GIFT OF THE
GROOM
By OLIVE ROBERTS BARTON
(Copyright, lull, bjr Associated Literary Fxaas.;
'' Kric Prescott stood at the window
or his little real estate office In Ford
port. He had opened It In the (all
aud now it was spring.
' He looked at the landscape com
placently well pleased with himselt
for various reasons. In the first place,
coming; from the south, he had shiv
ered and shaken all the cold north
ern winter; but the warm May weath
er suited him. The freshness of
everything, the little yellowish green
leaves, the smell of the lilacs and the
ongs of the birds made Fordport
a.ore like home.
' Another reason for his felicity was
the little office and the row or six
nearly completed frame houses half a
llock down the street. He could see,
the latter from his window. The out
1 side work had been done before the
rough weather and the inside during
the winter months. Nothing remained
to be done but the trimming, paving
and one extra coat of paint on each.
- Eric Prescott was engaged to be
married to Rose Marshall, the belle of
Fordport. When he had settled In
the village eight months before Hose
'was engaged to marry Tom Lyle.
- The minute he saw Rose, Eric made
up his mind to have her. The fact
.that she was engaged to Tom Lyle
was nothing to him.
' Few girls would have been proof
agalDSt the siege be Immediately laid
to Rose's favor. His southern accent
'and excellent taste in clothes, which
:set off his tall slender figure, made
'him favorite with all women.
' Eric showered gifts of candy, roses,
books and music on Rose, who re!
'fused them all at first then accepted
a few flowers reluctantly and finally,
'Overwhelmed with many attentions,
Succumbed completely. Then she and
ITom quarreled and that was exactly
.what Eric wanted. They were soon
engaged and Rose was seemingly hap
py. She was the envy of all the Ford
jport girls.
The corner house In the row was
to be hers when they were married.
Eric gave her to understand that be
fore she had accepted him. She joked
iat home about loving the house aa
'much as she loved Eric.
' The house began to look different
.from the others in the row. The
;poreh was extended around the ' side
and made two feet wider than the
.ether porches.
Rose, busy with her trousseau, ap
peared to be very happy and the wed
ding was a, month away. She seldom
saw Tom Lyle. He was spending
most of his time now at the farm a
half mile from the village. She con
igratulated herself that she had es
caped a life of .monotony in the coun
try. Town life suited her.
One day she met Tom driving two
.strange men toward the farm. He
seemed to be explaining something
Ito them and merely nodded at Hose.
'She went home thoughtfully. He evi
dently, was not unhappy.
The day following this meeting
with Rose, Tom hitched his little
black mare to the runabout and drove
over to see his chief councilor and
confessor. Aunt Polly Goodwin. She
Was taking a "nap" in her sitting room
when Tom drove in at the gate.
"What news, Tommy T Sit right
down here. Now tell me la there
much coal on the farm?" "
"Yes, Aunt Polly, acres of It they
ay. Congratulate me. I am a rich
man."
"Bless your heart, Tommy," said
the old lady, wiping her eyes with the
corner of her apron. "I am so glad,
so glad for you."
'"Thanks, Aunt Polly, but riches do
me little good now," he returned a
little bitterly. .
The old lady looked at Tom keen
ly. "If you don't mind me mention
ing It. Tom, I have been doing a lit
tle thinking lately, since you talked
of finding coal. May I suggest a lit
tle plan? You used to take my
, advice."
"Fire away, auntie, that's what 1
came for." '
"Well, It Is this way. I hate to see
a fine girl like Rose Marshall throw
herself away on that southern dude,
and ruin her lire at the same time.
Her heart Is In the right place, but
her head has been turned by Pres
cott' s attentions and his house. Now
that you have some money "
"Money!" he Interrupted impatlent
. ly. "If you mean that Rose will mar
ry me now that I am rich "
"Hush, Tom!" she said softly. "Now
listen to me. Rose Is not to, know a
word about your good luck. 'Neither
Vts anyone In town to know it for a
little while. This is my plan."
Tom left a half hour later thinking
'What a wonder Aunt Polly was and
with a determined set to his lips bod
ing good or 111 for someone.
One day. a week or so before the
iweddlng. Rose stopped In to- see ttrtc
at his office.
"I've come to ask about the window
Mat In the dining-room. Eric," she ex
plained after he had kissed her. "I do
not want It varnished. Did yon tell
Simmons?"
1 'Eric ' looked uncomfortable for a
minute, then walked to the window
and looked over at the house. - "Do
you like the place so well. Rose?"
' "1 love it. Why?"
"1 have just sold it."
"You what?" f
"Sold it."
"That bouset Our house! Mine!
Bold It!"
"-Yea." .
n.e .aiii. .Liu iiair. wane ami
flmrlrg "'Please explain."
He turned quickly. "I had too good
an offer to refuse. A firm In the city
offered me ten thousand for it and
wanted an lmmeUate enswer. You
were in Foxburg yesterday and 1 could
not wait to ask you. So 1 wired
'Yes.' You didn't care so much as
that tor the house, did you? We can
put up another."
She rose unsteadily, the tears start
ing to her eyes. "I must think it all
over, Eric. I am a little upset. Good
by." Alone In her room. Hose began to
think as she had not done for
months. The sale of lbs house, his
wedding gift to her, had gjven her a
sudden jolt. But after all a bouse is
only a house, her common sense kept
telling her. She must do rothing Tor
which she would be sorry. But tome
thing was wrong with her. All her
feeling for Eric seemed dead. Surely
his ' thoughtlessness could not kill
real love so easily. Rose sat and
thought it all out. Then the realised
for the first time that her feeling tor
the southerner was not love at all.
She cried herself to sleep that night
bilking of Tom. "Oh, what have l
done?'' she moaned. "I have spoiled
his Tfe and mine, but 1 would rather
live in a cave with him than in a pal
ace with Eric."
Id the morning she awoke clear
headed and courageous. Before she
dressed she wrote two notes, one to
Eric breaking the engagement, and a
very short one to Tom. merely asking
him to come to see her as she had
something to explain.
Tom went to Rose's house. He had
not been surprised to get the note.
Rose, trying to look matter-of-fact
and dignified, met him at the door.
And Tom pretended not to notice her
burning cheeks and eyes which
threatened to run over.
"I will just keep you a minute,
Tom," she said simply, "but I wanted
you to know something. It Is due you.
You were' entirely in the right when
we quarreled and I am very sorry. 1
was wrong and I want you to know it.
And another thing " She stopped
suddenly, then caught her breath and
the color left her faoe. "I have broken
my engagement to Mr. Prescott. I
tnink you should be the first one to
know it. I discovered quite accident
ally that I did not love him. That la
all, Tom," she said, rising and holding
out her hand with a smile, "except
that mother and I are going away to
morrow for a month or two and I will
say good-by. Do say I am forgiven.
I would feel better about it, you
know."
Tom looked at her steadily, then
took her little pink hand In his. Slow
ly he reached for the other and got It
"Rose!"
Rose dropped her eyes and turned
crimson again.
"Rose, do you love me?"
No answer.
"Tell me. Do you love me?"
"Yes, Tom," almost inaudibly.
He gathered her in his arms and
kissed her. . ,, - v. ;
. "Dearest," he said a little later. "1,
too, have something I - must get oil
my mind. I thought I would beat
Eric at his own game. 'All's fair In
love and war,' he used to say, and so
it Is."
Rose looked startled. He went on.
"Did Eric tell you he had sold the
house?"
"Yes."
"Well I bought it. The farm has
valuable coal on it. Rose, and I sold
the rights. No one knows It, but 1
am rich now. I had an Idea you did
not love Eric Prescott and I deter
mined to try him, too. I got an uncle
of mine to make an offer for the
house to see if he would sell It. Pres
cott sent the answer by wire in less
than five minutes. Now am I for
given, dear? The house is still yours,
you know."
Rose put her arms around his neck.
"You are a dear, but I would rather
live In the country," she said.
QUICK WIT SAVED SITUATION
French Audience, True to Natural
Characteristic, Mollified by Poor
Attempt at Joke.
Mr. Harry Fragson tells a good
story of an experience he bad while
on a tour In France.
It was about Christmas-time when
he found himself at a small town
where he was billed to sing while he
played a grand piano. ' ' ,
In French a grand piano is a piano
a queue, and when he appeared on
the stage with the only thing avall
abl.e a - cottage piano, the audience
were fairly emphatic in their request
to know where was the piano a queue.
Mr. Fragson could see that unless
something were done there would be
trouble, and a bright Idea came to
him.
On the following evening, when he
appeared on the stage, the loud mur
murs were renewed, and the same
question asked with. If nothing, more
emphasis.
Then Mr. Fragson walked to the
front of the stage and Informed them
that he was very sorry the small
space would not admit of anything
larger than a cottage piano.
"Still." he Bald, "if you must have
a piano a queue, you shall have it
There Is the- piano," pointing to It
"and here" as he produced a horse's
tall "Is the queue!"
Fortunately the jest was taken well,
and a fiasco, perhaps even a riot, was
avoided.
, A 8uccea.
Husband How was the woman's
session?
Wife Best time 1 ever bad. f was
tee best dressed woman present.
Ufa.
JANE CARTER'S
CONTRACT
By HELEN ROSS
(Copyright, xgix, by Associated Literary PressJ
Jane Carter rushed up the stepi
leading to the tiny apartment whicl
she shared with two artist friends ai
Impecunious as berself, and burst intc
the living room. Her flushed face and
sparkling eyes were pleasant to see
. "Oh, girls," she cried, "I'm so sor
ry to be late when it's my night t
cook!"
"Yes, you cruel creature, Tn
starved," joked Miss Mason. . "Bui
what is the excitement yoe're trying
to keep from bubbling over?"
The other occupant of the room.
Miss Day, anticipating pleasant news
closed her desk.
"I'm too high in the clouds to frj
potatoes, but hungry enough to eat
them," cried Jane, "so come out with
me and I'll treat to a real dinner."
"My, but you're rash! YouH nol
be able to buy new shoes this week,"
warned Miss Day.
"Be merciful and tell the news!"
Implored Miss Mason.
Jane swept aside a number of pack
ages and perched on the cleared spac
of the table.
"I can't believe my good fortune."
she began a trifle unsteadily. "Just
as I was going out for lunch a stran
ger, all togged up in stunning motor
ing costume, asked if I could direct
him to Miss Jane Carter, the interior
decorator. I hated him to see that
shabby hole of a studio, but there was
no - way out of it. He was awfully
nice and didn't look around a bit. and
said I was recommended highly as
having excellent ideas and good taste.
Isn't that lovely? He is the big
banker, Daniel Lord, and wants his
country home decorated. He took' me
there in his motor this afternoon and
the house is magnificent."
' "You deserve it, dear," exclaimed
Miss Day. "I can't tell you how glad
I am that luck is finally coming your
way." v..
: "Really, girls, it will take months
to do It as he wishes It done, and
while we were out there he suggested
one Innovation after the other, and is
retaining me a great deal longer than
necessary to oversee details. Before
I left, he made me sign a contract
as if I would balk half way!"
"It's as Well to have all that set
tled," commented the business-like
Miss Mason. ?
- "Is he young, old or Indifferent?"
chimed In Miss Day. "Married?"
; "About thirty-eight and unmarried!
Now 111 die If I don't get something
to eat If you love me, come!" groan
ed Jane, jumping off the table. - jc.;
They left the apartment and start
ed towards an Italian cafe, all takling
at once. The ,,, sudden change v in
Jane's fortunes .delighted the. older
girls. Jane was to start water-color
drawings of the rooms the following
day for Mr. Lord's Inspection. - :
When the drawings were delivered
Mr. Lord returned them personally
and declared himself delighted. in
sisting upon paying a liberal retain
ing fee. -
"I hated to take that money," con
fided Jane, blushing a rosy red at the
recollection of her discussion with Mr.
Lord. "Mr. Lord declared that It was
only good business to accept it" ;
"When your time Is taken for that
length of time, you should be com
pensated," declared Miss Day. ;
"All the same, it , seems so mate
rial," sighed Jane. -, -
"You little dunce." scolded Miss
Mason; "all the big decorators do it
What have you to live on while 'this
Contract Is on deck? It requires your
exclusive attention and all other work
must be dropped..' '':.
As the decorating of the huge house
progressed, Mr. Lord found it of such
absorbing importance that - he fre
quently called In the evenings to .dis
cuss details. His great motor took
Jane to any country houses of his
friends which possessed unusual feat
ures, and the great banker always
found time to go along and satisfy
his thirst for decorative knowledge.
These spins through the gorgeously
colored October country were fairy
land to Jane. As they were (fre
quently late returning to town, they
dined at queer inns or picturesque
farmhouses. Jane's frequent lateness
seemed to pass unnoticed by ' her
friends, and as her financial nffairs
Improved, certain - luxuries, hitherto
unknown, appeared In the apartment.
"Isn't she the darling?" remarked
Miss Day. "Just think of her trudg
ing all the way to the market for per-,
simmons because she knew I liked
them. Most girls would be too much
taken up with their own affairs "to
think of others. She's wonderfully
unselfish." , . v
"Indeed she Is," agreed Miss Mar
son. "Do you know I have an idea
that she is very fond of Mr. Lord in
a delightfully friendly way, so let's
be careful not to spoil her innocent
pleasure in his kindness and consider
ation for her. She Is such a sensi
tive little goose, and If she got the.
Idea that his Interest Is more for her'
than her work it would be a shock,"'
"He cant help admiring her work,"
answered the loyal Miss Day. "Nelth--er
can he help' admiring such an
earnest little worker. Jane is too.
sensible to .misunderstand his kind-
She got up to answer the doorbell
and returned carrying a long box. -
"That's the third box of American
Beauties this week," she observed.- .
"I hope he doesat overdo It." be
gan Miss Day. anxiously. "If " 1 .
But Jane returned from the country
at this juncture and the sentence was
never completed.
"It's just too wonderful!" sighed
Jane. "I seem to be living In a
dream. , "I hate to look around and
see how little there Is to be done.
Two more weeks and I'm through."
"Maybe you'll get Mr. Lord's town
house to do over," suggested Miss
Mason, the practical.
"No, Mr.. Lord means to sell that
town house and ' live exclusively in
the country. Personally, I can't un
derstand why anybody should desire
such an enormous mansion."
"Very likely he means to announce
his engagement," observed Miss Day,
holding a sketch at arm's length and
inspecting it critically. "
Jane gave an odd, hysterical giggle
and jumped up quickly.
"Good night, girls. I'm going to
bed."
But on the threshold she turned.
"Is there anything I can do for eith
er of you?" she asked.
"That was brutal of you!" exclaim
ed Miss Mason, severely.
"It was rather raw to say that and
:I could bite out my tongue now,"
answered Miss Day, regretfully. "It's
Hike Jane, too, to forgive a person
the second after a nasty dig and of-!
fer to do something for her. I never,
dreamed that she cared about ; him.
Looks as though she does."
Miss Mason nodded slowly. "In
that case I suppose it's better that;
the house will be finished so soon,"
she said moodily.
. The rapidly progressing work ' did
not inspire Jane with' any great
amount of regret Her pleasure in it
was suddenly gone.
"Ill be happy when It Is all over
and done with." she told the girls.
The last two weeks seemed to
cause her considerable restlessness.
"She has something on her mind
as sure as anything," observed Miss
Mason. "If this contract Is going to
make her unhappy, I, for one, am
sorry that she ever got it" ,
"Here too!" replied Miss Day. "One
can easily see how she avoids dis
cussing the house or Mr. Lord, and
that's not natural .when a task has
been well and speedily accomplished."
One evening Mr. Lord brought Jane
borne in his motor, as the slush was
Unspeakable. He stayed some little
time talking about his plans for the
luture. Jane was noticeably silent
but It seemed an effort for her not to
enter into the conversation.
At last Mr. Lord arose. "The day
Miss Carter says my house Is fin-.
Ished, you must all come out to a cel
ebration dinner. Now don't forget
I'm - keeping a big surprise for that
event! Isn't that so, Miss Carter?;'
he asked, smiling enigmatically.
The second he was gone, Jane hur
ried off to her room. :
"I know what the surprise Is," an
nounced Miss Mason. "He has fixed
up this house for his wife, and per
haps told Jane this evening coming
into town." ' ,
"I don't know what ever I would
do If he were to announce ' it that
night. groaned Miss Day. ":,
- At last the house was completed.
Mr. Lord called for . the trio in his
motor, but scarcely a word was spok
en on the way out. The tour through
the fresh, beautiful rooms filled the
girls with sadness. . Jane was unus
ually quiet and even the lavish praise
bestowed upon her failed to lift tfie
veil of quiet which seemed to envelop
her. She presided at the dinner table
in an equally silent mood.
At last Mr. Lord stood up, a glass
of light wine In his hand.
- "Now for the surprise!" he cried,
gayly. "We must drink to the future
mistress of this house!" .
Miss Mason and Miss Day choked
down a sip of the wine, and dared
not look toward poor . Jane. - There
was an awkward pause. '
. - "Wont you give me - your good
wishes, girls?" asked Jane, in a wee,
small voice. "You don't know how
many times I have nearly let the cat
out of the bag these last few weeks.
The only safe course was not to talk
at all."
Then the astonished girls saw Mr.
Lord put his arm around Jane's waist
and draw her towards him.
"Ladies now drink it this time
to the future mistress of this house!"
he exclaimed joyfully.
Dominion Fisheries Important
" . Those who know the extent and im
portance of the Canadian fisheries are
not surprised that the Dominion
guards her fishing interests so jeal
ously. In 1908 the fish catch in Can
adian waters was valued at $25,451,-
085. That Included all fish products
and seals. The capital invested in
the fisheries in that year was $15,508,
275. The value of all vessels, boats,
fishing implements, lobster plants,
freezers and fish houses was , em
braced In that totaL A -fishing fleet
of 1,414 vessels was employed. Nine
of the fleet were engaged hunting for
seal. There also were 39,965 boats,
manned by 71,070 men. It was no
ticed in that year that gasoline boats,
were being used more and more, and
that the fishermen . were profiting
by it
British Cavalry Lack Horses.
The British army on mobilization
will require 132,000 .horses, and no one
has the slightest Idea where they can
be found. Good authorities tell us
that this number of animals of the
military age does not exist in the
country. With the growth of mechani
cal transport the necessity of taking
steps to secure a supply of horses in
war grows more and more urgent.
We can not unfortunately, mount our
cavalry on taxicabs. We still breed
the best horses in the world but they
are bought up for the use of foreign
armies, while the British war office is
counting its penoa. London MaiL
Is It Working For You?
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dollar. Deposit your, savings with us and we'll put your
dollars to work for you. And they'll work day and night. .
We pay you 4 per cent interest on your deposits. A
little bit saved;every pay day and put to work for you,
means a competence in old age.' Idle dollars are useless.
Competence is built on dollars saved plus what the saved
dollars earn for-you. ,v" .
' Come in and let us- explain our system. It has been
successful for more than a dozen years. Never a dollar lost
to depositors thousands paid to them. J
WE. PAY 4 PER CENT INTEREST
Come in and let usexplain.how we are able
to put your dollars to working for you.
American Savings Bank
110 South Eleventh Street ;
Shamp Machine Company
317 South Eleventh Street '
Lincoln - -. - - - Nebraska
Automobile Repairing a Specialty
"Welded-Air; machine for all kinds of electric welding.
Repairing of all kinds done promptly and atlowest prices
consistent with good work. - ,
Antes for Hire at Reduced
Read Will Maupin's Weeldy
is made in creation's cleanest cream
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It approaches most nearly to per-1
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mada :
FIRST SA VINGS BANK
V of Lincoln . x
DEPOSITS $742,000.00
The directors of this bank are the same as the
directors of the First National fiank of Lincoln "
4 per cent Interest on Deposits
We gladly open accounts tor sums as low asjone dollar . .
Once Tried Always Used
Lfflp HateHit Flour
4 Made from Select Nebraska Hard Wheat 1
WILBER AND DeWITT MILLS
RYE FLOUR A SPECIALTY
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