Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1922-05-11
HIS BIRTHDAY
BY DOROTHY KNIGHT

| Johh Patterson. II was his thirlieth
birthday and his second wedding an.
niversary, and he had just received
a substantial Increase In salary. lie
could hardly wait to tell Mary the good
news.
de hurried home only 10 find the
| apartment deserted The tiny kitchen.
f! cite, however, showed that everything
was IN readiness for a hurried assem-.
bling of the dinner on her return.
He wandered aimlessly and forlornly
around. He looked about for the note
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 tho full import of It
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-
ousiy happy. 1t has lain next to my
herrt all day and through the monot-
onous dishwashing, sweeping and
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 | can never have
the reality. We must renounce-"
lie read TO the end and then with
heart as heavy as lead he paced the
floor.
why John, what's the matter?' You
look as II 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 / bet you are
half starved, too But will have din
ner ready in jiffy.'
She was as good as her word
you poor dear, you're too tired
even to eat ! wish you didn't have
to work so hard. hate to have you
slave away at the office every day just
to earn money for me to spend | do
wish ! 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
do.
Somehow the dinner was finished
John, strangely silent, but his wife as
merry and talkative as ever. If she
noticed his silence, she attributed It
10 his being tired.
Whi.n they were comfortably settled
In thAliying room he Immediately took
up his evening paper.
well, what day is it?"
The question cut deep.
81 don't know" he muttered, from
the depths OF his paper.
"Wby, John Patterson, aren't you
ashamed Of yourself|
No answer.
"And after I've worked so hard to
get you a present that / earned all my
self"
No answer
'If that's all the interest you take
I'm glad I'm no Eleanor Hallowell
Abbot, and couldn't afford TO buy
sedan for a present"
Still no answer
"Well, don't you want to know what
got your"
"why. OF course. What Is III" In
lackadaisical tone.
"well, it's on the table beside you
He reached out for a much berib-
boned package, with trembling hands,
and started to open t.
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 I can't afford TO smoke them every
day. Oh, have package for you,
roo"
He went out to his coat pocket and
returned with a box of chocolates.
Then while he smoked, she munched
chocolates.
Don't you want to know how
earned the money!
BY supreme effort he managed 70
act naturally.
''Yes, Of course, and what was II you
said about Eleanor Hnllowell Abbott
"why, she's the author Of Molly
Make Believe" that you enjoyed so
much"
"And what. may ask, has she TO
do with my cigarsT'
"Well. one day / was telling Ruth
wished could earn some money all my
own to buy you birthday present
with. and she suggested that ] should
try writing stories | finally got FIVE
dollars from the Western Tribune"
"Well, that's fine. What fort Got
ting subscripuonsT
'No. for writing a love letter.
Mary may have been somewhat sur
prised at the strange effect OF this
news on John and at his great Joy over
her literary success" but he never er-
planned t.
cnutd no 4lthout EIdo