Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1902-04-29

his topcont. Gregory meant to con.
duct that investigation In person.
By the time he had reached the dingy
looking fiathouse and had climbed -four
flights Of dark stairs Sharpe repented
of his bargain. Cropping along mar
row hallway, he came to a card stuck
over a push button and inscribed Mrs,
L. T. Locke"
1t was Miss Violet Eyes herself who
opened the door. She recognized the
caller In an instant.
"Oh. it's your she faltered, nervous.
ly twisting the knob Of the half oper
door, you've come to cut of the gas
I suppose" And she slowly made way
for him to step in.
A little, white haired lady appeared.
Wont you step into the parlor?" sht
said.
Everything was so neat and thu
CRATE fire so CHEEKY t.!:.I 1T first Greg
ory Gid not realize how barren and
poverty stricken the place was. The
little old lady piloted him skillfully to
the only easy chair in the room, which
faced the little coal fire.
The best chair aud the best outlook
the room afforded!
A sweet old gentlewoman, thought
Gregory, who has learned to keep up
appearances under conditions that
would have swamped most house
wives with less pride and fewer re-
sources.
81 suppose" murmured the old lady,
smoothing out her black silk apron
81 suppose one should not indulge in
the luxury of crate fire with the gas
bill unpaid, but" with a deprecatory
gesture, 1T has been very cold, and
one loses ones courage SO easily when
one can't keep warm"
1t was said quietly, with gentle digni-
ty, but the pathos Of 1t!
Madam" said Gregory in a voice
that shook little, "you are quite right.
Pray do not think / am criticising
you"
"You see," went on the lady, my
son has gone out west. He had such
a splendid chance! He needed a little
money to get started. let him have
1t. He was to pay it back very soon.
We've been expecting him to write for
US every da. for, oh, long, long time
Il almost forget how long! One loses
track of the days somehow when one
Is waiting and one doesn't hear. But
we heard today. He is coming home
as soon as | can send him the fare"
A door banged. There was the rus
tie of skirts. and the fragrant odor of
steaming tea reached Gregory's nos
trils.
Then Josephine appeared with tray
Of dishes, which she placed by her
mother. Her face was flushed from
standing over fire.
There, mother" she said, with
strange mixture Of tears and defiance.
81 guess I've used another cubic foot
of gas, but your supper is as hot as
the gas range could make it. If you'll
step this way, sir, I'll show you where
the meter is."
"You needn't mind," said Gregory
slowly. 81 only called to see when 1t
would be Convenient
He could not finish the sentence.
There was something else to do. The
girl, turning CHASTITY white, fell In
huddled heap at his feet.
She came back to life while her
mother was searching for the brandy
flask. She looked into his face anx-
iously.
"Its nothing-nOthing-e that ]
am-hungry. But she mustn't know"
She sank back, and the violent eyes
were again hidden from Gregory's
view.
"Gregory," she murmured as he ben,
over to fasten her gloves. for they
were on their wedding journey. "how
could you marry a girl who deliberate
ly fibbed? | knew | couldn't pay that
bill when the fortnight was up
"My dear girl" he murmured irrele-
vanity. will you stand by me through
thick and thin, as you did by your moth
er|
But for reasons best known to Greg
ory Sharpe, president Of the American
Consolidated Gas company. his wife
was unable to make reply.