The Aberdeen Democrat. (Aberdeen, South Dakota) 1???-1909, 1903-05-29
10 II LOAN OF
1OF AN
I By4MaEgaref johnson.

ought"
This was at five o'clock. Four time
since she had first made that obsel
walton had the little horse-car tinkle
up to7the end of the single track
the grass-grown road behind tn
three girls, holding them suspende
in an anguish of uncertainty Will
the possibility of their going re
manned open. And then the horse
a had tinkled away again into
peaceful and reassuring silence.
Satisfied that the way of duty wa
for the moment closed, they ha'
yielded each4time to the seduction o
the balmy air that blew softly off TIL
water and lulled their drowsy con
sciences to sleep.
At their backs was the high ston'
wall, crowned with the green tur
of theaslope above; at their feet thu
strip Of .pebbly shore: beyond, the
Soundj blue and sparkling on this
June afternoon.
The suggestion of going home in
these circumstances. and just when
the descending sun was bringing the
most beautiful hour OF the day. was
distinctly obnoxious. So long as one
coulds lie back lu~xuriously upon a
rolled-up jacket, look with half-closed
eyes at all this beauty, and dream
exquisite dreams of success, fame
and wealth, why should one wake to
the dispiriting realization of being a
poor art student, lodging with two
other kindred souls in a bare fourth
floor bedroom, and celebrating a Sat
urday afternoon half-holiday by a 30
cent trip to City island? What were
such miserable details to the three
dreamers on this enchanted shore?
Pauline's visions were identical
with those of her companions, but
her conscience wa somewhat more
active, sSSand she ruthlessly tore her.
self fromt6a beatifc vision of the
studio ofsgthe future to say again
and for the fourth time, more insist
emily than before: "
"Girls, 1 really think we ought to
be going home!"
Neil and Bella looked at her with
a reproach which implied that she
was personally responsible for the
necessity Of their going home at all;
but they sat up and began to unroll
their jackets.
And then it was, and not till then,
that the truth came out.
"By the way" said Neil, casually,
81 shall have to borrow my fare
home from one of you girls. / ac-
tually haven't a cent in my pocket
book" 56dH4;j+
"Cornelias Bent!" said Pauline. "You
haven't spent the whole of your
months allowance already"?
Every cent said Neil, pensively
regarding the fiat and shabby purse
upon her knee. 81 was afraid you
wouldn't let me come, dear, if you
knew"
''IndHed~Ifs houldn't! Your spend
thrift NWaayys are a great anxiety to
me, Corne1ia. The example you set
little Bella here, the influence you
have on her
"Sheswon't borrow anything from
mel" broke in little Bella, recklessly,
although with flushing checks, 'sbe-
cause ? haven't anything to lend. Tt
took my last penny to pay my way
here, and 1 counted on your getting
me~honle somehow between you.
There, Pauline, now don't be too
hard on me! It's been a very ex-
pensiye month, and you wouldn't have
had me stay at home to-day! Help
us out. this time, that's a dear, and
We'll never do SO any more. Well
reform"
"Help you QUIT" echoed Pauline,
with the sternest of despair. "Look
at that, will you?"
She extended her open purse. A
pink transfer ticket, a shopping-list,
and two cents were obviously the
whole of it's contents. There was a
paihfnFzp1ause.
"But, Pauline" gasped Bella, "you
the soul of prudence-you never
spend all your money-you always
manage" Az I
81 did it onspurpose," said Pauline,
~tragically. "Neil has owed me nine
ty-seyen cents for three weeks, SO
l was going to make her pay my
fares h6me:1 thought she wouldn't
have the heart to leave me stranded
on this desert coast ~
I'VE r all three stranded onSthis
desert coast, it seems" said Neil, bit
terly, thanks to your sordid scheme!
Girls, look in your pockets-the
lunchbox! There must be some
mqaegsaQmthhere!" 93a as
But there was no money anywhere,
ana sWivhile.l lhssys sat trying to realize
thiSfaffiHtA&Mffig fact and wondering
how they should cope with it, the
little hQpse-car sent its pertinacious
tinkle Once more to their distracted
W. e, ~ y!saat.. ~ 4 s~33atf&T3aa
Neil broke the silence glloomily. u
we may ps as wen be collecting
leaves,' she said, cor pebbles, since it
isn't a wood, exactly, and there aren't
any robins to do it for us. Where
aree you agAoSfhhlgg to sleep tonight, Bella?
I choose thatsrock."1s
sslaxs;. aisaaidzti Pauline, anxiously,
'sdsntabeDsso iTidiculous! II wonder if
couldn't walk"
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