Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1909-09-04

perused the missive. 'SricEled 10
! death. Go AID get your things on.
Emma Its from Beatrice Langley
and Willie Ferguson. Willie's giving
sort of theater party. and they want
us to go with them. There's going to
be little supper afterward"
She shook her head.
TEL them we can't GO"
Cant go Why not7'
Il simply can't"
Il don't see ewhy."
well. then. won't; so there You'd
] better make some excuse"
Write II yourself, then" he said.
| irritated and deeply disappointed I'm
not going 20 lie TO them"
Without another word she fetched
some writing material indited the
note and sent # or by the messenger.
What's the matter? Are you sore
over what happened tonightT' be de
manded sulkily.
enc. I'm not sore. joe"
''Thcn why can't you goT'
Because I cant. That's air.
Il think you might II you didn't
want 10 go yourself you might have
accepted for my sake. l never get
any amusement. and you're always
complaining
when do I complain. and OF whatT'
ITS the selfish way you act. I mean.
for, once we get chance to go and
see decent show and afterward have
a supper party. you get sore. You
simply don't want 10 60. You haven't
any consideration for mo
Burning with Indignation, she went
up 10 him and forced him 20 look her
In the face.
"Nou say I have no consideration
for you" she said. you know as
well as do why can't go. haven't
had n new dress in a year. My gloves
are all worn out I've skimped and
struggled and economical until L can't
- any more. Ia go to the theater
II ! could so alone or with you or
with Jimsy and hide somewhere in the
corner, but do you think want 10 20
10 a party looking like n kitchen maidP
My shoes are cracked. Everything is
secondhand and old and ugly. And
look at me, DO you know what's hap
pened 20 me? I've grown common
and coarse and cheap. Sometimes
-hcn ] look az myself IN the glass Il
seems as though ! could see the dirt
and the grease and the horrid nasti-
ness Of u an staring me right IN the
face. why don't 20? I'm ashamed.
that's all And you make Il harder.
II has almost reached my limit OF en-
duronce"
She turned from him. tears OF vexa-
ton and humiliation I'm her eyes
AS she did SO Smith. the peacemaker.
entered. lie bad arrived ia time %
hear the last part OF the confession
that had been forced from her by her
husbands injustice and seldshness.
Emma he said soothlugly. there
esn't no use ln making Joe feel worse
than he does. lie woH like the devil.
but somehow Joe wasn't built exactly
lucky. lie Is one OF those fellows Ike
I used 90 know In Colorado who spend
all their lives looking for a gold mine
and never quite and one But Joe's
all right. and just TO make this event
ful sort OF evening end up nicely I'm
going 60 hike 20 the best show i'm town.
and you two are going 10 hit my trail
while ! dig up the necessary spondulics
90 defray any and an expense incurred.
including a slight aud select grub stake
after the entertainment Now. what
DO you think OF thatg"
Brooks, who had been listening 20
his wife and friend sullenly. was filed
with sudden resolve.
"No. you wou'tv' he SAID tempestu-
ously. Il Amt going 10 IT, an object
OF charity I'm as siclS,and tired OF
this whole business as she is. Emma.
You put on the best dress you've got
and fix youreif up the best YOU can.
and IN take YOU to a show. and II
Jimsy wants 20 come he can come as
my guest. I'm still a man. and it's
just as riCht | should take care OF nv
wife and let her have little fun as IL
Is for the Astors and Vanderbilts and
all OF them 10 spend money on their
families. I'm going TO do IT. and
don't care whether can afford IL or
not. can ind a way all right. Hurry
up. Emma
Mrs. Brooks would much rather have
stayed az home. She was worn out
with the constant quarrellng and ex-
citing happenings OF the evening. but
she did not want TO be accused OF con-
trarinesS. So she said:
III you think we can really afford II
I'd like 10 go. haven't seen aIlshow
in nearly p year. Do you think I'd
better 20. Jimsy|
why, surely. my girl" was Smiths
reply. There's no use OF sticking
around here all the time and getting
into more rows. Go aheadrr
Then I'll hurry and get ready" she
said, Fastening 10 her room
Brooks had seated himself and was
gazing before MIN with q determined
expression. his hands clasped between
his knees Smith went 10 him and
rendered a bill to him.
Joe he said kindly. you'd better
let me slip you the ten that Will be
necessary 10 pay for this business.
You know Emma don't need to know.
and you amt got the coin TO blow in"
''Yes. | have" he asserted, pushing
the note from him. "and I'll pay for it
myself"
"All right. Joe. But, take my tip,
n hon Won on into che b,.-g