The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-08-02
THE EVENING STORY
Aunt Judith,s SPOONS.
- , ~ ~
INV Temnle RaiIaV l

once colleagues had dubbed together
and had presented a cut-glass punch
bowl.
But Aunt Judith gave silver spoons
heavy, solid and richly chased.
i think it was lovely of her." said
the little wife as she set her own table
is such a nelp. 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.
won't let them grind me down this way
always"
But raise in salary was slow in COM
ing. Dicks worth was evidently not as
apparent to his employers as to him
self, and gradually the furniture and
silver spoons were still the only sign
OF elegance in the Nerritts' 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 sill
YER"
1T is you who brighten things up
said Aunt Judith. you with your cheer
oh" suddenly Peggy's voice broke.
and her eyes filled, "oh, Aunt Judith,
you don't know how hard it is to smile
sometimes"
why, child" there was CONSERVATION
in the old iady's tone. aren't you
happy?"
TITS 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
I see said shrewd Aunt Judith, and
that night she asked the young hus-
band, How are things at the Officer
Rotten" was the illuminating reply.
They promised to give me a raise a
year ago, but they haven't done it,
why nCt?" asked Aunt Judith.
They don't appreciate me-" Dick
Perhaps Aunt Judith began, and
then stopped. II 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. TN 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, and
at last he came home early one after
noon and threw himself heavily into
the chair.
Peggy crossed the room to welcome
him.
"Dickw her voice came TREMENDOUSLY.
They said they didn't want me any
more. That I wasn't any good-that |
wasn't any good. And it's the truth, 1
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'n 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
port his wife might as well be dead
Then as he saw the sick horror iii
her face. he gathered her into his arms
II didn't mean just that" he murmui
ed, but 1 don't know what has got into
me. I 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 SUD
stance that at last Dick said: It ;
hardly worth while to serve boiled po-
tatoes with silver spoons, is 1t, Peggy
You'd better let me pawn them, ana
pay the rent"
'iOh, nor Peggy's hand was over her
heart "Oh. nor
We'll the first thing you know Wen
be set out in the street.
Then into Peggy's face had come
something that Dick had never seen
before-a white look of contempt.
eff 1 were a man." she said slowly,
s'I would break stones on the road
rather than not be able to support my
wife,
For moment Dick stared at her,
then he flung himself out OF the room 6
After he had gone Peggy cried nope
lessly. But at last she wiped her eyes,
gathered up the silver spoons and she'
too. went out.
money for the rent and the materials
for a 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 tonu
grew cold and. she sat at the wlnaoW,
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 we're tears
on her cheeks. He knelt beside her' |
'Oh. Peggy he murmured.
She sat up and stared at him drear- |
ilv. ''I thought didn't know where |
you WERE" she whispered
G1T know" He dared not tell her /
of that dav. 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 him of Peggy in her white |
gown and vefI-of her face as he had |
kissed her at the altar-and all at |
once the manhood had walked in |
nirn. and he had gone back to his old |
employer and had asked for work,
aumbly acknowledging his faults and !
telling of his wife, and they had TAX !
IN him back.
ST know now why I failed" he
,aid. as he finished telling her what |
= no.1Id IL 1rn11Idr,t give the hest |