The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1908-01-21


imagination.
II was a happy day for Sylvia when
she had balanced her housekeeping ac'
counts and found surplus OF the
amount they had agreed upon as the
monthly contribution to their Euro
pean fund.
81 will take 1t to the bank this very
day" she decided; for if 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 announcement 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 a rockingham In
an attitude of detection.
Good heavens, Sylvia" he ex
claimed, what's 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.
Chester" she said, with unusual
solemnity, q have done something
dreadful"
The anxiety of his face relaxed;
and seating himself in the chair she
had vacated, he drew her down on his
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. 81 was taking it to the bank
and had to pass Johnson & Bays,
you know; and they had the most ex-
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 l could not re-
Bist going in to look at them. Then
thought how lovely the Apollo would
be in that empty corner in the front
parlor. And l KEEP looking at it until
1t seemed to me it was the one thing
| wanted to make me completely hap
Ply. After while lady came in and
said she wanted to select a piece and
she looked at the Apollo Then IL
said l had already decided to take it.
After that the clerk asked me If
had a pedestal or suitable table for
it; and l knew l hadn't. So l got an
onyx table; it had to be nice one.
you know, and-and it took all the
money"
She looked at him anxiously, like a
repentant culprit. For a moment he
regarded her gravely, then he broke
into a laugh.
WELL" he said, Il can stand It II
you can. It's only another month
added to the time"
You're so good to take it that
way" she said. But this is the last
thing shall buy; I'm determined on
that"
But show me your acquisition" he
said; I'm burning with impatience to
see it,"
she led the way into the parlor and
pointed to it tragically. The pure
translucent marble was carved in a
fgure of the most exquisite grace
sylvia sat down and sighed deeply.
Its lovely" she said; but cannot
help feeling sorry that l got it,"
AS time passed she could not throw
OF the feeling, and the statuette he.
came kind of Moloch on whose altar
she sacrificed her desires. She had
intended making little visit to her
mother this month, but she gave II
up.
cannot afford it," she explained
70 her husband, because l got the
Apollo"
And the money for railroad fare
went into the European fund.
she wanted a new hat and the latest
thlng in belts; but she looked At tbe
Apollo and put the thought aside
one evening her husband asked
ner II she would like to go to tbe
opera the next night.
DO you think we had betterpn she
SAD seriously. you know we have
the Apollo" nave
That is So" he replied; I'VE will
aad the money to the fund"
The months slipped by. each ono
marked by a deposit for "tbe frnd y
sylvia could never quite forgive bar
SER Tor her one extravagance. she
would not read the advertisement. 80 ~
bankrupt sales. Whenever she wes
tempted to indulge in pictnea -
vase she remembered the Apollo
When the marble statuette had hoo.
~ tne house year they found thot
shey mad saved the requisite amo 'n.
lor tneir trip. Their preparations NJ
soon made, and they stood one " da',
on the deck of steamer, watch Ias
ene shore-line fade in the distannte
while FAR and away stretcbed Iau %
seemingly imitless expanse az tho S sae
! can hardly realize" said cn.....
rnusinsiy' that We are actually 81 YET,
way to Europe. It does not s On our
that bnfora ANh nStm true