The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1880-02-18
"Shsr is of French parentage," Tom

admitted.
when do you expect to be married. p
Next Wednesday,"
"And this is Saturday. I fear can't
get things ready for you. Your ROOM
ought to be repapered."'
"No matter about my ROOM" said
Tom, with nervous haste, for he saw
4 chance to say, in natural connec.
ton, what he dreaded to say. " think
we had better go to Mrs. Hills for q
few months, at least. I want Marie's
honeymoon. at least, to be pleasant
Bahy's getting to be such bother. II
would make you so much more work
too," he hastened to add, glad of so good
IN excuse.
"What would the house be without
Tom? ?" cried 1vah's poor heart. Then
too, the prudent little soul trembled at
the extravaganza of Toms plan.
{" I don't see, Tom, how you can
afford to take rooms at Mrs. Hills. j
we divide, We double the expense;
don't see how we can manage on a
thousand dollars"
Tom rose from one chair and flung
himself into another.
Il don't suppose we shall stay there
a year." he said, impatiently. "Ol
course, can't keep up two establish
ments: that isn't to be expected of a
man. Other young men marry and set
up for themselves. You can't expect
that 1 can stay tied up to you al ways,
Ivah. I should think you might do
something to earn living. You can't
expect to 90 through life without work.
Why can't you teach?"
Ivah replied with low, pathetic voice
"You ought to know why. Tom. J.
have been doing housewcrk since l was
fifteen. l have no preparation for
teaching"
"Well," said Tom, in his easy way,
"you have good head for planning.
You'll have to think it over and deter
mine what you'll do"
He went out and left his sister sitting
with white face and wide eyes.
1t was not dismay that she must 60
out single-handed to the combat that
kept her sitting there like statue; it
was that Tom was willing she should
fight alone.
With a deserted feeling she went in to
where baby was sleeping; she dropped
beside the bed; she kissed baby's hand,
thrown out.
Then she put her eyes against the
counterpane and made vow never to
desert-baby! She would rs soon have
thought of promising never to desert
her own heart. She promised never.
never to desert Tom. She ha6 q vague
fear that evil was advancing upon Tom.
She knelt there till she had persuaded
herself that she had no right to censure
Tom. All young men fell in love, and
all wanted to marry. She could not
expect Tom to be a sacrifice to ber and
baby.
When she had thus decided. she sat
up and began to plan her future.
There seemed only one thing for Ivah
to do; to take some boarders.
Before going to bed, she went to the
Tribune Office with an advertisement for
the morning paper.
By the time that Tom had vacated
his room and gone to Mrs. Hills, an
elderly man and wife were ready to
move into it. Table-boarders also
came. That first day Ivah cooked for
seven boarders. She had q young girl
to look after baby, wash dishes, run er-
rands, etc.
Ivah's rule was to have few dishes,
! well-prepared, and having a home
flavor. As she had reckoned, this
pleased. The seven boarders brought in
others. Before the moath was out,
there were more applicants than her
table would accommodate.
At the months end, with throbbing
heart, Ivah carefully cast up her ac-
counts. When this was done, she shut
the little book, caught baby to her
knee, kissing and hugging the child
The little landlady had come out ahead.
There was balance of thirteen dollars
in her favor.
She knew that her boarders were so
well pleased that she could venture a
small advance on her prices. Very
small it was, only seventy-fve cents a
head, on the week, but it told on the re
turns.
Before five months had passed, Ivah
decided to take larger and better
house, more conveniently situated for
business people, and to put up her
quarters, and before Ivah was settled,
! 1OlU Cttllle Will llo OoOho.
1t will be so pleasant to have you
near" "he said.
Ivah discerncd the sadness in his
smile. She had remarked before that
Tom was looking thinner and more
worn.
Whenever you are belated in your
work. you must come and let me help
YOU, Tom," she said, beginning to cast
UP q column Of figures.
When they had finished the work, she
inquired about Marie.
"She's ut the theater," i" said Tom, with
a dash of bitterness in his voice and in
his face.
"Why didn't you 60 with her?" Ivah
asked.
II couldn't afford it" said Tom; "be-
keep Mrs. Webber's books besides Har-
ris Brothers books"
81 suppose you're laying by something
but you mustn't overwork. Couldn't
Marie help you some?"
"Marier' cried, with a derisive
laugh.
Ivah was greatly panied that Tom
could use such tone toward his wife.
There is nothing Marie can do cx-
cept to spend money. I am not laying
up anything. She keeps me in debt
every hour of my life. I am owing
ninety-six dollars board now"
why, Tom" cried 1vah, shocked.
boarding .house?'
Il can't get away from Mrs. Hill's
till have settled arrears, unless l leave
my trunks. Think of that humilia'
tionn
"Oh, Tom, I would do anything, ]
would live on parched corn, before
would live in debt"
but you could not help the debt il
you were bound to such person as my
wife"
That night she lay awake, planning
for Tom, remembering her VOW to stanc
by him-to desert him never. HI
needed her now.
The next day she called ut Mrs. Hills
and by becoming surety for the payment
of Toms arrears. she had his belong
ings moved to her boarding-house. A:
this was now stylish establishment
Marie made no objection to the move
especially as some OF the ladies at Mrs
Hills had begun to cut her:
Ivah believed with Tom that the &C.
cret of Marie's extravaganza and dis
content and dissipation was the wan
of useful employment. Ivah set hersel
to meet this want.
1.-The French women have such .
krack at making things look their best
and you have such taste, Marie, that i
would be real favor to me if yol