Show che AM LINCOLN walked slowly s i along alone the street gazing into store windows an icy wind caught him at the corners but he hurried across to the next curb intent on hla his mental shopping ile he was wa thinking hard of cora too though not a word had been spoken between them on the sub eject it was quite understood that he should buy her warm gloves a warm sweater and stoc stockings kings for or christmas hed saved a fair air amount for or tills this very purpose when you gave up your city living for or the country you thought in terms ot of wool cora needed all these things iler her gloves were worn down to thin spots her veater sweater had been mended a good many times and her stockings well cora just laughed about them cora would she had made fun un of every hard thing about changing their home from rom the dreadful wheezy pump in the kitchen to the way tile the floors slanted in the bed rooms so that no pencil would stay on a table and books continually slid oft off on the loor floor cora was a thoroughbred and a good sport sam looked at a green sweater that would be becoming to coras light curls or that cheerful red one nice on snowy winter morn ings the very chickadees would sing with pleasure at sight ot of tier her in that sweater ile ha took a few steps toward the shop door when his eye tell fell on a black blackann and yellow silk kimono of 01 course lie he would not got it lust just inquire the price so that he might look at it it the tha moment sam touched it a reverent hand to the exquisite silk he was lost thrifty hardworking hard working saml saint how could he be have done uch such a thing and so calmly too please wrap it up he had said bald the price had been reduced in order to sell quickly jle walked out of the shop with the light bundle under his arm and slunk by windows filled with warm woolen clothes the kind cora so sorely needed all the way home on afie train his heart sank lower and lower lie he dd youre devoure so lovely I 1 want to kiss you very ilard hard 11 felt so chilled and miserable at the thought of hla his weak behavior that cora rushed at him as he opened the door exclaiming my dear what dreadful tiling thing has happened pene to you they had an ex excellent it if frugal dinner cora chatted happily of this find and that looking unusually pretty and gay sam Sani tried to meet her laughter but actually shivered along his spine idiot wretched unspeakable lunatic that he wast wasl would a yellow and black chinese kimono keep cora warma warm it would not justice demanded that he confess cora would be kind and that would hurt more than anything cora would be kind and keep right on feeling cold on the crisp mornings after christmas but he must do it muddle through it somehow after dinner he came close to cora muttering something about a gut gift and how darned sorry he was and please please not molook to look at him so sweetly cora unwrapped the bundle sam waited the lovely thing fell to the floor with the lights gleaming on an it oh oh f I 1 never tr jr all my life saw anything so magnify cenal for mb meT Surely surely not tor for mv me sam buchow id 13 adore itt im sure I 1 mind anything it if I 1 knew such a gorge gorgeous oua garment were hanging in my closet but of co course urse youre teasing me no said sam heavily its your christmas present I 1 feel like a cad I 1 know you need the warm things dont be so darned sweet about it ho he commanded crossly cora flung on the robe and threw her arms around sams neck 1 I dont know why youre acting this silly way but if youre so dead set on warm tangs a whole box came this afternoon from uncle horace sam sank weakly into a chair youre so lovely I 1 want to kiss you very hard why not inquired cora resplendent in the yellow and black kimono this Is simply the most wonderful th ever did for me 0 western union auml |