The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1920-10-02
The Anniversary
BY ELVA LORENCE
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Copyright
BY ELVA LORENCE

She was a true. lOvin' woman. VINO
had dreamed. as most 81 u do. OF the
fumbliu' little hands. the snugglln Ht-
tie face. Of our very Own, ana me
crown Of wouanhoOd had been oeh!eu
her. IN tie minute ! stood there 81
lent I understood and my heart achS
for her. disappointment had changed
the world. and the days and weeks u
lonely ErooGing while he was away
had changed her, too.
Droppin' down by the couch. got
my arms about her and did my Dest
10 comfort her.
Il know. missus," ! whispered. when
she had grown quiet. But it's wrong
90 grieye. There's many worse tron-
bles than yours. You have your nus
band"
MY husband cares nothing for me
she cried. II am shut out Of his life
you shut yourself out, dearie,' l
said gently. "Is am sure Of it. I'm
only 'Omely Liz. No man VIII ever
call me his wife now. but ! think !
can understand why you two nave
gone apart, and I'd like 10 see you
happy together again. Little chlldreh
come 10 bind affection closer, true
enough. and where the blessing IL DE-
MED the greater the call Tor Town
Kindness. That's where you've failed'
dearie. Forgive me If hurt you by
my plain speakin', but ii seems TO me
that you've lived with disappointment
so long It's made you bitter. why
not meet him tonight with a smilln
face, an say you're sorry? / know
he would smile, too, and that his arms
would hold you. You are together
for better or worse for maybe many
years. Why not always for betterF
HE has ceased to care" she said
bitterly. "He would turn from we
with laugh"
~ think not, dearie," / said quietly.
81 have seen the look in his eyes when
you have left the room, and i know
he, too, is wretched. Make II up to-
day"
To-Day" she cried. To-day Is the
anniversary Of our wedding day. For
the first four years he marked it
with n gift: he has forgotten 1t alto
gether nOw%
'Oh, mol" / said, smiling confident
~. Meet him when he comes hope
tonight as ] want you 10, and see IL
he has forgotten. Ii seems such a
pity you should be bad friends. LIS
ten to me- dearieT s.r s..
And, very quietly, told her about
my last place.
She heard me through, and at the
end lay back. with glistening tears in
her eyes.
THANK you, Lizzie!" she said.
That was all, but / jumped up.
smilIn', because | knew had won her
round.
"Now listen, ma'am," said. 'rve
got n plan. Hellrbe home, sas usual
mt seven for dinner. Well have a
special spread In honor of the day,
and you shall be waitin' for him in
your wedding dressw
"My wedding dress !" she cried. "Oh.
no, Liz; It's hopelessly old-fashioned !;
should look like a fright"
"We1l see you DON'T" said. "He
is going to come into the room, and
find his old sweetheart, and, just as
sure, you will find him again."
"You think so, Liz?' she cried, trem-
"Sure Of it!'
"Come and dig out the dress" she
said.
And laughn' at our pleasant
thoughts, we tripped upstairs.
The rest OF the day until the usual
hour of his home coming. passed like
a dream. The difference in the missus
you'd hardly credit. She seemed am
other woman altogether. Now that
her mind was given up TO Il, nothing
could go amiss. His favorlte dishes
must be cooked; there must be flow
in the fender; everything must be just
as he liked IL
At six O'clock she went upstairs to
dress. AS put on my best apron /
heard her quietly singin'. When she
called me to see how she looked /
stood and smiled. because, for some
reason l couldn't say word.
The white silk dress fitted her per-
fectly: her eyes were shinin'. the
smilln' lips had given a new express
sion to her face.
She looked like happy, blushin'
bride.
"Shall do, Lizzie ?".s she said. with
a pIayfulxcurtsy.
ooh. ma'am. You look beautifulI
exclaimed.
You think he'll know meT" she
said.
"You'll see." l answered. laughin'.
From behind my back held out the
spray of flowers ! had got from the
shop with the others downstairs.
II want you to wear this, ma'am." I
said. "Let-me fasfen It in your gown !"
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