Hattiesburg daily progress. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 18??-1909, 1903-11-23
q Couple OF Calls,
BY Roland Beverly Hale.

by IlOldhO oC'OLAy AAofO'
How do you do, Katy? Is Miss
Mary at homer"
Katy thought she was, but was not
sure. She would go and see. While
she was gone David Carpenter sat
down and thought over for the twen-
tieth time the good fortune which had
come to him that day. He felt like a
boy who had won a pocketful Of
marbles.
well, Mary, I've got my wooden
bowl at last" he cried, as Miss Owen
came into the room.
What do you mean?" Mary paused
half way between him and the door.
Il mean that I'm Corporation Coun-
sci of the B., B. & F., with salary Of
$1,000 a year."
I'm sorry to hear it." said Mary.
David's smile died away. He felt
that he had asked for fish and hal
been given stone. --
He tried to smile again, and looked
vexed instead.
That's kind thing to say" he OBJ
served.
What I mean Is this" said Mary,
her large grey eyes looking steadily
at her old friend. There's no fear
that you won't succeed in time.
You are the most talented man / ever
saw, except Edward Calthorp, whom
you affect to despise so much. But I
don't think you've had trials enough
yet Why. you'll never know what it
is to struggle with poverty any more;
that's pity, a great pity. You see
I'm perfectly frank"
81 certainly don't think you've been
over anxious to spare my feelings"
Mary smiled. She had large fea-
lures and very expressive eyes. When
she smiled 1t was as much as two or
binary smiles.
Nonsense" she said. What good
ings? We were put into this world
to help each other along, not to tell
each other we'd gone far enough al
ready
1Ou uOh appiONO VA % hAhoiJ oi1 "
on the back once In a while?'
Yes, when a mans down. But
you're up"
I'm not UP now"
There was pause. The pleasant
light was gone from David's rather
dangerous looking eyes.
He had a face that looked as IL II
had been chiseled out of granite AS
he leaned forward and spoke to Mary,
a child might have seen that the b.,
B. & would get their moneys worth
In a man like that
ITO tell you truth, Mary" he said,
after looking at her in silence till she
wondered II she could look at him
any more. his eyes were so stern, II
think you have been talking to fool.
came in here happy as a boy. and,
as you say, on the top Of the wave.
and wanting my old friend TO wish me
Joy Of my new place. and In five min.
utes you've got me back to my hard
old matter-of-fact self by saying
something which you think rather
fine, and which anyone can see Is ex-
tremely unkind.
I'm seldom in good spirits. and
when / am l shall know where not to
go. I'll tell you one of my rules of
business. It's this: Don't say any
thing unless good is going to come of
It. What good could come Of your re-
mark is something which I'm glad |
haven't got to find out. You're one of
my best friends. Mary, and l think
you're really attached to me; but
when I want sympathy should as
soon think of going out in front of the
house and confiding in our old stone
poet"
The tears came into Mary's eyes.
She was silent.
1t was at this moment, perhaps, an
opportune one. that Mrs Owens came
into the room. 81
What. Mary. not ready for the the
atre YETI" she said. ITS almost 8
o'clock. Why. Mr.. Carpenter. am glad
to see you! I'm sorry We haven't an
extra ticket 1t looks SO inhospit.
able" and she ratified on.
Mr.. Owen came in too. and Mary
went up stairs to put on her things
When she came back Mrs. Owen was
still talking, David pretending to lis
ten. and Mr.. Owen reading the even,
ting paper. Then the three theatre
eoers went out with more apologies,
and when their footsteps died away
David went out after Them
He tripped on, something at the
threshsij snd tell dpvns Tie front
steps tearing bis clothes. When be
got up he laughed dismally at this
unnecessary excess Of misfortune.
what : successful eyeniAg.~ 81