Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1899-05-12
so GOES THE WORLD.

50 GOES THE WORLD.
John Watterson sat on the edge Of
his bed in his little hall bedroom
thinking. The lower drawer OF the
bureau in front of him within two feet
of the bed was open, and in 1t two or
three shirts lay in great disorder, as
though tumbled by an impatient hand.
They're all pretty bad-frayed and
worn" said John to himself. ITS a
question, though, whether to wear one
Of them or buy a new one and go
without decent dinner. Let's look
again"
He took the shirts out. one after an
other, examined the bosom of each
critically, and threw them in turn on
the bed. Then he opened his wallet
and took out some bills.
-Four dollars. and it's only the mid
die Of the week." he sighed II shall
have to buy the new shirt and eat
30-cent table d'hote at Bucci's."
He threw the shirts into the draw
er.
IL HHuu btHI luOSt HOWeIS lulb
afternoon" 1t came over him sud
denly how absurd 1t was for him to buy
roses, like those. But he remembered
the fine sense Of luxury he had expert
enced when buying them-only 1t was
bit humiliating to have to ask the
price beforehand. But they were for
her, and he would go without his din
ner any time to be able to send her
flowers. Still it was absurd. What
a bitter chance of fate II was that had
thrown him into well-bred society,
where people dressed well and dined
well habitually-where he belonged, he
felt, by every right, but the possession
OF filthy lucre. He said filthy lucre"
aloud, and took certain pleasure In
the phrase Better for him to have liv-
ed quietly and known only the people
he met everyday at his work-and new
er seen her.
He put on his hat and coat and went
downstairs. AS he was opening the
front door his landlady entered the
hall from the front parlor. and pre-
scented him with the bill for his lodg-
ing.
Last weeks, Mr.. Watterson, you
know -"
Eyes. yes, Mrs. Higgins. This Sat-
urday | will settle for last week and
this week together. l overlooked 1t
last Saturday, and haven't the money
with me just now. But this week Sat
urday-"
ooh. all right thought I'd remind
you"
Watterson had closed the door and
was out in the street.
A few minutes later he was sitting
in Bucci's restaurant. He could not
help noting the meanness OF the place,
the smoky atmosphere, the cheap pine
chairs with cane seats, the thin table
linen. and comparing them with the
appurtenances Of the dinners he had
eaten in private houses. He found a
certain pleasure in doing 80. There
was piquant contrast In dining excel
lently three days week, and wretch
eddy the other four.
Here | am now at half-past @ eat
ing In this disgusting place"-he no.
tlced that the man who was sitting
opposite him at the table had his nap
kin tucked under his chin and was
eating with his knife-"in two hours
] shall be sitting in beautiful draw
ing-room, where every object speaks
of refinement and luxury, talking with
-"
1t seemed hideous to think of her In
his present surroundings. She did not
know he dined, had to dine sometimes,
in such places. Would she not be dis
gusted with him II she knew? The
thought took away his appetite. lie
finished the insipid entree and the
sickish pudding az soon as possible,
lighted a cigarette to take the taste
out Of his mouth, and hurried out. On
his way back TO his room he stopped
at haberdasher's and bought a shirt.
Sitting on the edge OF his bed, he be-
gan to argue with himself whether he
should go to see her or not He knew
all the time that he would go. He
realized that II was dangerous for him
TO go, that his eyes constantly betrayed
his secret-which he knew she knew.
Could he trust his lips not to betray
II? Three words might put an end to
II was a terrible risk. He
had decided long ago not to tell her,
not until he had the right to say more
than three words. But suppose--yes,
suppose she should care llttle-per- |
haps great deal II was possible. |
IT, nj