Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1907-04-10
BROKE

/ am not sure LlaC Mildred udu DSSu
crying, but l am sure she was on
the very verge of tears. When l en-
tered the room she was seated at
table on which was lead pencil, and
the witness of the blunt end bore evil
dence that she had been sucking it
thoughtfully, probably irritably.
''Busy?'' / asked.
BUSY" she retorted in a tone that
convinced me that she must have been
sucking the pencil irritably.
Anything the matter?" 1 suggested.
She shrugged her shoulders. Evil
IDENTIFY something was the matter.
Anything in which can be of
any service?" 1 inquired.
mol" she almost snapped out the
monosyllable. 1t is not often that Mil
dred is so ill-tempered.
You can put some Goals on the fire
if you like" she said. This was pre-
sumably meant as a concession to my
possibly injured feelings.
I obeyed promptly.
Now, them" said in an encourag-
ing tone, what is it? Tell me all
about it, and we'll see what can be
done"
ooh, it's nothing" she rejoined. tits
all very silly"
Its nothing and it's all very silly"
I commented Explain the para
dox''
She tapped on the table with the
point of her pencil. She seemed to
be considering whether she would ex-
plain or not.
Look at that" she said at length,
deciding that she would. She handed
me a sheet of paper on which she had
penciled some columns of figures.
You might see if that totals right"
] added up the columns and the to-
tai was quite right. Nineteen pounds
seven shillings and eightpence farth-
ing" I said.
You are sure?" she asked anxious
ly, but not hopefully.
Quite sure 1 said. "And what
does this amount represent"
ct represents the amount Of those
horrid bills She picked up the lit
tie pile of papers as though she hat
ed it-as 1 believe she did.
And these bills are unpaid?" l
ventured.
Every one of them" she replied
bitterly.
And I understand that you are the
-er-debtor?" l continued.
"Oh. don't for goodness sake, use
such an appalling world" she pleaded.
why don't you pay them and get
it over?" 1 suggested.
I can't" she declared.
1t was exactly what had supposed.
1.-The amount is not very large" |
observed AT the present moment l
have no doubt mat owe great deal
more than-what is it?-nineteen
pounds seven shillings and eightpence
farthing"
She ignored my confession of indebt-
edness in the most unsympathetic
way. She was too interested in her
own trouble to worry over mine.
Look here" She produced a
purse from somewhere, as though by
sleight of hand, and shook its con-
tents out on the table. There were
two sovereigns, One-half sovereign and
some old silver and coppers. Count
that up" she commanded.
l obeyed. 1.-TWO pounds fifteen shill-
ings and fourpence," l said.
She glanced at another piece Of pa
per That's right" she assented.
That's rather nice, isn't it?''
T,oI
CO. | unused.
/ picked up the bills and glanced at
them. They all bore the names of var
ious firms of diapers and milliners.
"YoI are quite certain that all these
things are absolutely necessary" 1 in
quired. There is nothing you can
feel you might have done Without"
Nothing at all. All men are alike.
They all think that women can go
about in rags"
Il like to see a woman well dress
ed" 1 assured her Only was won
dering-"
well, then, don't wonder" she ad-
yised. You don't understand any
thing at all about it, and your won
dering can't do bit of good
Wont your father" l suggested.
81 daren't ask him. she said. Il
have already had my quarters allow
ance in advance and that's all there
is left of it." She pointed contemptu-
ously to the little collection Of coins.
That was very imprOvident of you"
said.
She almost stamped her foot Il
asked you for advice" she reminded
me. "Or, rather you forced it on me
II didn't ask you for it-and l won't
be lectured!"
IT'S very awkward" l said thought
fully. VERY awkward, indeed. You
seem to be hopelessly insolvent."
And 1 shall owe ever 50 much more
before long," she reminded me.