Coeur d'Alene evening press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1907-1929, 1909-01-07
Partners tOthe End |

FNSSA4t avs = SeAAs anu tnS GutVMEi WIS
not only curious, but nettIsd. The gar
rot Of the house wss divideA into two
rooms, and his was one, and be had
never even looked into the other, but
40 be had 90 long been the sole tenant
q the top story he felt that be ought
70 hAve been consulted as to- new.
conner. when he heard a person NOV
Ing around In the other half Of bis do
main be went down to Mrs. wilkins.
The colonel was q man Of sixty. He
had thfeadbnra garments and an empty
purse. While be occupied the cheapest
room in the house, 70 was well known
that be was often hard put TO pay his
rent, while his meals were always tax.
en- ct the cheapest restaurants. He was
man Of dignity and education, and
that be had once occupied q place IN
the world could not be doubted.
"Mrn wilkins" began the colonel a.
~ entered the landlady's presence, II
take Il that you have rented the other
room, and TO female at thatTy
Yes, colonel, but II b to a young
woman who II trying hard to make 4
living"
"But ron should have consulted me.
! have been with you for q year. and I
should hate 20 remove 20 other QUAR-.
ters, bat please remember that l have
certain rights and privileges, and they
are not 70 be abrogated without nv
consent ] win think 1t over and con.
slider what steps to take"
Five minutes later be knocked on the
door OF tho other room, and IL was
opened 70 him by q young woman OF
about twenty-five He bowed stiAay.
and she drew aside M an invitation for
him 70 enter. As be looked around the
room be saw = cheap old trunk on the
moor and q few poor articles Of wear
lng 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.
y came here 70 ask you why you
rented this ROOM" he said as hia face
softaned little, but l can see with.
out asking. Miss, let Us shake hands"
For whyr she asked.
because | occupy the next room:
because we are both victims OF tickle
fortune; because we should feel sorry
f0r each other: because / feel more
sorry for you than you can for me-"
II hardly understand you, sir" she
said as she slowly put out her hand.
"You are trying to make a living, 1
take itT'
"Yoa"
and ] am lighting poverty in hopes
70 live q few years longer, though
why should care TO live another week
! do not know. The bond OF poverty
q between u.s. Let as be- friends"
That night, instead OF taking his
meal at a cheap restaurant, he brought
home = loaf Of bread and some sau.
sago. Instead OF golng out to hunt up
cheap place. sha went out for
bit % butter aud Jar Of marmalade.
They had dinner together in her room.
II was the iFst Of many meals.
The colonel and the young lady got
to be very good friends. They cOun.
sailed with each other; they cheered ana
encouraged each other; they deceived
each ether. or tried to. a. to what the
future had In store. The woman SUI.
fered most. and yet she was the bFav-
sat hearted. From almost the first
day % their meeting they looked for
ward to certain things. Some day the |
last Of his friends would disappear and
his pFecaFiOus income would cease al. |
together. He would die before asking |
q stranger for charity. Some day the |
disease eating ct 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 |
u aud never referred to II again. Tt |
waa the black shadow IN their path,
and yet they fought Il away. One
night. q year later. the colonel came
home and found the young woman I'm
bed. The doctor had been there. and
he landlady had done all abe could do.
Il was the beginning Of the end. The
colonel sat down with q softer light on
Ais face than biz partner had seen
here for weeks. and there was q touch
u tho sxultAnt In I'm voice AZ he said;
Il have come home pennlloss, The
asst Of my friends has turned his back Il
IN me am no beggar OF aims"
Il am 30 sorry" she sighed.
SAY rather that you are 20 glad. Ii
gou may llngur for q month. but you
have No hope Of getting WELL"
sNone whatever"
~xOu remember our talk Oe long aROf h
rho time seemed FAR or thea, but Il h
Asra tonight. why should you be a
meath IN dyingf why should I sesR to
I've for threa o. feur yeaFs moreyH
"Yea, We had 4 talk" she quietly
ala /,
"Maxe you any mOnayf
"A dine. TAKE Il ana bay you soms-
AlAg b eat"
Partners 10 the last" he saia a. Ne
1ltioa and rubbed his hands tosathse.
N mnkas lt far easter Whago We are II
0 90 together. I win be back soOn.a
"An4 Il , going 10 happsnf' she
1ked .as he returned with q baby +
laehn@a. h
1t must. WAY should q notps
teHsma~Aw ras&qaa