The Meeker herald., 1918-06-01
N ~ - AA - - - ~ III
!. HIS ALMA MATER
BY JANE OSBORNE.
= - - n - ~ AhhA

When Clay Stimson received the mp
peal from the secretary Of his class at
college for contributions to support the
aviation corps that was to be sent to
the front by his alma mater he made
out that check for thousand dollars,
but before he signed 1t he thought Of
Peggy. Peggy made all the difference
In the world.
It wasn't that Peggy was selfish, but
Peggy was the sort Of VIE that needed
to be financed generously. 1t would
have been rs allen to Pcggy's nature.
thought Clay, to attempt any sort of
economy, even In war time, us 1t would
be allen to the butterfy's nature to
start In storing away the honeyed
sweetness that 1t gathers from the
flowers as the thrifty bee does.
1t was just when he was turning Into
the long driveway that led to the low
rooted bungalow nesting among the
trees where Peggy, who, he was sure.
ought to have lived In an Italian villa,
at least, deigned to dwell, greeted him
with even more than usual excitement
ut the door. It was Peggy's manner
always to be In state of delightful
expectancy and impatience when Clay
returned home every night. Her vivac-
ity was contagious and Cluy would
have been transported from business
or thoughts of the departing stenog-
rapher had 1t not been for the thought
Of the unsigned check for one thousand
dollars. He was rather pensive Mt din
NM otoo1Ip0 sno tohoa NJ TINA hot ,yoap
Peggy's clever little sallies to medI-
tate and work out his plan Of action.
In order to dispense with the stenog-
rapher. he was thinking. he would have
to work overtime. 1t would often mean
that he would have to return to his Of
fee at night, patiently to type out the
letters that were not typed In the day
time.
OF course Peggy should not know.
He would have to tell Peggy simply
that business detained him.
Peggy talked gllbly through dinner.
which she seemed to eat with relish.
And more than once she stopped to
give directions to the waitress.
"Do you think the new cook will dot"
she asked, knowing well enough that
Clay never had word to shy about the
household management. you know.
had to dismiss Brady. I think this one
Is rather better"
Eyes; that caviarre was delicious"
Clay had presence Of mind enough to
say: and then. venturing Into an un-
accustomed field Of inquiry. he added:
" suppose wages are advancing even
with c0oks!
Peggy pouted with playful note of
annoyance.
"Yes; ! really had to agree to forty
dollars this time. I suppose shall
have to make an increase II l am to
keep her."
Had Clay found 1t possible to throw
of his mir Of preOccupation more easily
he might have remained at home TINT
first evening. But no eager was he to
begin the work TINT would make the
sending Of check for thousand dol
lars possible that he excused himself
after dinner to return to his office. BY
eight O'Clock he was busy with the
files. bringing his correspondence up
to dnte. SO that the burden OF his fntcr
work would not be too heavy. II shnn't
In the least mind your going" Peggy
reassured him, as he started out. -I'm
dreadfuily sleepy. and I'm afraid
should hive been quite stupid II you
had stayed home"
Three or four nights ont Of the week
Clay returned to his ONCE. and as often
Peggy. apparently uncompluiningly,
professed perfect willingness to retire
early and forget her loneliness. One
evening that Clay had Intended to de-
vote to his correspondence, the vision
Of Peggy In new evening frOck
changed his mind. 1t was one of those
exqulsitely simple gowns that expert
ence had tnught Clay to know were the
most expensive kind. But even this
knowledge did not spoil the pleasure 1t
took In beholdIng his pretty wife SO at
tractively dressed to meet him.
do you very much like this dress?"
Peggy asked him after they had I'm
ished dinner. II can really tell that
you do just by the way you look ut It,"
And then, not waiting for Clny's en-
thusiastic response. Peggy went on:
hcNct Souiu Aeep bccIet, Do just
have to tell you that made It," She
paused moment and watched. and
not finding reproving frown on Clny's
fnce she went on: "And have cooked
dinner every night for two weeks
ever since the last cook went. Oh, l
never meant to tell you that, too. but
you know I can't keep q secret, md If
Won ever found Out vou'd hata mo far
decelving you. You see. the girls In
my class at college were getting up
fund for an ambulance, md Of course
they looked to me to help little. But
I knew you couldn't endure having
two-cOurse dinners or seeing me
dressed In a shlrtwaist IN the evening,
so decided to go along living Just MS
we always had. and I'd save the cooks
wages and my dressmaker's bill by do
Ipn 1IttIo rr.ys<,lR a ehu.