The Colfax chronicle., 1904-01-09

canding me away" he said, resentfully.
That's it, Fred" she said, her eyes
brimming with delighted laughter. Il
want you to go away and not come back
for two whole days-but do come, then.
Freddy, won't you?"
'i seem to be worth so little, in COM
parison with little money" remarked
Fred, mortally angry; 1T doesn't en-
courage me to come back. suppose
you are going to the stores, now, straight
as you can fly"
Trent was very moody. Jerry, whom
he had known for so many years, was
startling him with revelations.
"Oh, I'm going to gloat over this for
half an hour" said Jerry. not taking
her eyes from her treasure; "and then
you're right-I'm going out to spend 1t.
But come back in two days, Fred"
Tmay come-if am in the city" said
Trent with dignity; and went away,
nursing his wrath and disappointment.
He was half resolved that he would not
go-that he would never go again; but
on the evening Of the second day he was
waiting in the little parlor for her 10
some in She came, a little whittier tnan
he had ever seen her-or was it little
rosier?-he could not be sure which-but
certainly a new Jerry, with demure
look down at the tip of a pretty shoe
that was thrust toward the fender. A
hasty glance assured him that she hac
not been indulging in any extrava-
gancies of dress. He was familiar with
the blue serge.
You are in the city, see," she said.
He felt uncomfortable.
"Well?" he questioned, angry with
her for being what she was, and with
himself for loving her.
Il am in my right mind again. she
said, with fieeting glance at his low
ering face do ask me what l have
done with my s50!"
Il haven't the least interest In know
Ing" he remarked, loftily.
Il wish you had asked me-" she said,
smiling Gown at the shoe tips, he
cause | am so anxious to tell you; but
as you won't will tell you anyway as
the children say. First"-she drew
folded slip of paper from beneath book
and consulted 1t with minuteness-I
paid little debt to grocery mamie
is not a nice grocery man--the debt was
rot very large one, but he has written
me nasty notes about it,"
"Who is he?" asked Trent. His face
had reddened darkly.
This is a strictly impersonal narra-
tive-there are no names in it" she re-
Piled Then | sought out milkman
who has stood on our steps two or three
mornings out of every week and has
said things about people who got milk
and then didn't pay for it; and has
wondered audibly If they considered
themselves ladies, for he didn't-and II
his language was obscure, his meaning
wasn't. Sit still, Fred-he was right
and 1t is paid now-and my heart Is so
light! Then paid balance that was
left of fathers funeral expenses-the
undertaken is not an unkind man-but
he stopped mamma in the street one
day-and oh, that had to be paid II
everything else went"
You poor little girl!" murmured the
man opposite her. He had moved his
chair little nearer.
Then I paid last months rent and
this months" she said; ''and the land
lord tried to look as though he had not
notified me that If the rent wasn't paid
by the fifteenth there would be conse-
quences."
Jerry! Listen, jerry" cried Trent,
reaching out his hand in an agony of
sympathy and love; but she moved
little further off-until the table was
between them.
Then bought myself a pair Of
shoes with what was left" she said,
glancing down at the toe Of the neat
little shoe again. 81 needed ribbons
and waists and walking skirt and an
umbrella, and gloves-a lady is known
by her gloves, Fred, and mine are i'm
possible-but had to decide in favor of
shoes. Mine we're in rags. That's why
l asked you to stay away for two whole
days-I knew it would take that long
for me to fight it out-but those old
shoes were so dreadful"
"Were they? never noticed It," said
Trent, stupidity, following her eyes with
a note of admiration.
That's because I have kept my feet
wound around the legs of my chair, or
have covered them up with long skirts
i made the skirts longer on purpose"
she said, cheerfully. And now the
moneys all gone, Fred-every cent of
it-and have shown you our family
skeleton, which you have never guessed
at before. l really ought to have had
more, for another months rent will be
Cue In no time"
whats the use of throwing money
away?" he demanded, with a happy
little laugh, deftly moving the table out
of the way and seizing her hands before
she could escape. "You are not going
to occupy this house after next
Wednesday. You and your mother
have found "a better location"
Il thought / wouldn't need the house
much longer, Fred" she said, her face
dropping; "but If the cheque hadn't
come-it couldn't have been thought of.
Oh, Fred, it has been such a struggle
and the milkman-and the grocery man
but the $50 came, and saved my life
opI the shoes 70 r,foa {hoxy