Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1905-07-24
A ToILER.

at once.
Anterior went into the cozy recep.
ton room to wait. In moment the
portieres were whisked aside and
Margaret Fenton entered the room.
She looked at Atherton coldly as he
jumped to his feet.
$50 you've come at last she said.
Anterior smiled in enigmatic
fashion. He seemed neither embar
raised nor apologize. The girl was
plainly irritated.
MY dear Margaret" said he, Il
know owe you a thousand apologies,
but really, couldn't come last even,
ing. The fact is, | had business ap
pointment."
A business appointments" she In
terrupted, incredulously.
Exactly" said ne. "And today /
was detained at the office until after
5 o'clock.
cat the Officer" she asked, with
puzzled frown.
"At the office,,'' he repeated, smil
ing imperturably "You see l have at
last needed your advice. The old
careless life is behind me. I'm a
toiler nova bread winner, If you
like
"In what capacity, pray?" she in.
quired, the faintest of sarcasm show
ing at the corners of her mouth.
I'm humble clerk in an insurance
Office" he explained "Witherby sc.
cured the position Tor me-job he
prefers to call it,"
Really, Ted?" she asked, obviously,
Really" ne affirmed "This is my
first day at it,
ooh, see," she said. "You didn't
come for-for your answer last night
because you wanted to wait until yoil
were really doing something. Ted,
I'm glad you're an idler no longer.
I'm proud of you."
He smiled rather lugubriously.
81 must confess I prefer idling," he
said.
"But you'll stick it out?" she asked.
"On, l Snail stick it out, no fear
said ne.
well I'll forgive you for not COM
ing last night said she. "And since
you are working really doing some
thing, however humble it is, the an,
swer you want"
Pardon me-" ne interrupted her.
Il can't nave an answer. l have no
right to one. You will very kindly
forget, Margaret, that 1 have ever
asked for one.''
She looked at him with speeches.
astonlshment. He was smiling
gravely.
Margaret" he said quietly. 81 put
the old life behind me because l hao
to. Tie failure last Tuesday of Simp,
son & Co. has put my finances in
tottering condition. There will be
something left, it is true, but little,
very little. I am clerk because |
have to-because it means bread and
butter to me-
She sat for moment in stunned
silence.
ooh, Ted" she cried at length, I'm
so sorry"
"I don't mind tne loss of the money
so much,' said he slowly, land after
all I don't believe I'm so terribly
afraid of work. But the part that
hurts lies in the fact that 1 have lost
you. Of course, dear, l know just
what you are going to say-tnat you'll
wait for me through eternity If neces.
sary. But that isn't wise. You must
be free, absolutely free-so that when
the other fellow comes along, who is
just as good as I am and a little bet.
ter probably, you can listen to aim
with no disloyalty to me-"
He tried to speak lightly, but there
was a note of bitterness in his voice.
He rose and stood a minute ir.
resolute.
"Good-by," he said, shortly; ana
bolted for the door.
The girl rose quickly and barred
the way. Her cheeks were flushed
and her eyes shining.
Ted she SAID. 'I'm ashamed or
you-ashamed and disappointed"
He stood before ner silent
81 thought you cared enough for
me to understand me-" she said with
some heat
Cared, he cried. Good Lord, Mar
garet, can't you see what this means
to me?"
"But you don't understand" she
went on; you're not even trying to.
You look at this matter in your one,
sided man fashion. You don't ash
what it means to me or what l want
to do. You say to me, You are free,'
and you seem to think that ends it,
Her eyes were shining suspiciously
now. Atherton looked at her help.
lessly.
'It is now you need me, When you
have everything to do" she said, land
yet you cast me aside as if I would
be drag"
Good heavens, no, child!" he said
quickly. But do you suppose I'd let
you make such sacrifices for me? Do
you suppose I'd let you live in all that
poverty means-the narrowness, the