Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1909-09-18

Miss Lila Hihbard opened her
stamp box and looked deSpairiugly at
it's emptiness. Then she turned the
contents of her portfolio upon the af
CHAN and searched among the loose
leaves aud envelopes. Not Il stamp To
bc found,
The search was mere furmality.
for she could account for every one of
| he dozen stamps she had borrowed
| "A week ago With compressed lips
she looked for Inspiration around the
room aud ont in the hall Mr.. wilkins
| WAS coming down the Stairs.
Miss Lila caught her breath. He
| was the only ledger To whom She did
not owe stamps. 1t had been Il com
| fort 10 her /" feel self respecting in
| regard to one of the dodgers. and she
| had told herself that it was not mere
| ly because he lind never put himself
| in the way of her solicitations. But
| now-why cling 10 such a small rem
| nant of pride.
Mr. wilkins" she called softly.
\ middle aged man with an ecru
mustache presented himself ut the
| door.
Are you-worsc:" he inquired awk-
wardy. "ShaIl call your sisters?"
"oh. no: please don't. Mr. Wilkins"
Miss Lila rejniued feryeutly.
| will you do me a7fayor. MI. VIII
kins:''
'Yes'm. certainty" Mr.. wilkins muir
INJURED. and Miss Lila hurried on:
Il should lie so much obliged if you
would mail this for me. | can't ask
my sisters. for don't want them to
| know about it. and | haven't any
stamps. and | think it will take four.
two inside and two out and | haven't
any change now. but ! won't forget
| it."
Mr.. Wilkins produced stamp book
extracted neat row of stamps and
Solemnly applied them To the bulky
| envelope
| And two inSitle:" he questioned
"Yes. please" Miss Lila said gayly.
| Mr.. Wilkins looked at her with Won
der and alarm in his eyes, aud before
she knew it Miss Lila had broken her
| resolution to he reserved aud was in
the middle of the explanation that the
| seven other dodgers already knew. In
the usual order she revealed to him
her secret 10 write. her spaSmo1ic at
| temptS at composition during The busy
years of public school teaching and
| her constant efforts at literary produc-
| ton since she had been laid low by Il
| stricken knee
| The recital had hitherto ended there.
| leaving her success to he Inferred but
something in Mr.. wilkins grave at
tention led her to add in a voice that
was intended TO be indifferent. but
sounded discouraged:
| But I've never had thing accept
ed. Everything comes back
| oh. well. you can't expect to make
it 80 right Off" Mr.. wilkins assured
How do stories SELF" he inquired.
do they pay pretty WELL"
oh. yes. if you can sell them" Miss
Lila replied. wistfully. Why. a story
of that length ought to get SO. but, of
course, it makes Il difference who
, writes it,.
Il There suddenly seemed TO be moth
ing to say, and Mr.. wilkins left before
Miss Lila could elaborate herthanks.
Left alone. she turned her face to
the wall in IA kind of slasm of shame.
Now there was Tot Il lodger she could
look in the face-and she owed forty
two stamps, Then the usual reaction
came. She reflected that this was no
time for scruples. The simplest cal
culat!on showed her that her sisters
We're running behind in the household
expenses. and from ordinary observa-
ton she knew that they were Starving
themselves.
Just then Miss Louisa brought her
an eggnog. and she fancied Miss Louise
looked at her hungrily.
A week later. when Mr. Wilkins hur-
ried up the stairs one night. he was
greeted by shout from Miss Lila.