The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1909-11-17

irrttated and deeply disappointed. I'm
not going to lie to them"
Without another word she fetched
some writing material, indited the
note and sent it Off by the messenger.
whats the matter? Are you sore
over what happened tonightr' he de-
manded sulkily.
"No, I'm not sore, joe"
''Then why can't you goT
Because 1 can't. That's allv'
II think you might. If you didn't
want to go yourself you might have
accepted for my sake. 1 never get
any amusement, and you're always
complaining"
when do complain, and Of what"
ITS the selfish way you act, mean,
for, once we get a chance to go and
see decent show and afterward have
a supper party, you get sore. You
simply don't want to go. You haven't
any consideration for me-"
Burning with Indignation, she went
up to him and forced him to look her
in the face.
you say 1 have no consideration
for your she said. "You know as
well as do why can't go. haven't
had new dress in year. My gloves
are all worn out. I've skimped and
struggled and economiSed until can't
do any more. I'd go to the theater
If could go alone or with you or
with Jimsy and hide somewhere In the
corner, but do you think I want to go
to party looking like kitchen maid
My shoes are cracked. Everything is
secondhand and old and ugly. And
look at me! Do you know what's hap
pened to me? I've grown common
and coarse and cheap. Sometimes
when look at myself in the glass 1t
seems as though 1 could see the dirt
and the grease and the horrid nasti-
ness Of 1t all staring me right in the
face. Why don't 1 go2 I'm ashamed,
that's all. And you make 1t harder.
1t has almost reached my limit Of en-
durance"
She turned from him, tears Of vexa-
ton and humiliation in her eyes.
AS she did 80 Smith, the peacemaker,
entered. He had arrived in time to
hear the last part of the confession
that had been forced from her by her
husbands injustice and selishness.
Emma" he said soothingiy, there
amt no use in making Joe feel worse
than he does. He works like the devil,
but somehow Joe wasn't built exactly
lucky. He is one of those fellows like
1 used to know in Colorado who spend
all their lives looking for gold mine
and never quite find one. But Joe's
all right, and just to make this event
full sort Of evening end up nicely I'm
going to hike to the best show in town,
and you two are going to hit my trail
while dig up the necessary spondulics
to defray any and all expense incurred,
including slight and select grub stake
after the entertainment. Now, what
do you think of thatT
Brooks, who had been listening to
his wife and friend sullenly, was filed
with a sudden resolve.
"No, you won't" he said tempestu-
ously. IT amt going to be an object
Of charity. I'm as sick and tired Of
this whole business as she Is. Emma,
you put on the best dress you've got
and fix yourelf up the best you can,
and I'll take you to show, and Il
Jimsy wants to come he can come as
my guest. I'm still a man, and it's
just as right should take care of my
wife and let her have little fun as it
Is for the Astors and Vanderbilts and
all Of them to spend money on their
families. I'm going to do II, and
don't care whether l can afford It or
not. I can find way all right Hurry
up, Emmaw
Mrs. Brooks would much rather have
stayed at home. She was worn out
with the constant quarreling and ex-
citing happenings Of the evening, but
she did not want to be accused Of con-
trariness. So she said:
"If you think we can really afford It
I'd like to go. I haven't seen a show
in nearly a year. Do you think I'd
better go, Jimsyr'
"Why, surely, my girl" was Smiths
reply. '-There's no use of sticking
around here all the time and getting
into more rows. Go ahead!'
"Then I'll hurry and get ready" she
said, Fastening to her room.
Brooks had seated himself and was
gazing before him with determined
expression, his hands clasped between
his knees. Smith went to him and
rendered a bill to him.
"Joe," he said kindly, 'you'd better
let me slip you the ten that will be
necessary to pay for this business.
You know Emma don't need to know,
and you amt got the coin to blow in"
Eyes, 1 have" he asserted, pushing
the note from him, ''and I'll pay for 1t
myself"
"All right, Joe. But, take my tip,
when you go into the borrowing busi-
ness you'd better borrow from the fel-
low who knows he's giving 1t to you
and amt in hurry to get 1t back"
Look here, Jimsyr exclaimed
Brooks hotly, jumping up. Don't you
butt into my business! It's none of