Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1909-09-14
BY TEMPLE BAILEY.

Is such help. Some day we Will BUY
forks and knives to match, won't we,
Dicky, boy!"
Sure" said Dick easily They've
got to appreciate me at the office soon.
I won't let them grind me down this
way always"
But raise in salary was slow In
coming. Dicks worth was evidently
not as apparent to his employers as to
himself, and gradually the furniture
and carpets began to grow shabby, and
the silver spoons were still the only
sign Of elegance in the Merritts' home.
Peggy polished them every day.
"You see," she told Aunt Judith, who
came from her little home town to
visit them, I'VE don't seem really poor
when we can sip our tea from shining
silver"
1T is you who brighten things up"
said Aunt Judith, you with your
cheerful face"
"Oh"-suddenly Peggy's voice broke
and her eyes tilled-"oh, Aunt Judith.
you don't know how hard it is to smile
sometimes"
"Why, child"-there was consterna
ton In the old lady's tone-"aren't you
happy?'
Its on account Of Dick. Things
aren't going right with him at the Of
fee. They don't seem to get on with
him or he doesn't with them, and he
gets blue, and it isn't easy for me to
cheer him up"
II see," said shrewd Aunt Judith,
and that night she asked the young
husband. How are things ut the Of
fice?"
Rotten" was the illuminating re-
ply. "They promised to give me a
raise "A year ago. but they haven't
done It."
"Why not?" asked Aunt Judith.
"They don't appreciate me-" Dick
flung out.
"Perhaps." Aunt Judith began and
then stopped. 81 am not going to help
him out" was her mental comment.
He has his own lesson to learn
But Aunt Judith did not realize that
while Dick was learning his lesson
Peggy must suffer.
"He thinks too much Of himself,
was her further thought as the days
went on. "I'll let him work hard until
some of the conceit is taken out of
him."
And with that she packed her bag
and went back to her little home town.
Dick was not made Of stern stuff.
and as the days went by the clouds on
his face grew darker and darker, aud
at last he came home early one after
noon and threw himself heavily into
| the chair
"Well, I'm out of d job" he said as
Peggy crossed the room to welcome
him.
"Dickw Her voice came tremulously.
"They said they didn't want me any
more: that | wasn't any good. And
it's the truth. am not any good,
Peggy"
She knelt down beside him. You
are the dearest thing in the world to
me. Richard" she said. and her arms
went around his neck.
For a moment he let them stay there;
| then he flung them off. You'll begin
to see how worthless I am after a
time" he said. I'm no good. Peggy.
| A man who can't keep his job and sup
mort his wife might as well be dead
Then as he saw the sick horror In
her face he gathered her into his
arms. 81 didn't mean just that he
murmured. but don't know what
has got into me. can't see things
right any more"
| After that Dicks days were spent In
search of work and Peggy's In sewing
on little white garments which she
| made from her own wedding lingerie.
She had not written to Aunt Judith OF
the bad state Of affairs, and there was
no one else. for Peggy was an orphan.
and so was Dick.
The meals became so scant In sub
stance that at last Dick said: ITS
hardly worth while to serve boiled po-
tatoes with silver spoons. is 1t, Peggy?
You'd better let me pawn them and
pay the rent"
"Oh. nor Peggy's hand was over her
heart. "Oh, now
"Well, the first thing you know We'll
be set out in the street"
Then into Peggy''s face had come
1
before-a white look Of contempt.
"If I were q man." she said slowly.
81 would break stones on the road
rather than not be able to support my
WIFE"
For a moment Dick stared at her;
then he flung himself out Of the room.
After he had gone Peggy cried hope
lessly. But at last she wiped her eyes.
gathered up the silver spoons, and she,
too, went out.
When she came back she had the
money for the rent and the materials
for good dinner, for the spoons were
heavy and had brought good price.
She cooked the dinner and waited for
Dick. But he did not come. The food
grew cold, and she sat down at the
window, watching. Then the evening
grew into night. and still she watched
| When Dick came In she was asleep
on the couch Her face WAS white as
he bent over her, and there were tears
on her cheeks. He knelt beside her
"Oh. Peggyr' he murmured.
She sat up and stared at him drear.
lily. 81 thought didn't know where
you were" she whispered.
II know" He dared not tell her Of
that day-of how he had gone to the
river and had stood OH the bridge and
had wondered why life should not end;
Of how. IN the window Of the second
hand shop on his way back. he had
seen the silver spoons, their wedding
spoons. heavy and solid and chased.
The vision had come to him of Peggy
In her white gown and veiI-of her
face as he had kissed her ut the altar
and all ut once the manhood had
walked In him. and he had gone back