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.. ILl.US'TRATED by fk COPYRIGHT BY DOUB6BpA p1j4 . a .p. " ' 0'U " uS 'r I 0++" !" ri 0' ' i "' s , "r''+Zy ("" ' ' ATERBY remarked to his wife: "I'm still a tempted by that set of Poe. I saw it in window toda marked down to fifteen ollars. -7 "Yes?' said Mrs. Waterby, with a dden gasp of emotion, it seemed to him. C "Yes -- I- believe I'll have to get it.' "I wouldn't if I were you, Alfred," she said. "You have o many books now." "I know I have, my dear, but I haven't any set of Poe; and that's what I've been wanting for a long time. This edition I was telling you about is beautiful 6tten up." "Oh, I wouldn't buy it, Alfred," she ated, and there was a note of pleading earnestness -ier voice. It's so much money to spend for I a few books." "Well, I know, but-" and then he paused for the lack of words to express his mortified surprise. Mr. Waterby had tried to be an indul gent husband. '-He . took a selfish pleas ure in giving, and found it more blessed than receiving. Every salary day turned over to Mrs Waterby a fixed Bum for household expenses. He added to this an allowance rbr her spending money. He set asid a small amount for his personal expense and deposited the remainder in the bank. He flattered .himself that he __ Rpproximated the model husband. -- 0 Mr. Waterby had no costly habits and no prevailing appetite for anything . expensive. Like every other man, he had ne or tw< hobbies, and one of his particular hobbies was Edgal Allan Poe. He. believed that Poe, of all Americ n writeru was the one unmistakable "genius." The word "genius" has been bandied around the country until it has come to be applied to a long-haire< man out of work or a stout lady who writes poetry. It the case of Poe, Mr. Waterby maintained that "genius' meant one who was not governed by the common menta processes, but "who spoke from inspiration, his mind in voluntarily taking superhuman flight into- the realm c pure imagination"-or something of that sort. At an: rate, Mr. Waterby liked Poe, and he wanted a set of Poc He allowed himself not more than one luxury a year an he determined that this year the 'luxury should be a se Therefore, imagmne he hurt 'his .f~elings when hi wife objectedeto his exp nding fifteeh dollars for that whic ,he coveted aboveg.''anything else in the world. As he weit to -lhis work that day he reflected o r)Aaterby's conduct. Did sli not 3ave her allowance of spenc SUL2ing money? Did he ever fit 2~i~lII~;~ ~ Jr~fault with her extrayaganc< Was he an unreasonable husbar in asking that he be allowed spend this small sum for, th which would give him many hou of1 pleasure and wilich wou N ~elong to Mrs. Waterby as mud Lto him? He told himself that many * ~ j sband would have bought t) books without consulting I wife. But he (Waterby) h efrred to his wife in all matte touchin~g family finances, a: .he said to hirhself, with tincture of bitterness his thoughts, that pr< ~ably.he had put hi: ~ ~-.- self into the attitt of a mere dep4 For had she not forbidden him to buy a few books for himself? Well, no, she had not forbidden' him, but it amounted to the same thing. She had declared that she was firmly opposed to the purchase of Poe. Mr. Waterby won-iII dered if it were possible tha he was just beginning to know his wife. Was she a selfish woman at heart ? Was - she complacent and good natured only while she was having her own way ? Wouldn't she prove to be an entirely different sortof ) woman if he should do as many husbands do spen his income on clubs and cigars and private amu ements and give her the pickings of small change? Nothing in Mr. Waterby's experience as a marine man had so wrenched his sensiilities and disturbed hi faith as Mrs. Waterby's objection to the purch1ase of a se of Poe. There was but one way to -account for it. Sh wanted all the money for herself or else she wanted hir to put it into the bank so that she could come into it afte he - but this was too monstrous. However, Mrs. Waterby's conduct helped to giv strength to Mr. Waterby's meanest suspicions. Two or three days after the first conversation sb asked: "You didn't buy that set of..Poe, did you Alfred? " No, I didn,'t- buy it," he answered, as coldly and with as much hauteur as possibl He hoped to hear her say: "Well, why don't you go and et it? I'm sure that you - want it, and I'd like to see you buy something < for yourself once in a while." But she merely said : "That's right ; don't buy it," and he was utterly unhappy, for he realized that he I had married a woman woddntlv i who did not love him c and who simply desired to use him as a pack-' horse for all household burdens. As' soon as Mr. Waterby had learned the horrible truth about ; his swife he began to --- , recall little episodes dating- back years, and now he pieced them to gether to convince himself that - 4 he was a deeply wronged person. Small at the time and almost unnoticed, they were now accumulating to prove th SMrs. Waterby had no real anxiety for her husbanc ~happiness. .Also, Mr. Waterby began rto observe .h closely, and he believed that he found new evidences Sher unwortlainess. For one thing, while he was in gloo eover his discovery and harassed by doubts of what t1 .future might reveal to him, sge was content and evi The holiday season approached and Mr. Water Lmade a resolution. *He decided that if she would r Spermit him to spend a little money on himself he wot not buy the customary Christmas present for her. "Selfishness is a game at which two can pla: d he said./t 'Ae b Furthermoe he determined that if she asked I for any extra money Christmas he would say: "I sorry, my dear, but I 'ca h -spare any. I am so hard that I can't even afford to la ra a few books that I've be rid -~.wanting a long time. Do you remember that you t ii: me that I couldn't afford b ubuy that set of Poe ?" d biing s tosarcasm or mi ~ crushing as to logic ? nd had it all ready for her, as he pictured to himself her' humiliation and surprise at discovering that he had some spirit after all and a considerable say-so whenever money was involved. Unfortunately for his plan, she did not ask for any extra spending money and so he had to rely on the other node of punishment. He would withhold the expected Christmas present. In order that she might fully under stand his purpose, he would give presents to both of the children. _ 1,6 1 r & o & Asus It was a harsh measure, he admitted, but perhaps it would teach her to have some consideration for the wishes of others.f f2 4 l p oMM###N.P NF - It must be said that Mr. Waterby was not wholly proud of his revenge - when he arose on Christmas morning. He felt that he had accomplished his pur pose and he told himself that his . motives. had. been good and pure, but still he was. not satisfied with himself. He went to the dining room. and there on the table 8 in front of his. plate was a long paper box containing ten t books each marked "Poe." It was the edition- he had ? coveted. 3 "What's this ?" he asked, winking slowly, for his r mind could not grasp in one moment the fact of his awful shame. - "I should think you ought to know, Alfred," said Mrs. Waterby, flushed and giggling like a school girl. v " Oh, it was ou --" "My goo ness, you've had me so frightened. That first day when. you spoke of buying them and \I told you not to, I was just * spure that you suspected something. I bought them a week before that." ",Yes -yes," said Mr. Waterby, feeling l the salt water in his /- / eye. At that moment he had the soul of a wretch being whipped at the stake. vas determined not to sk you for any monpy to pay for your own presents," Mrs. .Waterby continued. Do you know I had to save for you and the children out of my - i-regular allowance. Why, last week I nearly starved you and you never noticed it t al I was afraid you would." No, I - didn't notice it," d Mr. Waterby brokenly, for he was trcou ^^V and giddy. This sel-scrncngangel-and he had It_ prcsent frhrhe lied his way ("Ho didyou like your present?" he asked. "Why, I haven't seen it yet," she responded, look SYuhaven't ? I told -them to send it up yesterday." The children were shouting-.and laughing over their L gifts in the next rooixtand he felt it his duty to lie for their sake. &J5 "WAeli, don't tell mne - -I what it is," interrupted Mrs. Waterby. " Wait Im until it comes." for "I'll go after it." J 'mHe did go after it { n't although he had to up drag a jeweler awayN >uy from his home on :en Christmas Day and n't have him open his old great safe. The ring [to which he selected was beyond his means, it ore is true, but when a-\ ore man has to buy back his self-respect the C ac price is never too high.94