Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-10-02

D. c., OCTOBER 2,
she sat up quite straight. then suddenly
hurried out into the hall where she put
| on her coat and hat. A moment later she
was in the open street.
-
When John Chatwood reached home
| that evening he did not look like a
man who was glad to come His
countenahce did not wear the resigned
look of one for whom the worst is over.
His depression of the morning may
| have been less marked, but something
| that was more like fear, hang-dog
look OF guilt, had taken it's place He
| drew long breath of relief when he
come him. but she came in just then,
and he prepared for the cyclone
How wonderfully cheerful she was.
She was singing like a young girl as
grew almost bitter in the reflection
| that she could be so happy in what
might have cost him so much. More
than all was he overwhelmed with the
seemed to him that he could not face
her-not vet He must slip out-and
then. suddenly. she had rushed in and
grabbed him about the neck and was
John. her dear old. foolish John, in the
regular old-time way. And this made
1t hard. oh. very hard for John, con-
sidering what he had to confess. All
at once she caught his face in her
hands and looked him straight in the
eyes.
Why" she said. why don't you be
happy? 1 know you must be glad.
now it's all over and we're going off
so soon. Just think, We sail tomorrow.
Our first morning at sea will be Christ
mas. That is the finest Christmas
present ! could have The very finest
happy. Why don't you be happy. John?
Happy for my sake anyway"
He grew a shade paler; his tongue
Glove to his mouth. When he opened
his lips scarcely anything issued there
from.
Mary, he managed to say at last.
..Mary-we-that is-Pm afraid, Mary,
we've cant go after all-not this
time. Mary
She drew away from him. as in great
Cant go! Why, John. what do you
mean? OF course. we can go. Wasn't
that what the sale was for?'' Then. in
changed tone. "oh. John. do you mean
cages didn't bring enough to take us?
had presentiment that they might
do that! 1 did, John. early this morn
ing-perhaps it was a communicating
you left But we can go cheap, dear.
We can use what they did bring"
Heavens. how hard she made it for a
guilty man!
Mary" he groaned, 'they did go low.
ridiculously low, though that's not the
-reason-that is-the only reason, L
mean. No bidders were there. hardly
one man, Lawson-you know, the deal
er-got them all, every one, for
for"
wait. John, I've got another PRESENT.
Communication. ] mean-let me
guess What they brought That man
lawson bought those cages for another
party BE got them all. every one
for" she named a figure that caused
John Chatwood's Jaw to drop In wonder
Mary" he gasped. is 1t In the even
Why nc- John. not that 1 kn0W o.
haven't seen the evening paper
He stared at her moment longer.
How gay and happy she looked In the
face Of all his misery. What did 1t
mean? There was something unreal, al
most uncanny, about her behavior; and
how had she known those figures? -
Mary be began with enort. III
AAAsey
know the rest Maybe YOU know that !
couldn't see them go for that just
couldn't, Maryland that thought them
back, Mary"
her to do or say. She did nothing at all
but look at him in that wild, queer way.
Then, very slowly
YES John, and you paid-you bought
them back from Lawson for again
she named a sum that held him transfxed
and silent Then. suddenly. she flung her
arms about him once more and drew his
head down close
John Chatwood,'' she said. you old
fraud, don't you think you ought to be
ashamed to pay me no more than 10 per
cent profit on bargain like that?'
When he got free he stared at her
daZed.
"Youv he gasped. You! Paid you
10 per cent. Who paid you 10 per cent?
why. you did, John. That Is, you paid
Lawson, and Lawson was my agent
did have a presentiment about those
cages. John, just as l said. 1t frightened
me awfully. and then, just at that min
ute. the mail came. and what should be
in it but a letter with the settlement of
Uncle Chester's estate. They had closed
it I'D at last and the check and all, for
didn't wait a second. John, or not much
more than that. I'd been wondering all
the week what 1 could get you for Christ
mas, and this seemed my chance. I knew
I couldn't stop the sale, but 1 got down
to Lawson's and told him to buy those
cages no matter what they cost l was
going to give them to you, John. every
one of them-I really meant to-but when
1 found that 1 could sell them to you
when Lawson telephoned that you would
hry them a III back and nav me 10 Der cent
on my investment couldn't resist, John,
l really couldn't. OF course, you'll have
to pay the auctioneer's commission, too.
l suppose, but after all it doesn't seem
very much on a small sum like that. es-
pecially when we're so happy, and going
to have such beautiful voyage and such
a merry Christmas at sea. You are happy,
aren't you, John? You are glad, now,
you're going? I'm going to pay for the
trip, you know. That's my present to
YOU"
And John Chatwood confessed, in the
fullness of that rare 10y which is TEMPER