The Charles Mix new era. (Wagner, Charles Mix County, S.D.) 1???-1911, 1910-11-18
Their Sympathetic
J.. Friend

49, o~oNs = nav" ~ wVSA0
you up to go out among your friends.
Did you see many of the0f"
"Oh, yes, Rob, and tAsy were all
.ssvery sympathetic"
So Kirkland made an effort to look
properly grateful. MSo. Kirkland,
smiling, sat down on a hassock by the
invalid's couch and prepared to relate
the details of her litth outing.
First" she said, II went over to
your Aunt Harriet's ,.sfeF I knew that
even the fact of your having two
broken ribs, a fractured collar bone
and q fsprained ankle would not be in
her mind a valid excuse for my not
calling on her during IL month that
you've been ill.,"
Flow Was she?"
No worse than usual, bat exceed.
hgly bitter against automobiles. She
said she was not at all surprised that
you got hurt, for automObiling 10 a
reckless and ~extravagant habit for
people in u present circumstances.
There!"
why, didn't she know that I wasn't
h our W car and that I sold ours
the very day after those signed notes
brought us into such troublo?"
Yes, Of course she knows that"
said Mrs. Kirkland, but your accident
Is a delightful justifcatioa of her
. present theory that all the troubles in
the world grow out Of automobiling,
so she couldn't resist pointing a
moral. However, she sent her love to
you and said to say you ought to be
very thankful that you st1ll have your
head on your shoulders and . roof
over it." 49,
Kirkland made . srimace. Mrs
kirkland vent on cheerily:
Then I dropped In to see Glars
Holland. I'm afraid things are going
naal. With her now. Toms been
is:skirg again ard his mother thinks
It's all C!ara's fault and won't even
help her with the grocery bill. And
ha- baby is sick and peevish. My
heart just ached for her until she said
that when she thought Of what trou.
Bile you and l have had lately she felt
she %oughtn't to complain of her little
worries. She feels dreadfully sorry
for us, Rob"
Every kind of her, I'm sure. But we
a still struggle with our own grocery
bill!S Poor Clara means well, of
course"
Yes, indeed. 1t was refreshing to
30 into the Bowerses' luxurious home
after the disorder and confusion of
Clara's fat. l gladly accepted Mrs.
Bowers invitation - lunch. Mr..
Bowers comes home for that meal now
n he looked 80 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 I was leaving he
said he had a very fatherly feeling
toward you, and just - soon as O
are we'll enough he intends coming
over to- give you a good talking to
about the folly of signing notes for
people. Don't scowl, Rob. l tell O
this only because I think it almost
funny. As if you didn't know more
about that now than he could ever tell
you'll"
"Yas, I understand" Kirkland
pressed the hand that lay lightly in
his.
Mrs. Bowers sent her love an. a
box of tuberoses. l let the flowers In
the hall because l know you hate the
odor of them"
Kirkland made another grimace.
His wife continued:
From there l went downtown to do
Q few errands. 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
q hard run of luck. He looked pale
At the idea Of such q fate"
George never was a heavyweight"
commented Kirkland, good-naturedly.
Il stopped to speak to Miss Can.
Aald as | was going through Blank
ky's store. You know she is the
woman who sold US the lovely vene-
tan lace collar you gave me last
Christmas. She said she had heard Of
our ~'reverses of fortune and she felt
very sorry for us. l thanked her. and
fust as | was going on she remarked.
Well, anyway, Mrs. Kirkland, o
Fill have your real laces. That's
some comfort That was q consols.
ton I had never thought Of before.
-
ION the street csc coming home |
sA1 Mr.. Bayley. Fla said solemnly
that he had thought OF US often ana
had intended to call to express hin
sympathy after . proper period, but
he surprised that as yet We desired
70 see no Z but our most intimsts
eslends."
u hope you assured him that 80
the a ="
II did urge him to call. immell.
Gfaiy IN Won won1ar Rnh <SNaH \