Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1910-05-13
Their Sympathetic
Friends


from his nest of pillows on the sitting
room couch He held her cool hand
for moment and then, releasing it
with sigh, remarked. YEARLY, "A
few hours away from me has done
you good. | knew it would brighten
you UP to go out among your friends
Did you see many of them?'
''Oh, yes, Rob, and they were all
very sympathetic"
Kirkland made an effort to look
properly grateful Mrs. Kirkland,
smiling, sat down on hassock by the
invalid's couch and prepared to relate
the details of her little outing.
First" she said, Il went over to
your Aunt Harriet's, for I knew that
even the fact of your having two
broken ribs, a fractured collar bone
and a sprained ankle would not be in
ner mind valid excuse for my not
>alling on her during the month that
you've been ILL.,"
How was she?"
mo worse than usual, but exceed
ingly bitter against automobiles She
said she was not at all surprised that
you got hurt, for automobiling is
reckless and extravagant habit for
people in our present circumstances.
There!"
Why, didn't she know that wasn't
in our own car and that l sold ours
the very day after those signed notes
brought us into such trouble?"
Eyes, of course she knows that"
said Mrs. Kirkland, but your accident
is delightful justification of her
present theory that all the troubles in
the world grow out of automobiling,
so she couldn't resist pointing
moral. However. she sent her love to
you and said to say you ought to be
very thankful that you still have your
head on your shoulders and a roof
over it,
kirkland made grimace Mrs
Kirkland went on cheerily:
Then | dropped in to see Clara
Holland. I'm afraid things are going
badly with her now Toms been
drinking again and his mother thinks
it's all Clara's fault and won't even
help her with the grocery bill And
her baby is sick and peevish My
heart just ached for her until she said
that when she thought of what trou
bic you and | have had lately she felt
she oughtn't to complain of her little
worries. She feels dreadfully sorry
for us, Rob-"
Very kind of her, Pm sure. But we
can still struggle with our own grocery
bill! Poor Clara means well, of
course"
Eyes, indeed. It was refreshing to
go into the Bowerses' luxurious home
after the disorder and confusion of
Clara's fiat. l gladly accepted Mrs.
Bowers invitation to lunch. Mr..
Bowers comes home for that meal now
and he looked so sturdy and hand
some, Notwithstanding the SEVENTEEN
birthday which he celebrated last
week, that it did me good to see him.
He was anxious to know how you are
getting on, and as | was leaving he
said he had very fatherly feeling
toward you, and just as soon as you
are well enough he intends coming
over to give you good talking to
about the folly of signing notes for
people. Don't scowl, Rob- | tell you
this only because I think it almost
funny. AS if you didn't know more
about that now than he could ever tell
you!"
eyes, | understand" kirkland
pressed the hand that lay lightly in
his
Mrs. Bowers sent her love and
box of tuberoses. | left the flowers In
the hall because | know you hate the
odor of them"
Kirkland made another grimace
His wife continued:
From there | went downtown to do
a few errands. l met George Harris
in the bookstore and he inquired after
you. He said he knew you would have
courage to bear illness and financial
loss He said he didn't know what he
would do if he should ever have such
a hard run of luck. He looked pale
at the idea of such a fate
George never was heavyweight"
commented Kirkland good-naturedly.
Il stopped to speak to Miss Can
field as | was going through Blank
ley's store. You know she is the
woman who sold us the lovely Vene-
tian lace collar you gave me last
Christmas. She said she had heard of
Our reverses of fortune and she felt
very sorry for us. / thanked her, and
just as | was going on she remarked,
We'll, anyway, Mrs. Kirkland, you
still have your real laces That's
some comfort That was a consola-
tion l had never thought of before.
Con the street car coming home |
saw Mr.. Bayley. He said solemnly
that he had thought of us often and
had intended to call to express his |
sympathy after proper period, but !
he supposed that as yet we desired |
to see no one but our most intimate
friends"
Il hope you assured him that was
tho ease