Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1909-07-03
MRS. HAVE AND
MRS. HAvENOT.
rhe Modest Little Home That
Was Happy, Though Poor.
BY AGNES DILLON.

| Mrs. Lewis Adelbert Slmms paused
q moment as the automobile deposited
her on the walk before q fiat building
that, to say the least. was battered.
though pathetically respectable look
ing.
Dear me.' she said family. Then
she turned sharply on the imperturb-
able driver. "Do you mean to say"
she asked rather fretfully. that this
is 225 Rosemere courtY"
1.-THE same" said the hired driver.
1.-TWO twenty-five, please"
AS Mrs. Simms opened the elaborate
gold mesh purse she carried she was
conscious of bewildered surprise. or
course she had known Carrie had not
married wealth, but Carries letters In
the years during which they had not
seen each other had been so cheerful!
How any woman could be cheerful liv-
ing on this little side street was beyond
Betty Simms.
Still bewildered and holding her
trailing skirts daintily, she entered the
building. and another surprise met her.
There was no elevator. and Mrs. Lewis
Adelbert Simms was used to having
elevators when she needed them. APP
parently there was nothing to do but
to climb, and to the fourth floor too!
Each step added to her amazement
1t was impossible to picture Carrie
as harassed by poverty. In their
school days she had been one of the
regal creatures the mere sight of
whom called up visions Of ermine and
old lace, OF lackeys and gold coin.
They had all been sure Carrie would
marry millionaire. When she did
marry she wrote Betty Simms, who
had indeed married a millionaire, much
to every ones surprise. being a small.
quiet, demure little creature Of no APP
parent brilliance. one Of her charac-
teristic letters.
Mother is furious" Carrie wrote
cheerfully. because Tom isn't rich.
can't make her see we shall be far too
busy just being happy to have the
mere matter Of money count. As for
that, some day Tom will be rich. He
has the brains"
And this was all Toms brains had
done for Carrie In six years! When
she had written Carrie she would pass
through her town and wanted to look
her up the prompt reply and invitation
to luncheon had not mentioned those
three flights of stairs. Perhaps Carrie
was so used to them she had not
thought. Mrs. Simms pressed the but
ton beside the door.
There was a clatter Of feet down In
the inside hall and woman's voice In
laughing protest, and the door opened
to precipitate n small sized avalanche
Of small boy and barking, woolly dog
almost into the astonished arms of the
caller. Behind the avalanche stood
Carrie.
let the lady In! Take Sub away. We
call the dog Substitute because he's
such ridiculous imitation of a real
hearty dog"
| Mrs. Simms found herself drawn by
her friend across the tiny hall into the
living room, and there the two took a
good look ut each other. Carrie, the
regal Carrie. stood clad In blue and
white wash shirt waist suit that would
not be injured by entry into the
kitchen. Above 1t the old brilliant,
eager face, thinner, with hints OF lines
and with its interested, searching
brown eyes. looked down as Of old on
| In hnr n0rfe and
her trading gown. There was a com.
passion In Betty's eyes that shone forth
unknown to her, and Carrie laughed
her old gay laugh.
"You paid ut least $40 for that love
of a hat, Betty" she said, but per-
haps you won't mind taking 1t of and
laying 1t on my $16.50 bed"
Its bird of paradise" said Betty
mechanically as she struggled with
the hatpins. The dresser silver was the
same Carrie had had at school, with
no additions. The dresser scarf was
only hcmstitched scrim, and the bed.
spread, though dainty. was Of flow
cred silkoline that Betty knew in her
soul had been picked up for a few
cents yard.
Still dazed. she followed her hostess
back into the little parlor. In spite
OF It's smallness II looked bare. Not
a superfiuous article adorned It's walls
The mantel boosted n single ornament
"a jar of quaint pottery. The books
on the table. however. were plentiful
The single small rug on the waxed
floor was an oriental. Through the
arch the dining room table showed.
weathered oak. artistic. but the cheap
est OF woods.
"Tell me all about yourself. Betty"
her hostess was begging.
For an instant Mrs. Lewis Adelbert
Simms CROPPED for words. "why." she
laughed. trihe ruefully. there isn't
anything 10 tell! just got married
and life goes on, and there are lots of
parties and dinners and things, and
! always seem to be In terrible rush.
or else Lewis is. and We never have
time for anythingw