The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1908-01-28

| Ihey furnished their rooms daintily
ana simply and made their first pay
ment on the things. The rooms were
not heated. but they had large kitch-
en- range which warmed them sufh-
ciently with the aid OF a little oil heat
er In extreme weather. There being
FAMILY In the tenement below, the
floors were not cold.
Ana now they began to take comfort
Every evening saw them at a concert,
lecture or the theatre. The enter
tanning had not begun as yet Ruth
mad bought chatting dish In anticipa-
ton OF the little parties she would
give, but she had not used it except
to practice upon. Somehow they did
not seem to find congenial friends
as they had expected.
The first month passed thus. When
the second had opened, with the funds
In the baking-powder box alarmingly
low. the sisters began to be trifie APP
prehensive. They took to going out
separately in the daytime.
One day Ruth came bounding up the
stairs and burst into the Kitchen, her
face wreathed In smiles. Myra stood
there smiling also, and her face very
red from working over the hot stove.
I've got work" said Ruth joyous
ly.
SO have l." said Myra.
I'm going to work in a flower store.
| showed the man what | could do
this afternoon, and he praised my work
and told me to come tomorrow for
a steady job"
And I'm going to cook for a WON.
ans exchange" said Myra. 81 carried
some things there day before yester.
day, and they sent me an order today,
and they think I'll have all the work
want to do"
After this the sisters went out eve
nings less than they had done. They
worked steadily and were contented.
Ruth made some friends at the flower
store, and the chatting dish came into
use at last.
AS they grew more accustomed to
their work they fell into the way of
going to a play in the middle of the
week, a concert Saturday night and
to church on Sunday. The last of
February came, and for some little
time the sisters had been subject to
attacks of melancholy. One evening
they sat together resting after hard
days work. Ruth was the first to
speak. II don't know what's the mat.
ter with you, but am as homesick as
DEATH
80 am l." said Myra.
Il want to get back to the farm"
so do t.
living I'd rather be poor but honest"
81 know would" said Myra. Then,
with unusual vehemence, Il hate
debt"
80 do l." said Ruth. "And install.
ments aren't the least bit Of fun"
No. they are not"
81 wonder how much we owe? Let's
reckon 1t up and know the worst. It's
hung over me like a nightmare all
winter"
1T has over me, too. II / hadn't
been so busy I'd have gone crazy.
It's awful"
Il know It," said Ruth. 1T was
lucky we could get work But want
to get back home. Poverty and hon
esty for me, every time"
MY sentiments, too" said Myra
We'll, let's take the fatal plunge.
How much do we owe? Will we have
to mortgage the farm to pay it?"
81 don't know. l guess not. The
furniture is what worries me most"
and Myra's brow became furrowed
with lines of care.
"Oh, that's all right" said Ruth
easily. ] made the last payment on
that two weeks ago"
You" Myra gasped.
"Why, you see, the things are pref
ty, and l thought they'd come in
handy at the farm-we need new fur
niture there-and so 1 went and made
a payment every week, after | got
work. That hasn't troubled me at all,
but | have lain awake nights worry
ing about the groceries"
why" said Myra, ever since I be-
gan to cook for the exchange | have
paid for all the groceries and paid up
the back bill, too. 1t doesn't cost us
much to live, you know. And I've
paid for the coal and the kerosene be-
sides"
Why-why, then we don't owe any
thing" Ruth cried incredulously, "for
we've paid the house rent together"
"And we've had all our worry for
nothing"
81 wish I'd told you"
II wish I'd told you"
There was little silence.
Just the same, want to get back
! home" said Myra.
$50 do I. And we'd better, too, for
| it's most time to be thinking about
| putting in our sweet peas"
And the green peas, too"
Two weeks later they were on the
train going home.
After all" said Ruth reminiscent
! Iy. ct was considerable fun"
Yes" said Myra, but another time
I'd go in for honesty and paying out
bills from the start"
Eyes. so would l."
81 suppose we could get back our
! old work any time"
I'm sure OF &C."
Didn't we go % lots OF plays and
hear lots OF music?"
Eyes, and we didn't stagnate, did
we
Not exactly"