The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1910-01-03
WHEN
ADVERSELY
CAME

yes, the maid /dSSureu MN, MISE
Fenton WAS in She would take his
card to her at once.
so you're come at last" she said
coming to meet him.
Atherton smiled in enigmatic fash
ion. He seemed neither embarrassed
nor spologetic. The girl was plain
ly ,irritated.
my dear Margaret" said he, Il
know I owe you a thousand apollo
giles, but really | couldn't come last
evening. The fact is, | had a bust
ness appointment"
"A business appointment" she in.
terrupted, incredulously,
Exactly" said he. And to-day
was detained at the Office until af-
ter o'clock"
"At the Officer" she asked, with a
puzzled frown.
''At the Office" he repeated, smil-
Ing imperturbably. You see | have
at last needed your advice The old
careless life Is behind me. I'm a
toiler nova bread winner, IL you
like"
'In what capacity, pray?" she in
quired, the faintest hint of sarcasm
showing at the corners Of her mouth.
I'm a humble clerk in an insur-
ance office" he explained. "Wither-
by secured the position for me
job he prefers to call 1t,
ooh, | see," she said. you didn'
come for--for your answer last night
because you wanted to wait until you
We're really doing something Ted
I'm glad you're an idler no longer
I'm proud Of YOU
He smiled rather lugubriously
Il must confess / prefer idling,'
he said.
but you1l stick it out?" she
asked
"Oh, l shall stick it out, no fear.
said he.
We'll, I'll forgive you for no
coming last night" said she. "Ant
since you are working-really do
Ing something, however humble 1t is
the answer you want
Pardon me-" he interrupted her
81 can't have an answer. have nj
| right to one. You will very kindl,
forget, Margaret. that / have eve
| asked for one"
"Margaret," he said quietly, "
put the old life behind me because
| had to. The failure last Tuesday o
Simpson & Co. has put my finance
In a tottering condition. There will
be something left, 1t is true, but lit
| tie, very little I am a clerk becaus
I have to-because it means brea
and butter to me"
She sat for a moment in stunne
silence.
"Oh, Ted" she cried at length
I'm so sorry"
81 don't mind the loss OF the MOI
ey so much" said he slowly, AN
after all don't believe I'm so terri
bly, afraid of work But the part thu
hurts lies in the fact that have los
you. Of course, dear, ] know jus
what you are going to say--ths
youll wait for me through eternit,
If necessary. But that isn't wis
You must be free, absolutely free
so that when the other fellow come
along, sho is just as good as / a
and a little better probably, you ca
listen to him with no disloyalty
me-"
Good by" he said shortly; ar
bolted for the door.
The girl rose quickly and barre
the way. Her cheeks were 1ushe
and her eyes shining. t.
Ted" she said, I'm ashamed
you-ashamed and disappointed.
He stood before her silent.
~ thought you cared enough 4
y me to understand me" she said wi
, some heat,
Cared" he cried. Good Lor
Margaret, can't you see what tn
means to me?"
But you don't understand 81
, went on; you're not even trying
You look at this matter in your on
.. / Slu6U man ldSIlioh L W aHSN ."
what IT means to me or what ! wa
10 do. You say to me You are fire.
and You seem to think that ends II
I ''It is now you need me, when y
have everything to do she sal
"and yet you cast me aside as II
g would be drag"
, Good heavens, no, child!
/ said quickly. But do you suppo
. I'd let you make such sacrifices
1t me? DO you suppose Id let you Ii
y in all that poverty means-the ne
q rowness, the obscurity Of tt
. Ted, what are narrowness a
obscurity II have you?" she aske
q I'm not afraid Vs ief A..
n Atherton's hands were clinchi
! and unclinching nervousiy.
h Don't tempt me" he said.
ly She smiled at him with word
tenderness In her eyes.
" Would | be such a hindrance
st she asked
We Child, I'd be happy sewer d
ger-with YOU" he cried, and beft
Id he knew 1t he had caught her in
err arms.
And the funny part OF 1t all !
it said she a few minutes later, Il b
nd fully made up my mind that ye