Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1915-03-27

lA BCoNiOhS. OAC NOilttCtVuCl
window was entirely filed
with chocolate covered eggs OF all
sizes, and large picard announced:
Each egg in this window contains
valuable and unique prize. All eggs
are the same price. % cents Each egg
will open on Easter morning"
Passeisby paused to look and read
the notice. and not n few entered the
shop TO purchase.
Presently Il winsome looking girl and
Il very tall young man paused In front
" the window. He looked inquringly
AZ her, ANA She smiled; then they went
In, coming out again In few minutes
carrying Il small box.
That evening ut the girls home they
opened the package and examined the
egg.
shall we break it," she questioned,
or wait until Easter and see what
hnppcnsT'
"Oh. lets wait"' he answered. Il
iou't suppose 1t will have anything
worth while inside, and il may not
even 0pen. though Of course that could
ne chemically arranged"
The egg was again put in its box
and laid away where the girl promised
Il would remain until the arrival of
the man on Easter morning.
Easter dawued fair and beautiful,
and while 1t was quite early the man
arrived to find the girl anxiOusly await
Ing him.
They opened the box with care and
gently laid the egg on the table. The
surface Of chocolate was as smooth as
when purchased.
For half M hour they watched 1t
closely aud were about to give up
when the Girl noticed II faint crack
across the top Very slowly 1t spread
in fact, almost lmperceptibly- until.
quite without realizing how it happen.
ed or when. the two halves of the egg
lay on the table and between them n
small object wrapped in tissue paper.
Very gingerly she tore of the paper
and cried IN disgust when she saw
only dirty old silver dollar, :"
still" he exclaimed practically. "a
dollar Is dollar, no matter how old 1t
Is" lie took It from her and looked al
it closely. feeling 1t all over when the
eagle opened. and the face Of II wo-
man smiled up Mt him.
oh" Suddenly he raised 1t to bis
lips, kissing 1t passlonately.
The girls expression instantly chang.
ed from sweet winsomeness to Jeal
Gus fury, and she snatched the dollar
from him.
"How dare you kiss that woman
when you say you love mel'' She fair
ly hissed the words, and her angry
eyes devoured the lovely features OF
the almost faded picture.
He took 1t gently from her. holding
1t tenderly in his hand. while he put
his arm around her, and there was
wonder in his voice when he spoke.
Strange and improbable ns 1t seems
that IS my mothers photograph"
"How curlous!" she murmured from
his shoulder
"You see how thin and worn the dol.
lar is he continued. "That is because
my father cnrrIed 1t for ten years. and
then one day absentmindedly he spent
1t. He never knew where or how, but
II was gone, and he was never able TO
find trace Of it, though don't believe
he has ever given up trying.
think mother felt It until she saw
how It worried father; then she made
light of 1t by saying she wondered
whose husband was carrying her pie.
ture now. How glad they will
be-" He raised the eagle to look once
more into the beautiful tender eyes
that so the girl thought at the mo-
ment, were exactly like his.
81 thought would be afraid Of her"
the girl said slowly, but | won't be
unless she has changed. Has sheT
"Only to become more beautiful. This
was taken before was born.
You viii change that way some day,
dear, and | shall watch you rs my
father watched her You do love me.
I know It now" he said with conylc.
tion, "for you were jealous when |
kissed the picture and you couldn't be
unless you cared"
once more she gazed upon the pic
ture then, closing the dollar, she slip
ped It into his vest pocket
"Take It TO her dear"-she hesitat
ed-"and tell her II came out Of prize
egg, but that girl who hopes some
day TO be loved as much rs she Is sends
II, amir
"Then." he Interrupted, you're go.
Ing TO say yes today"
"Tm still IN doubt about lots Of
things, but do love yol and want
beautiful mother TO love me, an1"-
"You darling" lie lifted her OF her
feet for second and crushed her to
him.
As he put her down they both noticed
the egg had closed. and only n faint
crack showed where It had been split.
"Yes, It's strange egg" he said In
answer to her questioning but what
| said about the action Of chemicals
accounts fer the closing MS well Ms the
onenlnr. But whatever Il IL II has