The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1914-05-11
DAILY SHORT STORY.
THE BOX OF CANDY.
ny OLIVE RosEnrs BARTON.

BY OLIVE RODERTS BARTON.
The books would not balance with the
cash on hand at closing time and every
body in the bank had to stay and help
hunt for the trouble. There was a dollar
too much on hand, much to the disgust
OF all. including Ned Pershing.
II was Saturday afternoon and . half
holiday. but II was after when Mr.. Bliss.
the teller. discovered the error in the
total Of a deposit slip. In two minutes
the bank was empty.
Ned stopped at Morgan's. the confec-
toners. and bought the customary pound
Of Boston chips. custom Of his fathers
he had adopted when he married Emily.
He forgot that Emily had reminded him
OF something before he left the house
that morning. He paid for the candy,
tucked the box under his arm, and ran
for his car.
At home. Emily had sewed all day. try
ing to finish shadow lace waist to wear
to the club that night. Her crepe and
charmeuse had seen enough service to be
pensioned, and as II was between seasons
a lace waist seemed to be the very thing
| to tide her over.
At o'clock she Discovered that she
had made two sleeves for the same arm.
Her head and shoulders ached from
sewing, she had allowed her Saturday
duties to slide. shutting her eyes to the
condition OF the linoleum In the kitchen,
and there was no dessert made for SUM-
day
Her days work was wasted. She had
nothing to show for all her trouble. She
loathed homework. and despised sewing.
! II Ned was worth his salt he would see
that she had servants to take care Of
the house. and people to do her sewing
properly! She always looked like a fright
beside the other girls.
She looked at ferself in the mirror.
She had not dressed since morning. The
reflection was not comforting. In the
half light she looked sallow. Yes, she
was losing her good looks. She was
getting old. taking care Of this horrid
house, and cooking and sewing and
doing a Thousand things she had never
been intended to 90!
She thought over the different men she
might have married who could have pro-
videc Injuries and comforts which she
row lacked. Why had she not looked
with an eye to the future before she
had accepted Ned and married him?
cy the time sh- had decided that
Ned was a monster who hal schemed
IL betray her. and spoil her life: that he
was a selfish. hard-hearted tyrant, and
that IL was time she was standing Up
for her rights and insisting upon con-
sideration. she heard his step on the
porch.
II was raining. a cold, penetrating driz-
gle. and Ned had no umbrella. Every
thing in general, including the thought
that his taxes were due and he had not
enough to pay them, made him cross. His
Faaf h.er IN 81 Ia L.
needed new shoes, but hated to charge
another pair until the bill was paid
The time was propitious for little devils
to get in their work. One whispered
in his ear that Emily had paid six dollars
for a pair of dancing slippers and four
extra for the rhinestone buckles.
The porch rug was crooked and muddy.
Man like, he did not notice il, but he
had feeling that somehow the place
didn't look as honey as usual. Ordi-
narily the light In the hall burned hos
pitably at this hour.
The house inside was cold and dark
and there was no sign Of dinner. No one
called. Hello. hon." to him as usual.
and he didn't whistle. either, as was his
custom upon arriving.
Then an audible sniffle came down
stairs. Emily never cried when she was
sick. She cried when she was mad.
Ned took OF his coat and walked up
stairs. Emily was on the bed. crying.
What's wrong"' His tone grated.
No answer-just a double sob.
He laid the box on the dressing table.
Here's your candy
There was just enough light left for
Emily to see the size of the box past
the corner of her handkerchief She knew
what il was.
Il knew you wouldn't do it. 1 said
chocolates. / hate those thingsr"
Then Ned remembered the message.
Well, i can't remember everything
You're getting too darned hard to suit.
I'm tired OF everlastingly apologizing"
Emily sprang from the bed in a fury.
Il think you need to apologize, for max
ing such a mess of my life. And I'm
tired Of being poor and never having
anything to wear and being compelled
to cook every bite | eat"
In a very few minutes they had said
enough to convince each other that never
before were such despicable mortaIs
created. for the discomfort of man.
Emily finished up by diving into her
side of the closet and producing an arm
ful of clothes which she stuffed pell nell
into her travelling bag.
New followed suit by jerking open the
drawers Of his chiffonier and throwing
Emily flung on a long coat and hat
without making any further toilet. and
ran down stairs. She locked the front
door behind her taking the key.
Ned turned out all the lights and went
out by the kitchen.
He knew where Emily would take the
car to go to her mothers, SO he waited
block below. for the one which would
take him to his fathers.
Then he remembered something aud
turned back to the house.
Emily, shivering in the drizzling rain.
thought suddenly of the candy. She
wished she had put the box in her bag,
for she was hungry.
There was no car in sight. She turnel
and ran back to the house, unlocked The
front door and flew upstairs. She knew
exactly where Ned had set the box and
needed no light.
She reached out in the darkness to
take 1t. when she touched a hand. She
shrieked with terror. Then she tainted.
She opened her eyes a few minutes
later to find Ned bending over the bed
where he had lifted her. To add to nar
confusion, for as yet she couldn't re-
member what had happened. he was
calling her every sweet name not in the
dictionary, kissing her hands and begging
her not to die.
Emily, dear, I am a murderer and
know 1t. l guess / deserve to lose you.
but IL You die, I'll die. too"
Slowly things were coming back. Then
she remembered the hand.
Was 1t you 1 touched. Ned? The house
was dark and I thought you'd gone"
She reached upand patted his cheek