eastment. 4.
 ss < < Mrs. Greer will look after the
 canary, but you will surely look after
 the plants, won't your, pleaded Mrs. Semple. "Those plants are such beau,
 ties it would be pity to have them die'' . . as
 '"They won't" assured Semple "One | pint to each plant. I remember" You're a dear" she exclaimed Its
 awfully good of you, Ned, to let me go when you won't even have a teeny
 vacation yourself. feel almost
 ashamed of myself leaving you all
 alone in the hot city,
 You have the time of your life," or
 1ered Semple. ''I'll be all right Don't you worry about me-
 T have such a surprise for you," she
 said, smiling through the tears that filmed her eyes. 'I want you to write and tell me just how you like it.''
 Whats the surprise? I'll bet it's a cat" l.
 Better than that and not half the trouble" she declared.
 There's my train being called. It's shame they will not let you pass the gate. Kiss me again, dear, and do be careful of yourself"
 Ned Semple kissed her not once, but half a dozen times. He worshipcd this dainty little woman who had lift ed him out of bachelordom and board ing houses and had made home a bit of paradise on earth. He hated to give her up for whole six weeks, but he could not get away from town him. self, and she needed the rest and change. sr" = :*x . 5, ..
 He waited until the train pulled out of the station and went back to the hot and stuffy office. It was no hard ship to work when he worked for her and there were certain dealsvfhat could not be neglected. ,If these; deals went through they would both ge to Europe next year, and .thee0ccasional +problem of where the money for bills was to, be found would be solved. 7.
 j. He remained at the office later than usual to make up for the time he had lost over their last lunch together. The occasional charwoman only made the desolation of the huge office building seem more pronounced. !Ehe elevators stopped at 8, andtit was after. g. when he descended ed~sinterminable flights of steps, and the sense of depression grew upon him. a,.
 In the street the open cars whizZed past crowded With tired worKers' who fin fho tIn breeze that could not be coaxed into their stuffy rooms. Whole families fill ed some of the cross benches. and Sem pie thought respectfully of how only two. nights before he and Aida had taken ride in the cool of the evening, going clear to the end of the run and stopping at the restaurant for bite to eat
 He did not feel hungry tonight, though he had had no dinner. He left the car at his corner and crept up the stairs to his apartment.
 2 By this time he was thoroughly blue, his misery. As he opened the hall door he seemed to hear her voice call a cheery Good evening, dear. I hope you had an easy day. Did you?" Could it be possible, he asked him. self that Aida had come back? She might be hiding in one of the closets. He lighted the gas in every room,' but he could find no trace of her save in the orderly neatness which worked all for his comfort.
 He went back to the parlor and puffed thoughtfully at his pipe. In his low nervous state but one eKplana-' tion of the phenomenon was suggested. Aida was dead, and in her love she had come to greet him.. So thorough ly wrought up did he becom e that he teIephoned the railroad. company to 5 ask If the train had been wrecked " s.-
 The response did not'seem ito, soothe his ruffled feelings if it did. reassure his anxiety, and at last he went to:bed, only to toss restlessly. Sleep did not come until absolute physical exhaus- tion closed his eyes. ,seF 94s j. .r5%. %.
 It seemed scarcely, five minutes be- fore the alarm clock rang and ha, dragged himself. out of bed. Aida had left coffee and crackers and con densed milk fin the houses and he, sip ped a cup of coffee while he#searched the morning paper for: news. of a wreck. .7 gre. r.
 He could find nothing of the sort, and at last he started for. the office. As he opened the door Alida's voice rang in his ears again: "Goodby, dear hope you have luck today"
 It was what she always said, and, although it did not sound exactly like her voice, there was no mistaking cer- tain tricks of speech. He hastily closed the door and hurried down the steps There was telegraph office att the corner. and he sent telegram asking her to wire her safe arrival.' In the office building was. the booth of an-9