The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1909-12-31
TEST OF COURAGE.

BY Margaret Mann.

"Of course Tom will be late to-
night" thought peachy checked Emily
Martin, as her glance fell upon the pan
Of perfectly baked mullins she had just
taken out Of the oven. "He always
is when | have something that will
spoil II it's kept and Tom does like
muffins solD
She crossed the cosy dining room
whore the table was spread for the
evening meal. stopped to turn the dam
per of the base burner that added its
cheerful glow to the scene, and went
to the window Of the front room, where
she cculd look down upon the street
almost to the door of the laundry in
which Tom worked as assistant man
ager and bookkeeper all the day long
and sometimes until late in the even
Ing
1T is awfully hard work" Emily
was wont TO say to her friends. 1T
inst wears Tom out. wish to good.
Y.ess he could get something else to do
something more worthy Of him."
Tom was late, but at last Emily
heard his step on the stadrs and hast
ened to open the door. The greeting
which rose to her lips, half petulant,
half loving, was checked by the express
sion Of his face She had never seen
him look so. downcast OF late he had
been ailing, and she thought he must
now be really Ill, and Immediately her
mind sent out messages in different
directions--to doctor, the drug store,
their closest friends.
What is 1t, Tom?" she asked almost
before he had entered.
whats what? l. didn't say there
was anything the matter, did II" he
replied in tone gruffer than it was his
habit to use.
mo, but know there it, see 1t in
your face"
well, wasn't going to tell my bad
news right away, but as you seem to
have discovered 1t, may as we'll. I'm
out of work This is the slack time Of
the year, and Boswick can get along
without me. So he's set me adrift."
After you have worked so faithful
" during the busy season! How
meant" exclaimed Emily.
'Oh, faithful work doesn't count
nowadays; nothing does against dol
lars" said Tom with excusable bitter
ness. Il would not care If this con-
founded arm Of mine was all right,
but you know it's been Dothering late
ly You won't starve. / can dig in
the street If the worst comes; but it's
tough, just as we'd got little ahead
and there's the kidd
He sat down by the stove and
spread out his hands for the warmth,
looking straight into the Goals. 1t
was a serious blow when the man
he had worked for so faithfully turned
him of without warning, but the
hardest part Of the matter had been to
tell the brave little woman at home.
shell worry" he said, having
known her to cry over broken plate.
But he had no knowledge Of the way
a woman can meet real crisis.
well, Tom Martin, If that's all that
ails you" said Emily, cheerily, come
and eat your supper and stop frettin'
l thought you were sick or had had
bad news amt afraid but what
you'll get another place and we've got
little laid by FOR Just such an emer
gency as this. Wen pull through, new
or fear"
"But howl" he returned half re
senting her unexpected cheerfulness
I'm these hard times positions art
scarce"
well, are good, reliable men am
too plenty? You might get worl
where another failed" answered tn
loyal wife
"Then there's the kid"