The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1909-01-27
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room next to his occupied. 1t bad 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 he ought
to have been consulted as to new
conner. When he heard a person NOV
ing around In the other half of his doI
main he went down to Mrs. wilkins.
The colonel was man of sixty. he
had threadbare garments and an empty
purse. While he occupied the cheapest
room in the house, 1t was we'll known
that he was often hard put to pay his
rent, while his meals were always tax
en- at the cheapest restaurants. Ho was
man of dignity and education, and
that he had once occupied a 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 thati"
Eyes, colonel, but 1t is to young
woman who Is trying hard to make a
living" 4.
"But you should have consulted me.
I have been with you for year, and I
should hate to remove to other quar-
tiers, but please remember that / have
certain rights and privileges, and they
are not to be abrogated without my
consent. I will think 1t over and con.
slider what steps to take"
Five minutes later he knocked on tho
door of the other room, and 1t was
opened to him by young woman of
about twenty-five. Flo bowed stidly,
and she drew aside as an invitation for
him to entor. 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.
~ came here to ask you why you
rented this ROOM" he said as his face
softened Il little, "but can see with.
out asking. Miss, let us shake hands"
"For whyf" she asked. a
"Because / occupy the next room;
because we are both victims of tickle
fortune; because we Should feel sorry
for each other; because 1 feel more
sorry for you than you can for me-"
~ hardly understand you, sir" she
sold as she slowly put out her hand.
you are trying to mako living, 1
take It'll"
eyes"
"And am fighting poverty in hopes
to 1.-Two few years longer, though
why 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 cheap restaurant, he brought
home loaf of bread and some sau.
sage. Instead of going out to hunt up
a cheap place, she went out for n
bit of butter and a jar of marmalade.
They had dinner together in her room.
1t was the first of many meals.
The colonel and tho young lady got
to be very good friends. They coun-
scled 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 nj
together. He would Gle before asking
stranger for charity. Some day the
disease eating at her lungs would de-
mand the penalty, and t.!cre would be
no avoiding it. They tailed the mat
ter over for an hour and then dropped
1t and never referred to 1t again 1t
was the black shadow In tl..!t path,
and yet they fought 1t away, One
night, 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 a 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:
~ have come home pcnnilcss. The
last of my friends las turned his back
on mo. ammo beggar of aims"
~ am 50 sorry" she sighed.
"Say rather that you arc so glad.
You may linger for a month, but you
have no hope of getting WELL"
"None whatever"
"You remember our talk of long ago2
Tho time seemed far Off then, but 1t is
here tonight. Why should you be n
month in dying? Why should seek to
live for three or four years moreT
"Yes, we had n talk" she quietly
said.
uIToya yOn INV mOnnv2D
"a dime. Take It and buy you some
thing to eat"
partners to the last" he said as he
smiled and rubbed his hands together.
at makes 1t far easier where we are
to go together. will be back SOON"
"And 1t is going to happen?" she
asked as he returned with q bulky
package.
at must. Why should 1t notT'
"Yes-why not?"
Half an hour later the colonel sat
down beside tho bed and kindly said:
eve have been pnrtners-true part
ncrs. 1 will sit here and hold your
hand while we Sleep"
They found them thus-the police
the fearful landlady-the busting coro.
ner-the reporters.
"They simply fell asleep" sald the
coroner. "The fumes of charcoal nj.
ways leave TINT peaceful. restful look
on the human face" NJ. QUAD.
A Parliamentary stratasom.