Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1898-04-28
ooURTIsa BY DICTIONARY.
A Story Of Literary Love Making

dictionary at a fire sale. 1t was. un.
abridged and contained $4,000 words
printed on 1881 pages Of heavy white
paper. There was no appendix Of
weights and measures and proper
names, but then she paid only 10
cents for II. ''NaN
Ruth laid the dictionary on the
small table that stood in the center
Of the room, a perfect monument to
ugliness, and without unwrapping II
or vouchsating any explanation as to
what it was she went into the alcove
adjoining their little parlor and be.
gan to remove the dust and cinders
she always carried home with her
from the downtown district.
Her mother regarded the package
on the table with inc ceased curiosity.
She felt it and lifted it and tried to
tear off a corner Of the paper cover
ing, but she did not remove the
wrapper.
Ruth came back into the parlor at
length and sat down near the win
dow. Mrs. Culberson looked from the
package to her daughter and back
again, in silent agony. Evidently she
could endure the strain no longer.
what did you get today, Ruthie"
she asked meekly.
Ruth turned round with wonder
ing air, as II not fully comprehend
ing the import Of the query. Her
eyes followed her mothers to the
ugly center table, and, 20, that" she
said, with smile, that's a diction-
ary."
Mrs. Culberson's dismay could not
have been more complete had she
been informed that her daughter had
bought home boa-constrictor.
"And what did you get that for,
Ruthie?" she asked.
Because | needed it," returned
Ruth. .l.
ut must have been pretty expen-
sive," hazarded her mother.
"Yes," sighed Ruth, 1T cost 10
cents" ansr rft
Mrs. Culberson appeared relieved,
but not entirely satisfied.
1T seems to me, Ruthie," she went
on querulously, that q girl who
works for $40 a week, which Is the
only income two people have to de-
pend upon, ought not to be spending
her money for a dictionary. II You
had 10 cents to spare for books, why
didn't you buy three or four of those
novels that would be
of some interest to me, instead Of q
Mother" said Ruth, quietly. 81
wish you hadn't said that. It makes
It necessary for me to remind you Of
some things that would perhaps bet
ter be left unsaid. Whose fault Is II
that we have TO live on $40 week?
Is 1t mine? Did I take what money
my father had left us and 'squander
u In dishonorable speculation? Is
i my fault that have to work ever
since was ten years Of age?
Am to be blamed because you, in
your old age and sickness, are obliged
10 sit here day after day in this cheer
less, comfortless room which Is all | |
can give you except the food that
holds soul and body together? And, |
astly, mother, is il my fault that my |
was so neglected when i !
vas young that ] find II necessary to
'efer so often to the dictionary now?
am not complaining, mother, but |
vou ought not to reproach me for in
iulging in just one expenditure in
which your comfort was not con-
Iidered."
In spite Of Mrs. Culberson's keen
disappointment in regard to her |
daughters purchase she derived un-
United satisfaction from dilating on
he merits Of the dictionary to the
'ther boarders.
II you ever want TO look anything
lp," she said. cordially, Gust drop
INTO our room and see what the die
ionary says. You'll always fnd 1t
n the stand In the front ROOM"