The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1910-09-30
The Silver Purse
By TEMPLE BAILEY
Copyright, 1870 by Associated Literary Press

,ciated Literary Press
mother wants with thing like that"
The next morning Mrs. Crowell tele-
phoned to Juliet. II have a long
letter from Carter" she said, and
l can't read it, my eyes are so bad.
and you know his scrawl, my DEAR"
"1'n come up" Juliet promised,
this afternoon and read it for you"
Come to lunch," Mrs. Crowell in
vited, and Juliet agreed.
While Mrs. Crowell prepared the
lunch Juliet looked over the letter.
Its a little hard to make out"
she called to the older lady in the
other room. "1'll read it aloud when
have deciphered it,
AS she read flush came to her
cheeks and light to her eyes, for
this was the letter:
Mother Dear: have just received
note from Juliet. In it she thanks
me for my gift of Browning's poems.
| also have letter from you in which
you thank me for purse. Now, as a
matter of fact, sent the silver purse
to Juliet and the poems to you-l
know how you love Browning. l am
so sorry that you should have been
| disappointed because | intended you
should have the books you have so
ong coveted. But Juliet seems SO
| pleased that l hate to tell her of
her mistake. Will you buy yourself
the books? want Juliet to have pref.
ty things, yet knowing her, feel that
If I explain she will feel it necessary
to return the books to you and to
take the silver purse which would
mean so much less to her. Some day
can give her all the trifles to wear
that she needs, and she has called the
books precious" So don't tell her
| anything about It, I'll write again
| soon and give you the news; this is
simply to correct my blunder. l sup
pose the cards were mixed in some
| way.
Yours always,
Carter"
When she had finished Juliet drew
quick breath. He had wanted her
to have the purse, he had remem
bered her love of pretty things. The
exchange would be easy. Mrs. Crow
| ell coveted the books.
At this moment the elder woman
| came in with the salad in a silver
dish. Did he say anything about
| the purse?" she asked ut was sc
lovely of him to send it to me. Men
are SO apt to think that we older
women care nothing for the dainty
things of dress. l get books, and
| books, and books, and practical
things. It's plea sure now and then
to have something different"
| Juliet's breath came quickly Sure
ly Carter would want his mother
saved from disappointment. 1t seemed
to bring her closer to him to think
that she might have secret with
him, something that they could hide
from his mother, rather than some
thing that he and his mother should
hide from his sweetheart
Read the letter." the older woman
said as they sat down to the table
and Juliet read it, making up as she
went along sentences which told that
he was glad she liked the purse, glad
that Juliet liked the books and said
nothing Of his mistake After that
they chatted of the coming marriage
and Juliet's plans for 1t.
When Juliet went home she wrote
to her lover and told him all about
it-how she loved the books and how
his mother had delighted in the silver
purse.
Il want her to keep it." she said
land you must not send me another
to make up to me, for I like to fee
that it is my gift to your mother as
we'll as yours, Some day I'll give hel
a set of Browning and then she viii
have both things, and never know tho
difference"
The answer that came from him re
paid her for her sacrifice Il am go
ing to take you at your word" he
said, land let you do without the
purse"
But on their wedding day, besides
the diamond pendant that he gave
her, there was another gift. Wrapped
in tissue paper and tied with white
| ribbon, it made a rather bulky pack
age. Within she found a golden bag
all glittering mesh and sparkling
stones. 1t was a thing beautiful
enough for duchess, thing a prince
might have presented to the lady h<
loved, and that was what it meant tt
Juliet; the gift of the lover who ha(
given her the greatest gift of all-his
hearts best and purest alteration.
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