Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1884-11-01
: said the discouraged

Lucy must give up her music for the
| present, and assist you Thomas will
have to leave school-that's the hardest
thing to decide upon-for he ought to 90
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 CON
tinue in school, at any rate; they are not
old enough for anything else
But, can we get along if we do all
this2n poor Mrs. Townsend inquired.
''Ycs, but there is still another thing.
We must pinch-pinch-pinch, said
Rhoda
''oh! haven't we pinched all we could
for yearsan
''Oh. dear, no, mother! We can pinch
great deal more :"
And Rhoda gave little laugh.
"Why do you think we CAM" 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.
Terrible gloomy days followed. No
dress making came into the house:
though Rhoda managed to get little
by going out to do it. After long and
discouraging search, a place In small
/ fancy store was found for Maria, where
! she had to stand on her feet all day, and
bear great deal of abuse from her en-
ployer for a mere pittance. Thomas
could not find as much as that
I The family xroc in dohf rav,f
was unpaid They had been warned to
leave the house. Mrs. Townsend was
worn out, and even Rhoda was losing
her spirit, with her youth and bloom.
One evening as the girl was going
home from her days work, young man
/ stepped to her side
| ''Rhoda Townsend" he exclaimed.
| "You don't know me?"
But she did know him, she was greatly
surprised and agitated to see him; for it
was years since they had met
''Mr. Kingdom /" she said, tremb-
lingly
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 coldly
replied; for she thought he had pur-
posely avoided her family since they be
came poor
Perhaps it is mine," he said;
though, indeed, Rhoda, have thought
of you great deal, and inquired for you
lately. Are you walking home now2
May go along with your"
IF you wish to see how poorly we are
obliged to live" 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 | 90 in and see your mother"
he asked, as if he had been humbly beg
ging favor
''Oh, yes, suppose so, said Rhoda;
and, after hesitating 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 he sat down in the little sitting
room where the long struggle between
neatness and want had left its sad trace.
81 should not have known you, she
remarked. ''Indeed, | never 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 It was some
time before he could command himself
to speak.
s'Rhoda thinks I haven't wished to
keep up the acquaintance, he said at
length.
"There was no reason why you should
wish to- Rhoda said, demurely. Il
wasn't blaming you"
Then suddenly Marks words came in
burst of emotion.
'sThere has never been a day since /
last saw you, Rhoda," he said, when /
haven't had you and your folks on my
mind. promised once. you remember,
to do something for you. But | wasn't
able to. That is the true reason why l
haven't tried to see you since"
1t evidently gave him so much pain to
say what he did that Rhoda interrupted
him.
: You needn't explain! always had
faith in you. Please don't allude to
what's past any more"
s'But / mustI' Mark exclaimed.
ssThere was a business transaction be
tween your father and mine, which |
could never feel right about. Dir.
Townsend was loser by its bargain.
NY father was in the end a gamer,
though he didn't think so at first; he
4 y =. L. T. = I1oI