| Show THE TRE EVENING STORY THE PINK WATER SET I Copy Copyright right 1912 by W W. Ve Werner ner For day days I had been been that fateful moment when whet she to Calvin about tIle lInol linoleum um It was so worn that It was positively dangerous Only yesterday she nho had caught her foot toot tootI I in a a. hole and narrowly escaped a bad tall fall Besides It spoiled the looks of her little kitchen The breakfast this morning was particularly particularly particularly par par- good but she he had eaten nothIng nothing noth noth- ing lug she sha had merely sat watching Calvin consume his food with excellent appetite while she wondered how she was to be be- be gin 1 At last the tle m moment ment came when he had finished he pushed back his chair and rose Lucinda put her hand to her throat and spoke Calvin I He turned and looked at her absently r for or his mind had already plunged ahead to his days day's work But the ver very fact that he had paused to hear lent her cour cour- ag age Calvin talvin come with me a moment I want to show you something she said She took him b by the arm and steered steere him to the kitchen door There Th-ra she i have for this he said pointed sll silently em to the floor noor He under stood Cant Can't you ou mend thor hol hole r someway some someway way a shook her hel head I cant can't be bo mended when mended when Ils iL's as ns bad as that I wouldn't ask for new ne I I ot only only only-I I I just missed falling and and and- t He Interrupted he her with Ith a deep drawn breath Well you you can get set some Borne at MIlIard and have the bill sent ent to m me He patted her shoulder seized d his ha bat from Its peg peK and departed depart The Thoi violence with which he slammed shimmed the door dool mad made the thc house houise vibrate for a full moment Lucinda Jett alone sat down at It th the kitchen Window and gazed pensively ou out at the tho grass graze underneath where fresh blown dandelions shown like golden coins colne If It only they were 20 gold pieces now she thought I hop right ou out of this window and arid gather up a a. few Not that were we're so 10 awfully poor Only Only- Calvin likes to keep his money I wish h hi he didn't There's Theres so man many things I wan want this spring However I suppose Ill I'll have hav to be bo content with the linoleum Presently Lucinda got her tape mea mas' masure ure and measured t the e floor for tor the lino lIna burn Icum Sho She measured carefully for tor forit it was wa Important that she make mako no mistake Then she set the house house to to rights ant an and dressed dres ed to go downtown downton She was just Jus about to put down the kitchen window wIndo and fast fasten n it St when she shi was d from Cram doing EO so by her next door neighbor putting her head over th the sill Wh Why youre you're going goin out she exclaimed I I I thought you OU never went out momin mornings 8 I just ran Tan across to show shaw you my nay new nev hat W What do you think of it She held hd up the new hat ht It Was very handsome I I Just got It home from milliners milliner the woman oman went on I dont don't know what hat hatm m my husband will will- say lay when he lie comes to tc topa pa for It But It was as the one I wanted and I usually get what I want She Sli laughed Going after arter a anew new hat for fot yourself eh No uNo ans answered ered Lucinda bravely r 1 shant shan't have havea a new ne lint hat thu this this' summer Im I'm to to buy some ne new new- linoleum for tor m mj m kitchen T The w woman looked down at the worn wore floor tI covering co My you OU need it It to b be sure lIure Wonder youve you've got along this lon face flushed haven't to it I J been Ju Just t ready put d down o wn Yet somehow she h knew that the woman women I had bad id not believed her little lie She does dou put me out 50 so Lucinda thought half halt angrily always al bragging what she has hat and prying Into what I Sometimes I think Id I'd rather have have- no neighbors neighbor at all alJ than the kind that cant can't attend t to their own business It was was not luot in a particularly happy happ mood that thal Lucinda left her house after the IntervIeW in interview In- In HaYing Having arrived down town sh she shew w went nt at t once to the big department nt store which Calvin allowed lallo her to patronize upon her infrequent shopping expeditions Upon this wonderful May morning the store stove was U resplendent ent with new wares attractively el d displayed Lucinda loitered down the aisles admiring hungrily the I hundred of or things her heart beset craved but butI which Calvinn Calvins C purse would not permit I her ier to ha haver vCr Lucinda holding fast act her little empty empt purse punIc which she carried for or appearances appearances' aranc sake roamed slowly toward her ultimate the destination the place where the wore were sold soll Reaching this place at last she sh sli sat meekly on oh a R stool and pondered the he prices She wanted want want- ed cd to pet get et a a. lovely lovel golden brown bron with bIn blu I 1 s. s hut decided after arter a good deal or ot sighing upon a R dull brown broyn that would wear well wen and Calvin better After nil all her chief dc desire lre In life was to please Cal Calvin ln Having bought the tha linoleum ordered It sent rent home homo and taken the bill for tor it U. there was no earthly reason for her lingering lingering- longer She resolved to go right horn homo without looking at another thing But Dut Buton Duton on n her way 3 to the door doom she was wat suddenly cud Bud denly denb confronted by UY the prettiest pink crystal tal she had ever seen in her lie life lICe Lucinda gava a a. gasp glup of ot admiration Rn and nd paused All 11 I her married lire life ah she had wanted a pink water ute set t. t She stood starIng star- star Ing ngat at the tho charming thing thinS absolutely for- for of ot all else eis Presently her tier hand stole tole toward It Childlike she wanted anted to touch It L. L Almost breathless with delight she one lifted ted one of the delicate shimmering tumblers tum- tum blera lers it wua waa aa radiant a as al a 11 Jewel My 1 how lion Ive I've love to have this LuInda LU- LU i Inda thought A ate ste a voice close cloo behind gave ave her lee a. a great t start It was wa ani only the salesman aluman drawing nearer to tn C ask aak It If there ther rp was something eh ehe wanted want want- j I an M much dl disturbed die dis ed d to bU buy but was 33 urb d as If It the shin had hall been cau caught ht In a theft by a. a detective She ii mont to set act down the Stabler but it t slipped from her hand and In fragments at her feet teet Oh isn't that too bad badil Her own voice recalled h use Hr r. r nit lUr ey were piteous as she ahe lifted them t to the sale salesman whom she ahe did set riot riotH rem haying having ren icen before H He as asher her sternly i have bave to pay ay for tt h Oh how Oh how much 1 U I The price i in I 7 7 turned white while as her he L collar You m mean mean for for one tumbler 4 I I INo No for tor the whole set It It i is few brol and of at course courle now Ton pay for tor It and take It It I For mercy's sakes oaken moans admit I what could Bh Bhe d do It ta plead with Ith this thiN obdurate maui man who held his h head ad 10 so high No he w better brave brava Calvin angry t tt Ih hC knew he would me But 71 it t. t wa paralyzing thought Ill take taki the s 's sand and you can send the tha bill to m my 1 The pink water set let was waa brou t to bar wrapped ti she he started for hOme heme it held in her trembling arm arnut annl would Calvin say ay Would she aha able I to convince him that she d broken the tumbler In n order to et tL act Bot Tears blinded Lucinda as U she Ih along She was Just going put past door neighbors neighbor when the door suddenly open f Aint t you ou going to stop cried tta th woman My go goodness you OU look tired tm ont carrying that great at heavy pre parcel tL At come in and show me mo what you got BOt z 9 Lucinda flung up her head proudly proud I got me mos moa pink wn water er set t. t lb K MM J The Tte woman looked lo 0 i Bring BrinK it right In I I. want to si I. it n. she said Lucinde went in There Ime other way Sho dropped beaten upon u i a chair while Mrs 1 Gibson undid the larr Iura parcel and sot set t forth the pink waters water M in all its glowing loveliness upon her air bla ble top center table Why thre's thres only fly nv glasses HI rt said din had six alx x And I think I Iwas iwas It was exactly like this Ive I've got lot Just on on I I. I Look Here's Heres the d m money 1 tumbler left and Ill I'll get it and l see us e. e M 11 little grandchild broco all all' the rest on oni one day by pulling the tray off th tb the table The Tha tumbler when brought matched n ci You may have it It seeing youve you've oal osh Db got five Mr 11 Mrs Gibson said Lucinda started to thank her Mer for tor hi r kindness and then somehow before shi h e knew it she was telling telling- the eagerly listening listen n ing woman the tho whole miserable story Oh ray my dear deu Mrs Mm Gibson said cab metR ering her with a tender hand bAn don dont t 1 take o oi on one mite I 1 want that sit set th Ow worst way and Ill I'll pay you full tull for forIt fo It I didn't know there waa wu ln the country ook ok Here Heres the th moD monsy But Lucinda pushed the thel money moti away away No she Bhe saId raid You cant can't ham It fo for you yOu only want to be kind anal Impose on you that way Ill I'll keep thi tM set et And An ru rn tell Calvin And Gibson youre you're the best beat woman Seems like I never neer knew lynu before betor i Land Laud said the other woman will tears tearl in her eyes eie like Uk I a r knew you before L Lucinda When Calvin lvIn came caine horn home to dinner I Lu dada a showed him the tho s set t t and the stor story story- She was firm and composed slid aud had bad washed away most of the trac tracts i e of her tears tearl Calvin looked at the cm gravely veil Its Il a a. pretty thing he be said atc Th f b added unexpectedly Ive Ve been ever since you showed me rae the linoleum this morning Lucinda what an aD awful thing thing-It It would have been if you really had fallen Callen and hurt yourself I 1 guess JUN Ivi Ive never ne been as generous with you ou a U J I Ill I'll see the water set t Is I. paid birthday any anyway for Its It's pretty near your wa way |
