New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1920-02-20

Their is no business more import
ant than that OF the Lord" he said
piously. May | come in?"
Miss Parkins held the gate open
and. entering. he became aware fol
the first time of his daughters pres
ence.
Ina he cried in surprise.
i was on my way home from the
library" she explained. and saw Miss
Parkins light"
Well. you'd better run along now.
he said. I've a little business with
Miss Parkins. | reckon I'll catch up
with you on the avenue
The girl :eemed relieved as she
brushed by him. In another moment
the front door closed behind her.
Sit down. Henry" invited Miss
Parkins. He sat.
Il suppose-she's told you" he in
quired.
Told me WHAT" asked Miss Par
kins, though she knew.
That-things aren't just right for
me to see my way clear to sending
her off to college this fall. know
people think me a rich man. Ann. but
to tell the truth haven't much ready
money. Collections are slow, and at
the bank"
is this your news item, Henry"
asked Miss Parkins.
lie tried to smile affably.
NO" he said. My news item is
quite another matter" His white
face assumed its usual. doleful look.
Ann, Marys been dead four months
now. And | miss her. Ann. miss
her terribly. When | think of her
long years of devotion. of sacrifice
lie took out his handkerchief and
dabbed at his little eyes. Miss Par
kins Razed at him. as neal to a Gym
zeal smile as her kind face could go.
You're not at prayer-meeting now,
Henry she said. Don't trouble to
weep for me-"
lie stared at her with the hurt look
OF an innocent child
Il knOw we're not friends. Ann. as
We used to be. For some strange rea-
son, you have turned against me.
But-whether you believe it or o.
Mary is constantly in my thoughts.
! have been trying to evolve some
plan for paying a public tribute to
her-to my dear wife. And it has
come to me-the plan has come"
He restored his handkerchief to his
pocket.
Even Ina doesn know of this yet"
he went on. Il shall tell her tonight.
Ann, ! have made up my mind to do
nate to the lew church building a
stained glass window-as a
memorial to Mary, The agent was
here from Chicago today talked
with him at the bank. The window
viii cost me he gazed at her as
though begging her to be prepared
hundred dollars"
Twelve hundred dollars repeated
Miss Parkins, a strange light in her
eyes.
Il announced my gift at prayer.
meeting, tonight. The window will be
in the front OF the building
II will remain there through the years.
my tribute TO Mary, II will remain
here where all the town can see"
"All the town Miss Parkins said.
That was the most important consid
with Henry bradford, and she
it.. He drew a great roll of pa
per from his pocket, leaned over, and
spread ii out on her desk.
Here is the Chicago firms draw.
he said. You can see the de
sign of the window from this. | don't
whether you IAN reproduce II
II the paper or not, At any rate, 1t
Will help you to write the item"
Miss Parkins looked down at the
beautifully colored design for her old
riend's window Its great central fig
ire was that of a woman, seated on
dais, her wonderful face smiling and
'ontent-the face of a woman set free.
about her fioated happy cherubim,
md on the scroll at her feet Miss Par.
.ins read: In Memoriam, Mary Tn.
.erhill Bradford" Her eyes stole
Jack to that beautiful face
symbolic" Henry Bradford was ex.
flaming in his oily voice, of the
II may find only in the Lords
Miss Parkin's vision blurred. Then
ut of the blur emerged the face of
woman-a face that was not
not content-the face of "A
,oman who had only recently been
ct free.
Mr.. Bradford leaned back in his
hair. hugely pleased with himself:
Il wish you'd make an item of il.
he said You were Marv's
est friend. and I'm sure she'd want
to write about her window
Yes. perhaps she would" Miss Par.
ms agreed Her eyes were fixed
gain on that symbolic figure; an odd.
nhappy smile twisted her lips.
Well. ANN" he urged.
She rose suddenly from her desk.
I'm write it before you go" she
hid And. turning or the light above
typewriter. she sat down before il.
a moment the clatter of the ma.
line resounded in the quiet Office.
nee she locked up. :
I'm mention the price, of course?"
he said. :
of course he assented. !
Finally she whirled the sheet of !
per from her typewriter. and read
Henry Bradford announces that he
i'll donate to the new church. short {
to be erected on Center street. a
rye stained glass window. as a mem
ial t his beloved wife, Mary Under. G
II Bradford. recently deceased. The \
is to be the work of a Chicago !
m The chief feature of the pro