The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1908-12-28
Partners to the End |
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

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One day when Colonel Day came
back to his top story room ut Mrs.
Wilkins rooming house he found the
room next to his occupied. II had been
vacant for year. and the colonel was
not only curious, but nettled. The gar.
ret of the house was divided into two
rooms, and his was one, and he had
never even looked into the other, but
as he had so long been the sole tenant
of the top story he felt that lie ought
to have been consulted as to new
conner. When he heard a person NOV
ing around In the other half of his do
main he went down TO Mrs. wilkins.
The colonel was man of sixty. He
had threadbare garments and an empty
purse. While lie occupied the cheapest
room In the house, Ii was well known
that he was often hard put to pay his
rent, while bis meals were always tax.
en- ut the cheapest restaurants He was
a man of dignity and education, aud
that he had once occupied place In
the world could not be doubted
Mrs. wilkins" began the colonel as
he entered the landlady's presence, II
take 1t that you have rented the other
room, and to female at thatf'
Yes, colonel, but II Is TO a young
woman who is trying hard to make a
| living"
But you should have consulted me.
have been with you for year, and
! should hate to remove to other quar-
ters, but please remember that have
certain rights and privileges. and they
are not to be abrogated without my
consent VIII think It over and con.
slider what steps to take"
| Five minutes later he knocked on the
door Of the other room, and It was
opened to him by young woman of
about twenty-five. He bowed stlfiy,
and she drew aside as an invitation for
him to enter AS he looked around the
room he saw cheap old trunk ON the
floor and few poor articles of wear
ing apparel hanging up on the nails
driven into the wall A second glance
into the young woman's face told him
that she had consumption.
Il came here to ask you why Won
rented this room" he said as his face
softened little, but | can see with
out asking. Miss, let US shake hands"
For whyf she asked.
Because occupy the next room;
because we are both victims of tickle
fortune; because we should feel sorry
for each other; because | feel more
sorry for you than you can for me-"
a
said as she slowly put out her hand.
"You are trying to make living, 1
take itP
"Yesp
"And am fighting poverty I'm hopes
to live few years longer, though
why i should care to live another week
/ do not know The bond of poverty
Is between us. Let us be friends"
That night, instead Of taking his
meal at a cheap restaurant, he brought
home a loaf of bread and some sau-
sage. Instead of going out to hunt up
a cheap place, she went out for
bit Of butter and jar Of marmalade.
They had dinner together In her room
1t was the first Of many meals.
The colonel and the young lady got
to be. very good friends. They coun-
seled with each other; they cheered and
encouraged each other; they deceived
each other, or tried TO, as TO what the
future had In store. The woman suf-
fered most, and yet she was the BRAY
est hearted. From almost the first
day of their meeting they looked for
ward to certain things. Some day the
last of his friends would disappear and
his precarious income would cease al
together He would die before asking
a stranger for charity Some day the
disease eating at her lungs would de
mand the penalty, and there would be
no avoiding 1t. They talked the mat
ter over for an hour and then dropped
1t and never referred TO Il again 1t
was the black shadow In their path,
and yet they fought 1t away. One
night a year later, the colonel came
home and found the young woman IN
bed. The doctor had been there and
the landlady had done all she could do.
1t was the beginning of the end. The
colonel sat down with softer light ON
his face than his partner had seen
there for weeks. and there was touch
Of the exultant In his voice AS he said:
II have come home penniless. The
last of my friends has turned his back
on me. l am no beggar OF aims"
II am so sorry" she sighed.
Say rather that you are so glad.
You may linger for month, but you
have no hope of getting we'll"
''None whatever"
"You remember our talk Of long ago7
The time seemed far off then, but 1t is
here tonight. Why should you be
month In dying? Why should seek to
live for three or four years moreY"
Eyes. we had talk" she quietly