The vidette. (Iuka, Tishomingo County, Miss.) 1912-1967, 1922-04-27
HIS BIRTHDAY
Rs4s1sssssEae1aAsassNs
BY DOROTHY KNIGHT

gee(t ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
g, 1922, By Mcclure Newspaper syndicate
The world looked bright and rosy to
Join Patterson. 1t was his thirtieth
birthday and his second wedding an
nivcrsary, aud he had just received
a substantial increase In salary. He
could hardly wait to tell Mary the good
news.
lie hurried home only to find the
apartment deserted. The tiny Kitchen
cite, however, showed that everything
was In readiness for lhrried assem-
bling of the dinner on her return.
He wandered aimlessly and forloinly
around. He looked about for the note
he had SO often found explaining her
delay, but there was none. There was,
however, note half concealed under
some bills, which he took out ana read
mechanically, until tho full import of 1t
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 glorl-
ously happy. 1t has lain next to my
herrt all day and through the mon0t-
onous dishwashlng, sweeping ana
busting of my life has run the wonder
full melody of your love. 1t has made
me very happy, and 1t will make me
very happy all through the years TO
come to know that you love me, even
though the knowledge of your love
Is all | have, for l can never have
the reality. We must renounce-"
lie read to the end and then with a
heart as heavy as lead he paced the
floor.
"Why John, what's the matter? You
look as If the bottom had dropped out
of the universe"
He was startled at her unexpected
presence. He had not heard her come
In.
"Why, l guess have a slight head
ache. Been working rather hard to-
day"
you poor dear, and l bet you are
half starved, too. But will have din
ner ready in Il jlffy."
one NUS us SOOu us Hct Noius
You poor dear, you're too tired
even to eat. l wish you didn't have
to work so hard I hate to have you
slave away at the office every day just
to earn money for me to spend. do
wish l could help you. But do try to
be economical"
You're wonder, Mary. You're the
best manager in the world"
He tried to speak naturally. He
must not let Mary suspect he knew her
secret until he had decided what to
| 10.
Somehow the dinner was finished
| Iohn, strangely silent, but his wife as
merry and talkative as 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 It'll"
The question cut deep.
81 don't KNOW" he muttered, from
he depths of his paper.
"Why, John Patterson, aren't you
ashamed Of yourselfP
No answer.
"And after I've worked so hard to
get you a present that earned all my
self"
No answer.
"lf that's all the interest you take
I'm glad Tin no Eleanor Halowel
abbot, and couldn't afford to buy
edan for present"
Still no answer.
swell, don't you want to know what
got your
'Why, of course. What is it?" In a
acsadaislcal tone.
"Well, it's on the table beside YOU"
He reached out for much berib-
1oned package, with trembling hands,
md started to open it.
Dear, I'm really afraid you're going
20 be sick. You look so pale"
Nonsense. I'm all right Well, this
is just fine. That's my favorite cigar,
nut l can't afford to smoke them every
lay Oh l have package for you,
90"
He went out to his coat pocket and
eturned with box of chocolates.
Then while he smoked, she munched
hocolates.
Don't you want to know how l
armed the money!?
BY a supreme effort he managed to
lct naturally.
"Yes, of course, and what was 1t you
aid about Eleanor Hallowell Abbot?"
"Why, she's the author of "AIolly
Make Believe that you enjoyed so
much"
"And what, may ask has she to
10 with my cigars2"
"Well, one day I was telling Ruth l
Wished | could earn some money all nv
)wn to buy you a birthday present
With and she suggested that | should
try writing stories I finally got five
dollars from the Western Tribune"
swell, that's fine. What for? Get
ing subscriptions
mo, for writing love letter."
Mary may have been somewhat sur
9rised at the strange effect of this
news on John and at his great Joy over
her literary success" but he never ex-
planned it.