Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1907-01-03

raised her veil
why, Kitty Jones, is it really you %
burst forth both at once.
Il think it must be-" replied the Wis
itor, with a dull smile.
Then Mrs. Graham took the two
months-Old baby from the tired arms
of his young mother, and Jessie fell
to kissing her old chum with tears
in her eyes.
Why, Kitty" she said. how did
you happen to come along like this %
Because l couldn't come any other
way, and I had to come"
Come, Jessie" said her mother,
hurry and make some tea for Kitty.
Don't You see how tired she is. after
walking from the station with the
baby and that big valise?"
So Jessie soon had a lunch of home
made bread. sweet. fresh butter.
Strawberries and cream and steaming
hot tea before her visitor, and they
were surprised at the eagerness with
which she ate it.
Did you leave the rest of the lug
gage at the station?" asked Jessie.
mo. I left it at the rooming house
until two months back rent is laid g"
But your husband got S15 a week.
didn't he?"
Yes, but didn't get it. He
seemed to need most of it to keen
himself in cigars and other luxuries.
From the first he gave me barely
enough to live on. Even when baby
came l could scarcely get a dollar
from him to buy things | needed
When baby was about two weeks old
he lost his situation and went to Chi
cago to look for another. leaving me
with only a few cents change and a
months rent coming due. Two weeks
later he wrote advising me to borrow
money from home. as he had not a
dollar to spend for me. l hated to
do that, so l sold some of the fine
presents he gave me before we were
married. That lasted me until yester-
day. Then it was gone, and l had
nothing to eat. The landlady told mo
l must either ray or give up my room
l was there was nothing TO do bat
give up my baby and go to work, or
come home. So pawned my engage
nent ring and came. Oh, you don't
know how dread to face the neigh
bors and my folks"
During this recital Jessie looked I'M
Easy and at its close Mrs. Graham
said: The neighbors don't need
10 know it yet. You go up to the
spare room and stay with us tonight.
VIII go to see your mother"
30 Kitty and her baby were coon
resting in the spare room while Mrs.
Graham betook herself to the Jones
arm. AS gently as possible she told
Mrs. Jones of Kitty's sad plight
oh, my poor child" walled the
mother, and to think that she never
wrote word of it to me-"
Now" said practical ~. Iraham,
the wav . - ieave her with us to-
out, and l will tell anyone / see
mat you are expecting her tomorrow
TO make visit with her baby. Then
you can tell her father tonight, and
drive over for her tomorrow. and we
can truthfully say she came before
she was expected. and stopped at our
place"
This was decided on, and Mrs. Ora
ham returned with the cheering news
and managed to have a little talk With
Kitty before Jessie came I'D to the
room. AS the three were busy get
ting the baby settled for the night,
Mrs. Graham remarked :"Jessie
thinks 1t must be awful nice in the
city"
SO 1t is, if you have lots of money"
She thinks it would be SO nice not
TO have to milk COWS or feed pigs
and calves"
Many a time 1 would have been
glad to have had a COW to milk, or
anything to feed"
And she despises picking berries"
Kitty smiled. Il used to Just
dream of the bushes red with berries
when 1 paid Is cents a box for them,
with bad ones on the bottom"
And she thinks it must be so handy
to wash there"
1t may be, If you have a house Of
your own, but If you have to wash
few things secretly in the bathroom.
and dry them in your hanging closet,
1t makes a difference"
A few days after this a certain
spruce young clerk who was spending
his money in cigars and soda water
and costly presents as a means Of paw
ing the way for marriage, received a
polite note signed Jessie Graham"
saying she would not be at home on
the day of his intended visit.
"Ye gods" he said, in amazement
Surely she doesn't mean to turn me
down. Well, perhaps, after all, it is
Just as well. I'm afraid that her ia
Their is a stingy old duffer, and if
he should not come down with some
thing handsome. would be in a bad
box
The next week Jessie was seen rid
ing beside a handsome young farmer
In new top buggy. His face was
radiant with happiness. That summer
she picked pals of berries and did
them up separately from those pre-
served by her mother.