Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1910-11-11
inside. they stood on tn. thresh

voice was saying in loud tones, as II
talking over a telephone. Sure! It's
Guy. And want you to blow me to
dinner. Haven't a cent . Mono
just loaned my last quarter. d.
Well. | guess | can starve 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
man.
"Oh, here we are" cried Mrs. Air.
less, opening the opposite door. on
which she had discovered a tiny brass
name plate bearing her daughters
name. Here we are and-here is
FAITH"
We'll. 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.
I'VE mighty near got into the wrong
room"
"Yes-the poor young man across
the hall was Just telephoning to some
one that he had just given away his
last quarter and hadn't a bite to eat,
Faith. dearie. l hope you never get
that way. I've read about this studio
life In New York, and Of how young
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 was 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 thai
she had been compelled to go TO 8
strange man across the hall to Dor
row a quarter with which to have gas
enough to finish cooking the dinner
They might not understand-at first
and 1t really had not been her In
tention to borrow the money.
By the time the little meal was or
the table the thought weighed sc
heavily upon her that she could moi
sit down to enjoy 1t. At last she
summoned courage to explain the
whole matter to her parents and 4
was with difficulty that she restrained
her father from running Immediately
to the door Of Melville to drag hin
bodily to the table to Join them
1T will be far better for me to CO.
Faith expostulated. Il can be tactful
He may feel a delicacy about it."
'Yes-let Faith 60" the mother
added. she's used to city ways"
This time 1t was without an apron
that Faith knocked at the opposite
door. 1t took her fully ten minutes
to persuade the young man to joir
the little party and eat a portion Of
the meal he had been influential IN
saving. But, at last, he was induced
to go, and Faith waited while he
changed his studio coat and put 6
touch or two to his toilet.
The merry little party sat about the
studio until the logs in the old fire
place had crumpleG to ashes and thu
folks from the country had begun II
wonder what the hour might be.
When Melville rose to go Faith,
father shook his hand warmly. "
shall leave my little girl a stack o
quarters when l go back to Home
town." he said. $50 you needn't b
fraid she'll be borrowing any more"
mo, indeed. she mustn't" Mrs. All
less interjected. "She mustn't get int
the borrowing habit, even II she doe
live in a studio.
Faith blushed and turned towar
young Melville. you see they are a.
in sympathy with you," she laughed.
IF they were," the young nan sale
pointedly, they would never leav
you a stack of quarters, for how
that = I ever expect to b.
come acquainted?"
II still have this one to pay back,
, Faith reminded him as she stood 1
the studio door while he unlocked hi
, own.
"No"-he held up his hand in r.
monstrance. please don't mentio
r that. Just let me come to see 20
, and we'll say l bought my meal wit
the quarter.
( But Faith did return the none.
She said, afterward, that she alway
A would have felt that he sought ht
studio SO frequently because he hope
to get back his quarter and she pr
I ferred to have a better UNDERESTIMATE