The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-06-05
THE EVENING STORY
Mrs. Have and Mrs. Havenot.

Mrs. Have and Mrs. Havenot.
(By Agnes Dillon.)
Mrs. Lewis Ade1bert Sirnms paused |
moment as the automobile deposit
ed her on the. walk before a flat
building that, to say the least. was
battered though pathetically respect
able looking.
Dear mel" she said. family Then
bable driver. do you mean to say"
she asked rather fretfully, ''that this
IS 125 Rosemere court?"
The same" said the hired driver.
Two twenty-five. pleased"
AS Mrs. SimmS opened the elabor-
ate gold purse she carried she was
conscious of a bewildered surprise OF
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
living on this little side street was be-
yond 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.
1t was impossible to picture Carrie
as harassed by poverty. In their
schooldays she had been one of the
regal creatures. the mere sight of
old lace, of 1ackeys and gold coin.
| They had all been sure Carrie would
marry millionaire. When she did
| marry she wrote Betty Sims. who had
indeed married a millionaire. much to
every ones surprise, being a small,
no
apparent brilliance one of her char
acteristie letters.
Mother is furious" Carrie wrote
cheerfully, because Tom isn't rich.
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 invita-
ton 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
button beside the door.
There was a clatter of feet down in
the inside hall and a woman's voice
| in laughing protest, and the door
| opened to precipitate a small-sized
| woolly dog almost into the astonished
arms of the caller Behind the ava
| lanche stood Carrie.
| "Betty at last!'' she cried. "An
| thony, let the lady in! Take Sub
away. We call the dog Substitute. be-
cause 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
l of 90 oh Oft "a r.
| RE, the regal Carrie, stood clad in a
blue and white wash shirt-waist suit
that would not be injured by entry
| into the Kitchen.
face, thinner, with hints of lines and
with its interested, searching brown
Ieyes looked down as of old on Betty
| Simms in her Paris wrap and her
trailing gown: There was a compass
sion in Betty's eyes and shone forth
unknown to her, and Carrie laughed
her old gay laugh.
"You paid at least $40 for that
love of hat, Betty she said. "but
perhaps you won't mind taking it off
and laying it on my $3.50 bed"
cts bird of paradise" said Bet
ty. mechanically. as she struggled with
the hatpins. The dresser silver was
the same Carrie had had at school,
was only hemstitched scrim and the
bedspread though dainty. was of a
Powered silkoline that Betty knew in
her soul had been picked up for a
few cents a yard.
still dazed. she followed her hos
!, tess back into the little parlor. In
} spite of it's snallness, it looked bare
Not a superfluous article adorned Its
walls. The mante1 boosted single
| ornament, 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 shows
ed weathered oak, artistic, Dut the
| cheapest of woods.
} s'Tell me all about yourself, Betty, y
: her hostess was begging
For an instant Mrs. Lewis Adelbert
Simms CROPPED for words. Why" she
| Iaughed a trifle ruefully, there isn't
ANYTHING to tell I just got married
and life goes ON and there are lots
| of parties and dinners ana Things ano
, T always seem to be in a terrible rush.
or else Lewis IS. and we never nave
time for anything
at see.'' said her hostess a little
? quietly, her great eyes taking in the
, somewhat expressionless face OF the
, other. Twill you excuse me while
put lunch on the table-unless you
want to come, into the hitcneh VIII
She smiled as if giving an invitation
| to come into the conservatory, ano
{ Betty Simms followed and. sitting on
a wooden chair. watched Carries def
! movement from cupboard to refriger-
J ator and to stove.
} sswhy." she said involuntarily. "yor
, act as If you like doing this, Carrie
Peabody"
Carrie paused on her way to the
table. ct don't mind" she said. 1T
} only a means to an end. He wants
you to take him, Betty.
Mrs Simms looked into the face OF
t small Anthony, clutching her gown
. and lifting him up. was surprised te
have him cudd1e down contented1y a