The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1910-11-14

complainingly. shared his poverty ana privations, grown suddenly to the stat ure of a woman-and tormented, passionate woman, stung to the quick by the injustice of her lot. He put out hand in feeble gesture of placa- ton. but she brushed it away as she bent toward him. speaking so quickly that her words stumbled and ran into one another.
 "I can't understand iti'' she ragged. "Why is it that I have to be more shabby than any other girl in town? Why is 1t that the others have all the fun and I all the drudgery? Why is it that can't ever go anywhere with the boys and girls and laugh and-and have a good time like the rest dO?' Sam bent his head to the blast. In his lap his hands worked nervously. But he could not answer her. "It ain't that mind the cookin' and dofn' the housework and-an the rest but-why is 1t you can never give me anything at all? Why must 1t be that every one looks down on us and sneers and laughs at us? Why is it that half the time we haven't got enough to eat? Other men manage to take care of their families and give their chill dren things to wear. You've got only us two to look after. and you can't even do that It isn't right. 1t isn't decent, and if I were you I'd be ashamed of myself'-
 Her temper had spent itself. anc with this final cry she checked abrupt ly, with a catch at her breath for shame of what she had let herself say But. childlike. she was not ready to own her sorrow, and she turned her back. trembling
 Sam. too, was shaken. In his heart he knew there was Justification for her indictment. truth in what she had said And he was heartbroken for her. He got up unsteadily and put gentle hand upon her shoulder.
 "Why, Betty-I"-
 A dry sob interrupted him. He pull ed himself together and forced his voice to a tone of confidence. "Just be a little patient. dear. I'm sure | things will be better with us soon. Just a little more patience; that's all. Why. there was a gentleman here this | morning from Moo York city talkin' about an invention of mine" | The girl moved restlessly. shaking off his hand. "Invention" she echoed I bitterly. 'Oh. fatherI Everybody knows they're no good! You've been I wastin' time on lem ever since can remember, and you've never made a dollar out of one yet"
 I He bowed to the truth of this, then
 again braced up bravely. But this | gentleman seemed quite interested.
 He's over to the Bigelow House now.
 I think I'll step over and have a talk with him.
 You'd much better go and have a talk with Blinky Lockwood" she told
 him brutally. Hes waitin' for you
 at the bank and said he wasn't goin'
 to wait after 12 o'clock neitherr' 'Well, perhaps you're right I'll go there. It's after 12. but He start ed to get his hat and stopped with an exclamation "Why, Natl I didn't know you'd got backr'
 Duncan was at the back of the store clearing the last remnants of the old stock from the shelves. "Yes," he said pleasantly, without turning. i've been l here some time cleaning up the cellar to make room for the stuff that's eom- ing in. came upstairs just moment ago. but you were so busy talking you didn't notice me-"
 | He paused. swept the empty shelves l with calculating glance and came
 out around the end of the counter. ''Everything's in tiptop shape" he said. "I checked up the bill of lading
 myself. and there's not thing miss
 ing. not bit of breakage. Mr. Gra-
 ham," he continued. dropping a gentle
 hand on the ,ld mans sho Ilder. you're going to lave th~ finest drug store in the state withi \ months With the stuff that Sper1 -.as sent us
 we can make Sothern & Lee look like 65 cents on t. dollar. We're going to make things hum in this i old shop, and don't you forget it."
 He laughed lightly. with note of
 encouragement But he avoided Ora
 hams eyes even as he did Betty's. He
 could not meet the pitiful look of the
 former. any more than that stare of
 hostility and defiance in the latter.
 Its good of you. my boy" Gra-
 ham quavered. "I-but I'm afraid it
 wont'-
 "Now don't say thatr' Duncan inter-
 posed firmly. "And don't let me keep
 you. I think you said you were going
 out on business? And I'll be busy
 enough right here"
 l And. without exactly knowing how 1t had come about. Graham found him.
 self in the street, stumbling downtown toward the bank
 When he had gone Duncan would have returned to the shelves for a final
 redding up. He desired least of all
 things an encounter with Betty in her
 present frame of mind. With sud den movement she threw herself in front of Duncan.
 "So you were listening!"
 'I'm sorry" he said uncomfortably
 '1 didn't mean to hear anything" he
 argued plaintively. "I was in the room before understood and by the
 time I did it was too late-you had finished"
 "Oh. don't try to explain. LI hate