Mountain advocate., 1922-07-21
HIs BIRTHDAY

sy DOROTHY KNIGHT

g ip2A by heClurN NeWspapsr pynaioste
The world looked bright aud rosy to
John Patterson. II was his thirtIeth
birthday and his second wedding an
niversary, and he had just received
Substantial Increase IN salary. He
could hardly walt to tell Mary the good .
news.
He hurried home only to find the
apartment deserted. The Tiny kitchen
ette, however, showed that everything
was In readiness for a hurried assem-
bling Of the dinner on her return.
He wandered ainlessly and forlornly
around. He looked about for the note 1
he had SO often found, explaining her
delay, but there was none. There was,
however, a note half concealed under
some bills, which he took out and read
mechanically. until the full import Of II
reached him like sharp stab. His
eager happiness was changed to acute
suffering. He read:
dearest Jim--Your letter arrived
this morning and has made me glori-
ously happy. Ii has lain next TO my
herrt all day and through the monot-
onous dishwashing, sweeping and
busting Of my life has run the wonder
ful melody Of your love. It has made
me very happy, and 1t will make me
very happy an through the years TO
come to know that you love me, even
though the knowledge Of your love
Is all / have, for can never have
the reality. We must renounce--"
He read to the end and then with a
heart ms heavy ms lead he paced the
floor.
"why John, what's the matter7 You
look as If the bottom had dropped out
of the universe"
He was stGtled at her unexpected
presence. He had not heard her come
In.
"Why, 1 guess 1 have a slight head
ache. Been working rather hard to-
day"
"You poor dear. and 1 bet you are
half starved, too. But will have din
ner ready In a jlffy."
She was as good as her word.
You poor dear you're too tired
even to eat. l wish you didn't have
to work so hard. hate to have you
slave away Mt the office every day just
to earn money for me to spend. l do
wish could help you. But do try to
be economical"
You're a wonder, Mary. You're the
best manager In the world"
kn frr
must not let Mary suspect he knew her
secret until he had decided what to
do.
4 Somehow the dinner was finished
/ John. strangely silent, but his wife as
merry and talkative rs ever. If she
noticed his silence, she attributed 1t
to his being tired
When they were comfortably settled
In the living room he Immediately took
up his evening paper.
"Well, what day Is 1T"
The question cut deep.
"I don't know" he muttered- from
the depths Of his paper.
"Why, John Patterson. aren't you
ashamed OF yourselfT
No answer.
"And after I've worked so hard TO
get you present that I earned all my
self"
No answer.
"If that's all the interest you take
Tn glad I'm no Eleanor Hallowell
Abbot, and couldn't afford to buy q
eadan fnr n nrpspnt"
Still no answer.
well, don't you want to know what
got your"
"Why, Of course. What is it7' in q
lackadaisical tone.
"Well, It's on the table beside you
He reached out for much berib
boned package, with trembling hands
and started to open it.
"Dear, I'm really afraid you're goinG
to be sick. You look so pale"
Nonsense. I'm all right. Well, this
is Just fine. That's my favorite cigar
but can't afford TO smoke them every
day. Oh. I have package for you
zoo"
He went out to his coat pocket anC
returned with box Of chocolates
Then while he smoked, she munche'
chocolates.
Don't you want to know how
earned the money!
By a supreme effort he managed Z
act naturally.
ayes, OF course, and what was 1t 20,
said about Eleanor Hallowell Abbott
"why, she's the author OF "Moll,
Make Believe" that you enjoyed s
much"
"And what. may ask, has she t
do with my cigars7"
"well, one day was telling Ruth
wished could earn some money all m
own to buy you a birthday presen
with, and she suggested that I shoul
try writing stories. finally got fiv
dollars from the Western Tribune,
"Well. that's fine. What for? Get
ting subscriptionsT'