The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1908-08-22
THE DAY AFTER.
Continued from page ~

1t fitted to perfection and the little pink stripe
in it brought tinge of color to the pale cheeks.
"You look as pretty as a rose" said Muriel
fondly. Now Beatrice and SAare going to get
supper. [ forgot to tell you that Horace ordered
you some ice cream. He sends his love and wishes
he could come too"
Horace was their brother.
Her husband came home at the usual time that
night, but the house was quite Illuminated. The
table was set beautifully with the new china with
wife in her silk attire" sitting quietly with her
father. There chattering and laughter in the
kitchen.
He looked surprised. Just then Muriel came in.
Didn't you know" she asked. "Why, we're
celebrating Elizabeths birthday
The supper was perfect the birthday cake was
allit claimed to be, and there was ice cream and to
spare for everybody.
But Elizabeths husband was unusually silent.
He looked at his wife more than once. GLOW sweet
she was; how good she had always been: how true
and tender. And he? He who had wooed so tenn
pestuousl~ loved SO ardently had forgotten-for-
gotten even her birthday"
After the guests were gone, the children in bed,
he went to her. She sitting in her favorte
low chair.
Elizabeth" he said, ~ forgot"
Il knew you had" she answered. And then all
at be seemed to realize that his careless con-
duct of so many years had done its work. She did
not expect anything of him. His neglect his
thoughtlessness of such long standing had dulled
the keenness of her feelings that she could look and
speak quite calmly of his lack of care No; she
did not expect anything of him.
"Why should she 2"
And then recollections came trooping back and
he remembered.
Remembered his wooing and his promises and
her bright beauty.
The beauty was dimmed now, through servitude
to him. The burden she had carried, the children
she had borne him the poverty and the disappoint-
ments and the toll. And vet through it all how
sweet how dear. how unselfsh she had ever been
The next morning he took his eldest daughter
aside.
Beatrice" he said yesterday was your moth
ers birthday [ did not give her ANYTHING. [ for
got it. But yesterday | made handsome sum of
money and today I'm going to buy her present
Have her put on that silk waist again. will you, and
get something nice for supper" And Beatrice
promised.
He went straight to her when he reached home.
dearest" he said yesterday was your birth
day You can't think how l felt when I saw your
father and sister with their gifts. to think | had
none, and though it is the day after, will you ac
cept with my love, this" And when he fastened
in the lace at her throat beautiful brooch of
pearls The loveliest, costiest thing she had ever
known.
"Oh!" cried Elizabeth flushing into her old
time beauty. "And you remembered"
Her husband put his arm about her "On the
dav after" he corrected, smilingly "No; I'm not
going to make any rash promises, dearest You
know my careless ways of old. but through it all
I've never forgotten to love my wife. Shall be-
gin again on the day afterl"
But Elizabeth only smiled Her wonderful.
rare smile and he knew then and forever how she
loved him.