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Show ItheuttlTToseI ijyjMJUA A. ROBINSON t y UcClur? .N.. wsi j.r-rr Syndicate. Maude was engaged to Tom Rankin, the son of a mllliouaire, who would ln-1 ln-1 herit his futhor's property. "Choose your house, Ulrlle," Tom said to her. "I want you to have just what suits you." "Oh. Tom! May I really chooser' cried Maude. "Of course you may," he laughed. "Everything will be yours after we are married." Maude had aways been poor. Her I father had found It hard to support Ills family, and she had tried to help. She was used to giving up the luxuries of life, but longed for beautiful things about her. "Have you any place In mind, or shall we build to suit ourselves?" he asked. "Ah, Tom '" she beamed, "do you know the house at the top of Lincoln avenue, with the conservatories and the cupola? I've always thought if I could live there I'd be perfectly happy,' "Of course you can have It, if money will buy it," he declared. "I want you to be perfectly happy." "Oh, I didn't mean that I'd be perfectly per-fectly happy with you anywhere." Sho blushed. It was a week after that that tho crash came. In the panic the great house of Rankin & Co. went down. Tom's father became bankrupt. His house, everything he owned, must go to pay debts. Mr. Rankin, being in poor health, could not long survive the failure. He died leaving Tom with ruined prospects, and his father's debts to pay. With courage he took up his task. He went to the girl he loved and told her all. "But all Is not lost," she told him. "We have each other, and our love. We must marry just the same. You must let me help. Do you suppose I would let you meet your struggle alone?" "Do you mean it?" he cried. "Yes, I do. We can live on very little. I know how to economize. Let us be married at once." "Staples has given me an offer. Maybe we can pull through on that," he brightened. They found a little house on the outskirts out-skirts of the town and began their wedded life. There was space and air, and distant views. At first Maude was a little lonely, but she always met Tom with a smile of cheer, and he never knew. One day in the early spring an Inspiration In-spiration came to her. The air was balmy. Why not have a garden? It would make the old place more cheerful. cheer-ful. Enthusiastic over the new . Idea. Maude began to dig. Her mind was filled with happy thoughts, till Tom came and found her. "Why, Girlie!" he cried, "isn't this too hard work for 'you? What are you doing?" "I'm going to have a garden !" she beamed. Her back ached, but she did not mind. He praised her pink cheeks and her food, and after supper he wiped the dishes. All through the summer the garden was a source of Joy. They had lived two years In the little home, and there was a baby's voice to make it more happy. One night Tom came home earlier than usual. His eyes were smiling and she asked merrily, "What Is it, Tom?" for she knew when he looked like that he had something of special interest to tell her. "Things have been going just fine," he explained. "I've been making money. All father's debts are paid with a big surplus, and I'm promoted. I'm head of the department, with salary enough to give you all you want." "Oh, I'm so glad !" she enthused. "I knew you were smart, and people would find it out. I'm proud of you !" "It's for you I've been working you and baby. Now I can give you the home you ought to have. Do you remember re-member the house you wanted before we were married the one on Lincoln avenue? It's for sale. I'm going to buy It and give it to you." She gasped, and her head went down on his shoulder, but she did not speak. "What is it?" he asked, "aren't you glad?" "Oh, Tom ! You're so good, but " "But what Is it?" "Don't buy it, Tom !" she blurted. "Why not? Don't you want it? You can have all the company you want." "How could we leave this dear little house, where we began together, where baby was born and the garden. It wouldn't be home do you want to go very much?" "No. I don't want to go. I'm happy right here. I was only thinking of you. I thought you'd be happier there." "Then don't buy it," she begged. "I'm happier right here. We'll fix up this place and buy more land I love it so! I couldn't bear to leave it." "That's suits me exactly," he beamed. "We have been too happy here to leave It, that's a fact, and I like the country as well as you." "Tom. you're so good!" she laughed. 'Kiss me, I'm so happy !" |