The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-13

il. hit it with the plates thumped 1t fly with the loaf
 Mir. Tetterby, aghast at this extraordi- nary and unparalleled behavior of his lit- tie woman, took a slow walk through the room with his hands behind him. Your supper will be ready in a minute, Dol phus and Johnny" said he, addressing his two eldest offsprings. Your mother has been out in the wet to buy 1t. It was very good of your mother so to do." Mrs. Tetterby. without any remark, but with a clouded subsistence of animosity toward the table, finished laying the re- past. MT. Tetterby repeated slowly: 'It was very good of your mother so to do," until suddenly Mrs. Tetterby caught him around the neck from behind and wept "Oh, 'Dolphus," sobbed she, "how could I go and behave so?"
 My little woman!" said Mir. Tetterby. Mrs. Tetterby could not have felt his consideration more If he had been ten feet high. You see, 'Dolphus, this being Christmas time, when all people who have some like to spend a little money,
 
 streets just now. There were so many fine things to look at such delightful things to have, and there was so much calculating to do before I durst lay out a sixpence for the commonest thingi And the basket was so large and wanted so much in it. And our stock of money was so small-and then all at once, as l came near the house, don't know what came over me! But I began to think that maybe I would have been happier if I hadn't married you. I couldn't think of anything except the number of mouths at home and how poor we werer'
 Well. well, my little woman," said MT. Tetterby. giving her a kiss, that's truth, after all. We are poor and there are a number of mouths here"
 "Ah, yes. But 'Dolph." cried Mrs. let terby, "my good, kind, patient dear, when had been home again little while how different All our struggles, all our cares since we have been married, all the troubles seemed to speak to me and make me happy that we were togetherr'
 She interrupted herself with a little scream of fright Look at that manI" exclaimed she. He stood near me in the street while ago! 'Dolph, am afraid of himr'
 She pressed hand to hor forehead and looked up with a wavering glance as if she had lost something. The man who had frightened her turned pale and turned his eyes away.
 Excuse me for entering" said he. My name is Redlaw and I have called to visit student who lodges here. Can you show me the way to his room?"
 MT. Tetterby arose with light As he approached the chemist the latter stepped back with a sudden glance of dread. "Give me the light" said he. q can find my way alone"
 He shrank from the newsman and turned hastily up the stairs.
 When he reached the top he stopped and looked down furtively. Mrs. Tetterby was twisting her wedding ring around and around on her finger. MT. Tetterby was musing heavily. The children, who had scampered out of bed and were clustering at the door, gazed timidly up at the visitor.
 "Come Get to bed here!' said Tetter- by roughly. There's enough of this To bed!'
 "The place is small enough" said Mrs Tetterby without you! Get to bedl''
 The whole brood, scared and sudden ly sad crept away, little Johnny and the baby tagging last. The mother inn patiently cleared the table, tossing the scraps away from her in disdain. The father raked the small fire together and stopped over it, breeding. They did not interchange a word.
 The chemist stole upward nke a thief. He dreaded equally to go on or to return. He stood irresolute before the door of the students room when a voice bade him enter.
 "Is that my kind nurse?" asked the voice. "But I need not ask. There Is no one to come here except the kindest nature and the gentlest heart in the world"
 Then the voice changed to astonish- ment and alarm. MT. Redlaw!" ex- claimed the student