Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1909-08-26

The Argus Daily Short Story
Aunt Judiths Spoons-By Temple Bailey.
Copyrighted. 1909 by Associated Litera y

arms II didn't mean Just mat" ne
murmured. hut 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
Oh little white garments which she
made from her own wedding lingerie.
she had not written to Aunt Judith OF
the had slate of affairs. and there was
no ore else for Peggy was an orphan.
and so was Dick.
The meals became so scant I'm sub
stance that nj last Dick said: 'lt's
hardly worth Willie to serve boiled po-
tatoes with silver SPOONS. is ii. Peggy
You'd better let me pawn them and
pay The rent
''Oh. no. rrggy's hand was over her
heart "Gh. no
We'll. the first thing you know We'll
he set ont in the street"
Then into Pecgy'S face had come
something HAT Dick had never seen
before-a white look of contempt.
IF were Il man" she said slowly.
~ would break stones on the road
rather than not be able to support my
wife,
For moment Dick stared mt her:
then he flung himself out of the room
After he had gone Peggy cried hope
lessly. But ut hast 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 tne sI6uns 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 evenin.
grew into night. and still she watched
When Dick came in she was aslcer
on the couch. Her fare WIS white as
he bent over her, and there We're fears
| on her cheeks. He knelt beside her
'Oh. Peggy he murmured
She sat up and stared at him drear.
lily. Il thought-l didn'. know where
you WERE" she whispered
Il know" He dared not tell her of
| that day-of how he had gone to the
river and had stood on 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 hip of Peggy
| in her white gown and veil-of her
| face as he had kissed her ut the altar
1 \ a. 4 n
| walked in him. and he had gone back
| to his old employer and had asked
| for work. humbly acknowledging his
| faults. telling of his wife. and they had
taken him back
| Il know now why / failed" he said
as he finished telling her what he
could II wouldn't give the best in
me- But now I'm going to work hard
| for you-and-the kid. Peggy"
A week later. when Aunt Judith came
| swoopng down on them and found
out the real state of affairs. Peggy
| confessed about the Spoons. Il hated
to sell them she said, but just had
| to. Aunt Judith"
| And that very afternoon Aunt Jul
| UlIn Duflteu up tue SeCutiuuaiu SuOi
| and bought them back. and when Dick
| came home they were shining on the
| table
| And now" said Aunt Judith rs she
slipped her tea and watched Dick eat
| the beefsteak aud omelet which she
had purchased and had cooked with
her own expert hands-"and now
| want to make proposition. want
| you to come hack with ME to Hillsdae
and take care of the store for me and
live in my big house. Peggy can ruu
/ things at home. and you can run the
business. Richard. and I'll go Nand
travel. as ] have wanted to do fol
years. knowing that when l come back
everything will be in order"
AS she beamed on them Dick rose
and put his arm about Peggy.
ats awfully good of you. Aunt .Iu
dith." he said huskily. land we vii
be glad to go to Hillsdale. and. please
God. I'll make success OF myself