The Democratic advocate., 1909-06-11
MRS. HAVE AND
MRS. HAVENOT.
Rhe Modest Little Home That
Was Happy, Though Poor.
BY AGNES DILLON.

her on the walk before fiat building
that, to say the least, was battered,
though psthetIcally respectable look
ing.
"Dear me!" she said family. Then
she turned sharply on the iInperturb-
able driver. do you mean to say"
she asked rather fretfully, that this
is 225 Rosemere court?"
"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 Cayrie's letters In
the years during which they had not
seen each other had been so cheerful
How any woman could be cheerful liv-
ing outhts lttle side street was beyond
Betty -Simms.
Still bewildered and holding her
trailing skipts daintily, she entered the
building, and another surprise met her
There was no elevator, and Mrs. Lewis
<adtlDtEk Nln u6cu W nuNluk
elevators when she needed them. Ap-
parently there was nothing to do but
to climb, and to the fourth floor tool
Each step added TO her amnzement.
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 Ind all been sure Carrie would
marry n millionaire. When she did
marry she wrote Betty Simms. who
had indeed married a millionaire, much
to every ones surprise being small
quiet, demure little creature of no APP
parent brilllance, one Of her charac-
teristlc 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 viii be rich. He
has the brainsw
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 50 used TO them she hnd not
thought Mrs. Slmms pressed the but
ton beside the door
There was clatter of feet down In
the inside hall and woman's voice In
laughing protest, and the door opened
to precipltate n small sized avalanche
Of small boy and barking, woolly dog
almost into the astonlshed arms Of the
caller Behind the avalanche stood
Carrie.
Betty at lnstr she cried Anthony,
let the lady I'M Take Sub away. We
call the dog Substitute because he's
such ridiculous imitation OF n 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 at each other. Carrie, the
regal Carrie stood clad In blue and
white wash shirt waist suit that would
not he injured by entry into the
kitchen. Above II the old brilliant
eager face, thinner, with hints of lines
and with It's interested, searching
brown eyes, looked down as of old on
Betty Slmms ia her Paris wrap 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 $1650 bed"
tits 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 hemstitched 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. ~ssSes~~s -
Still dazed, she followed her hostess
back into the little parlor. In spite
Of its smallness 1t looked bare. Not
a superhuous article adorned its walls
The mantel boasted n single ornament
IA Jar of quaint pottery. The books
on the table. however, were plentiful.
The single small rug on the wnxed
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. trifle ruefully, "there isn't
anything to 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 anythingf
81 see" said her hostess, little
quietly. her great eyes taking In the
somewhat expressionless face Of the
other. "Wil you excuse me while I
put lunch op the table-unless you
want to come into the kitchen with
meT'
She smiled as II giving an invitation
to come into the conservatory, and
Betty Slmms followed and, sitting on
wooden chair, watched Carries deft
movement from cupboard to refrisera
tor and to the stove.
why" she said involuhtarily, 4yor
act as II you like doing this, Carrie
Peabody
Carrie paused on her way to the
table. "s don't mind - aha aagd ssy4s,