Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-06-14
nothing but a IS bill-nothing larger

nothing but IS bill-nothing larger
nor smaller.
She looked about helplessly, and
then her eyes fell on the half-cooked
food on the tiny table so crowdedly
laid for three. 1t was a gala day for
Faith---or it was to have been gala
day! For the first time since she had
left her home back in the country
town her father and mother were
coming to visit her in her studio.
They were to arrive in time for din
ner, and-now!
All at once an idea flashed through
her mind. She caught up the dainty
dotted swiss apron with it's dainty
blue bows and ran across the hall,
holding it to one side. She felt con-
scious in this sort of domestic apron,
whereas she was entirely at home IN
the big enveloping apron in which
she worked at her easel all day.
Timidly she shook the antique
brass knocker on the door across the
hall.
Come in," called deep masculine
voice.
Faith opened the door and looked
about. She could see nothing but
the lower extremities of man be-
meath a large canvas on an easel.
She stood for moment, hesitating
to enter
Come in," called the voice again.
then a head peered around the side
of the canvas ooh. please. forgive
me-" the young man fastened to say,
coming toward Faith. II thought 1t
was one of the fellows. Do come In"
he added Hospitality.
ooh, l can't stay moment, Mr..
| Melville, I'm in such predica'
ment," she explained, extending, At
the same time IS bill.
Gould you change this?" she
asked.
If young Guy Melville's eyes looked
large and hungrily at the unfamiliar
sreenback he tried to conceal it. I'm
afraid l can't" He felt in his peck
cts. searched in all parts Of his work
Jacket, but could find only a quarter.
This he extracted II have only a
quarter in small change" he said.
"That's Just what want-What l
need" Faith cried, looking eagerly at
the coveted silver bit. "My meter IS
out and I have mushrooms and steak
on the fire cooking. Mother and
father are coming.
"Then by all means take this, y
Melville insisted, and let me come to
collect it some other time. Mono.
keep the bill. 1t would be lonely
here" he laughed.
"If 1t weren't absolutely necessary
that I have it Immediately should
not take it," Faith went on; "but by
the time could get on my things and
20 out for change the little dinner
would be ruined. must run as It
is It's queer introduction, and I'ni
afraid you'll have bad opinion OF
me- she said as she crossed the hall.
MANY many thanks"
Melville, deep in study over the
charm of his neighbor, forgot to close
his studio door, and when two elderly
persons wandered strangely into the
great dark hall of the studio building
in search of Faith Airless and her
room they were sure the open doc,
was hers. They hesitated moment
Ebefore entering. Then, held by 8
/ voice inside, they stood on the thresh.
hold.
"That you, Tommy" a masculine
voice was saying in loud tones, as II
talking over telephone. Sure! It's
Guy And want you to blow me to
ldinner. Haven't cent. - No
no just loaned my last quarter.
Sc = Well, guess l can starve
1 for one night, then. Sorry you have
a date. So long, old man. So long
Then some one hung up a receiver
and the two old persons looked at
each other.
"Must be the wrong room," said the
imam.
ooh, here we are" cried Mrs. Ar
liss, opening the opposite door, on
which she had discovered tiny brass
name plate bearing her daughters
name. Here we are and-here is
i FAITH"
"Well, bless your heart, daughter
we've found you at last" said the
! father, taking Faith in his arms and
giving her a generous paternal hug
1--WE mighty near got into the wrong
ROOM
"Yes-the poor young man across
the hall was telephoning to someone
that he had just given away his last
quarter and hadn't bite to eat.
Faith, dearie, hope you never get
that way. I've read about this studio
life in New York and Of how youns
artists often go hungry" the elder
woman was saying.
Never fear, mother" said Faith
from the stove where she was taking
|up the now thoroughly cooked repast.
But. the Joy had gone from her eyes
she had taken the poor mans last
quarter!
| She did not want to explain right
away. to her mother and father that
she had been compelled to go to q
strange man across the hall to bor-
row q quarter with which to have gas
enough to finish cooking the dinner.
They might not understand-at first
and it really had not been her In
tention to borrow the money.
BY the time the little meal was on
the table the thought weighed 80
heavily upon her that she could not
sit down to enjoy 1t. At last, she
summoned courage to explain the
whole matter to her parents and 1t
was with difficulty that she re-