The Warner weekly sun. (Warner, Brown Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1885, 1884-10-31
She had thought the mat

row. [ can certainly BRING some money
into the family that way"
But it will be a long time before
YOU can earn muchr said the disheart~
ened widow.
I'm the meantime, Rhoda went on,
''others must help. Maria is good at
figures; she aust find a place In a
store. Lucy must give up her music
for the present, and assist You. Thomas
will have to leave schoOl-that the
hardest thing to decide upon-tor he
ought to go to college; we always
meant that he should. But he must be
earning some money, if we are to keep
the family together, James and Julia
must continue in school, at any rate;
thev are not old enough for anything
else"
But, can we get along, if we do all
| this ?" BOO Mrs. Townsend inquired.
"Yes, but there is still another thing:
We must pinch-pinch-pinch," said
Rhoda.
"Oh!haven't we pinchedall we could,
for years.
"Oh, dear, NO, mother! We can pinch
a great deal more"
And Rhoda gave a little laugh.
"Why do you think we can?" asked
her mother.
For the best reason in the world
because we shall have to! No family
lives on so little that it might not live
on less"
Again Rhoda laughed lightly. But
all the while her brave heart was full OF
regrets and forebodings.
Terribly gloomy days followed. No
dress-making came into the house;
though Rhoda managed to get a little
by going out to do it. After a long and
discouraging search, a place in a small
fancy store was found for Maria, where
she had to stand on her feet all day,
and bear a great deal of abuse from her
employer, for a mere p~ittance. Thomas
could not find as much as that.
The family was in debt. Their rent
was unpaid. They had been warned to
leave the house. Mrs. Townsend was
worn out, and even Rhoda was losing
spirit, with her youth and bloom.
One evening the girl was going home
from her days work ayoung man step
ped to her side.
"Rhoda TewnseEdT he exclaimed.
You don't know me?"
But she cid know him, she was
greatly surprised and agitated to see
him for it was years since they had
met.
Mr.. Ringdsn! !" she said, trembling
ly.
mot Mr.. Kingdom, he replied, ''but
Mark-call me Mark, if you please.
How long it is since | have seen YOU"
1T is hardly my fault" Rhoda cold
" replied; for she thought he had pur-
Fosely avoided her family since they
became poor.
Perhaps it IS mine" he said;
Though, indeed, Rhoda, Ihave tho"@ht
of you a great deal, and inquired or
you, lately. Are You walking home
now? May / go along with you?"
% you wish to see how poorly W. are
obliged TO i've" she answered, In the
same cold tone of voice.
They walked on together, but with
few words. They came to Mrs. Town
sends door. Rhoda stopped, as if to
bid him good-by.
MAY / goin and seeyour mother ?" he
asked, as if he had been humbly begging
a favor.
"Oh yes, / suppose So" said Rhoda;
and, after hesitating a moment, she
showed him In.
Perhaps, on reflection, she was quite
willing that he should see the poverty to
which they had been reduced.
Mrs. Townsend received him kindly,
and ha sat down in a little sitting room
where the long struggle between neat
ness and want had left It's sad trace.
81 should not have known you," she
remarked. Indeed, / ever saw you
many times. You came to Rhoda's birth
day party once, / remember"
Tears rushed into the mothers eyes,
as she thought of the changes in her
family since that happy time.
Marks heart was full. 1t was some
| time before eAeonld command himself
to speak.
aRhoda thinks I haven't wished to
keep up the acquaintance" he said at
length.
There was no eason why you shonld
wish to- Rhoda said ~demurely. II
wasn't blaming you"
Then suddenly Marks words came in
a burst eff emotion.
"There has never been a day since ]
last saw you, Rhoda," he said, "when
haven't had you and your folks
in my mind. / promised once
You remember, to do something fol
you. But / wasn't able to. That is the
true reason why I haven't tried to see
you since"
1t evidently gave him so much pair
to say what he did, that Rhoda inter
rupted him.
"You needn't explainl I always hat
faith in you Please don't allude Ii
what's past, any morel"
"But I mustl' Mark exclaimed
4 0TL - I-~s.~.~ l~~-..lA- L.