Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-07-05


they had paid a call on a sick friend
"a man who had done more than any
other to help John in his first hard
days. 1t was Spring and John had in
sisted on taking half dozen pots of
plants for the garden Of the ailing
man. Sarah finally agreed. but as
they were leaving the invalid. she
sail:
"I'll send over for the empty pots
IN the morning. You won't need them
after the plants are set out"
John felt his face burning He
tonged to hide--to crawl away out
of sight of the gently smiling friend
who eyed Sarah so amusedly. That
lady was wholly unconscious of hav-
ing said anything wrong. Pots were
pots and had cost money once-even
if small sum.
When they reached home, however,
John told her what he thought Of her
speech-and of several CLOSE" ways
she had.
at isn't as if we needed the PEN
MES you save. Sarah. We don't. And
besides-there is a coinage so much
more precious than gold. Don't you
know that"
No. Sarah did not How could she
starving up as she had? And some
how. she had never observed the ways
OF the world and it's ethics in later
and easier days. Perhaps her eyes
were hidden
At any rate, she resented her hus-
bands reproof, and Il quarrel was
finely begun
IF you can't appreciate my care
n
1rate wayS-"She stormed.
I've never had any thought but
for your interest-I've gone without
almost everything for myself-you've
spent so much on the house-you're
Always spending so much. It's GRIM
| maj the way you waste money, John
Pono You can just go to the poor
house-for all of me-"
| Sarahs voice broke in a sob and
she ran from the room. John was
astounded. He had not known she
could cry. AS for not having things
for herself-how should he know? He
had no knowledge of women or their
wants. He was miserable. Perhaps
ne was little reckless with money.
nut spending always in a large way
nad come to be habit in these plen.
| tIful years. He would think it over
and he hunted for cigar. Then de-
cIded he would smoke a pipe-it would
be cheaper.
Smoking and thinking and jotting
down certain items on a memoran.
Gum leaf occupied the rest of the eve.
ming for John Pond.
AT breakfast Sarah was inclined to
be quiet, but John determinedly ig.
more her attitude. He'd show her
that he could come more than half
way - and make amends, too. by
George. She'd see.
He left for his office without the
usual goodby kiss. and presently
Sarah heard him driving noisily down
ne street. He believed in getting all
the racket he could out of a motor
car, perhaps regarding it in the light
of an advertisement.
Late in the afternoon he returned,
more jovial than Sarah remembered
him.
She could scarcely see his smile.
though, for the stack of boxes in his
arms.
"Here-Sarah, Now, You can't saw
YOU haven't anything. Went to the
best shops in town-got the sales.
girls to help me. But 1 am some buy.
err, myself,
Nov. this is the way to dress INV
wife-look-the bankers wife's got no
better.
And to think you've been going
without all these pretties when thew
Sarahw
Sarah looked. She did not faint.
have Mysteries, nor yet cry. Training
is something.
Rapidly she opened box after box.
laying out filmly bits of silk and
crepe, airy creations Of lace, hand
some frocks whose every rustic whis-
pered money.
John Pond. what did all this cost?
Tell the truth. nowr'
John mOpped his brow. He had
never considered a lie necessary, Not
yet. and 1T was now too late to begin.
Why-er-er-Sarah-you know
II this way. I'd never have dreamed
OF spending so much. only. you know,
could tell after yesterday-that YOU
thought I hadn't the money for Won
10 get things. Things you ought to
nave. Everybody has a standard. Won
see. And somehow you've not grasp
ed the weight of ours.
Ihose flower pots-yesterday. Sa-
rah-showed that there had to be q
cnange-or somebody would get terri.
ply cheated-you. Sarah. And, yes
L would, too. For that hurt. YOU
know-asking for those pots back"
Sarah was no fool. She was a good
deal of a thoroughbred. too. She
didn't shy when she saw what the
thing In the road was!
You mean. John. that when 7 was
SO nasty stingy about those 1O-cent
1owerpots 1t showed me up as lacking
in-balance? That one should-that I
should spend and use money accord.
ing to our station? Is that it?"
John hummed bit. He was afraid
he had gone too far.
Still. Sarah was the most sensible
woman-in some ways-that ever
was
She proved his assertion true bv
smiling over her finery with a delight
that was not assumed. and when she
cave him 10 wifely kisses for the
lovely things, all she said about
money was:
Ten cents or one dime-a bargain
sale was what you attended, John,
dear"
THE END.