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Show HE REMEMBERED WIFIE'S BIRTHDAY "John, dear," remarked Mrs. Horton serosa the breakfast table, "do you know what day this 1st" "Why. yes," replied John; "It's the the why. .It's Thursday, of coursa. Hans; it Where's that calendar I" "Oh, I don't, mean that," replied the wife, with a suspicion of tears in her voice. - "It's my birthday, and you forgot It!" "Not at all, dear; not at alL Of course, I remembered that. That data escaped me for a moment. Of course, I knew it waa four birthday. Ton wait and se the present hare ordered for you and you will be filled with remorse at baring suspected ma of forgetting, for-getting, You wait." John was a wicked prevaricator, but his bluff "went." "Oh, John.-dear, what is ltt Do tell me!" urged bis wife. "Not now," said the deceitful John. "It's a surprise, you know. By Jot! I mast hurry down town. ' I 're an important engagement en-gagement at t o'clock. Wonder it I can make it?" It was John's intention to stop on bis way down town and order a present for bis wife; but, becoming engrossed la his paper, ha waa so far down town before he realised It that -ho concluded to go on to the office and then visit some jeweler later in the day. - v . . There waa an unusual amount of business to be attended to that day, and John's mental men-tal and physical resourcea were taxed to the utmost. Naturally he forgot all about the birthday present, and it was only when be waa hanging up his hat In the hall and his wife's voice came sweetly down the stairs, 'lis that you, dearie?" that the horrible fact flashed upon him. Before he -.could find his guilty voice there was a frou frou of skirts and Mrs. Horton came gliding, down the stairs and threw her arms around the wretched man's neck wrth a joyful little cry of "Oh, John, the present came! It waa Just lovely of you.'". John waa bewildered, but he was a man of resources. "Yes," he said. "I thought you'd like It. Er or where Is ttt" "Where is lt" retorted the wife. "Why, John, are you blind I Can't yoXi see I have It on?" And she pointed to a brooch of rubles and diamonds which ' glittered on her bosom. "Who the d ," he growled, but the rest of the sentence, which went "bad had the cheek to aend diamonds and rubles to my wife?" waa muttered. ! "Why, what makea you scowl sot" Inquired In-quired the surprised woman. "Oh. nothing," wes the reply. "I only thought at first It was not the same one I picked out,, but I see It Is." In the evening Mrs.- Horton's rich brother called. Aa soon aa his name was announced John gave a gasp and jumped at the solution solu-tion of the mystery of one birthday present in- a second. "Ob. how nice of you. George, to. coma on my birthday. See what a beautiful present pre-sent John gave me," waa Mrs Horton's first greeting to her brother. "That!" replied the brother, with a look of perplexity on his face, "Why, I" "Yes," broke In John, looking the other man threateningly In the eye: "I ordered It a week ago at BiSany'a and waa afraid it would not be ready in time. Come into the library a minute. I want to speak with you for a second on a matter of the greatest importance." And before the astonished George could gather his wits be was seised, dragged into the library and the door shut behind him. "If you give me away I'll murder you," whispered John. Mrs. Horton could hear her husband's voice pitched low and speaking speak-ing earnestly behind the closed door. "That's really a very pretty piece of Jewelry," said George. "Not many wires hare such -thoughtful and attentlre husbands hus-bands as you have, Lorna. My present will be up tomorrow. They didn't hare it ready today." "I baren't had such a pleasant birthday In a long time," said Mrs. Horton when she retired that night. John smiled a little wearily for he waa tired and bad reason to be. New York Press. |