Evening star., 1923-03-25
BY
AGNES SLICH
TURNBULL.

WHEN she had finished her work
w in the kitchen she went into
the sitting room to arrange the scat
tered packages AS she folded the
articles and sorted the papers her
pocketbook tumbled from amongst
them. She picked it up, felt it alb
sently. then gasped with surprise
and dismay
For the first time since the danger
had threatened her, she remembered
that she had SIS in her possession.
The train. fare! That should have
been the sacrifice And with sicken-
ing clearness she realized that it was
not yet too late. The atonement
would be cruel one, but her con
science sternly demanded il.
She walked slowly out to the porch
to her husband with the bills in her
hand.
David" she began unsteadily,
this may sound as If it wasn't true.
but IT is ] had s25 this afternoon
all the time-put away in my purse
for my ticket-to go on never
thought of it till just now. I s'pose
because ! felt SO guilty and so scared
my senses seemed to leave me. But
L want you 10 take it now, instead
of what you gave me-"
She held out the bills to him. He
looked at them and then at her.
"An' what are You goin' to go on
then?' he demanded.
I'm not going" Margaret said
very low. 'I don't deserve to--after
what I did. Take this. David; its
yours"
The man tried to raise his voice
to its old harsh brusquesness.
"Not goin'2 What kind of talks
that? OF course you're goin'. Keep
your money. What do want money
for? 1 haven't got anything to spend
it on. Go on an see the boy taking
his honors. Don't bother about me"
He dropped his head in his hands
and a queer tremor passed over him.
Margaret watched him wonderingly,
and as she watched the lines in her
face were softened. Tenderness and
something new and humble touched
it.
"If you don't need the money, what
made you sell the calf?" she asked
quietly.
He didn't answer. The fresh hreath
of the early June twilight brought
the faint odor Of the pennyroyal grow
ing along the brook in the pasture
meadow.
She pressed lightly against him
David" she said. with the gentle
ness to which his heart would have
opened all through the years il she
had but known, tell mo why YOU
sold the calf. Tell me"
TIE drew a long breath "Oh, il
l. l. was nothing but my blamed fool
ishness. Don't you bother anything
about il. ! just-just kinda thought
mebbe at the last the boy might say
something about me goin', too. Fool
! l was to ever get such a notion in my
| head. Thought l ought to have 4
! little ready money in case AN.
l wasn't fool enough to expect il, but
| Just thought-an' you know how
Lafrd's been pesterin' me, blame him,
| Glad / did it, though" His voice
dropped huskily Been long time
since you come to me for anything" +"
With a sob, Margaret leaned closer,
her hands touching his.
David" she cried. we'll go to-
gether. YOU and ], like We ought 10
go-Abe's father and mother. Well
see him graduate together, like-oh
| David, didn't KNOW never thought
| you
He caught her hands in a painful
grip.
wouldn't you be ashamed OF me"
Would you want me, you and the
boy? Would you, honest?"
| Their eyes met. Out OF the far
away years light returned to them.
| "Honest-honest," said Margaret
softly.
And the words were as a vow.
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