The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1911-01-19

nthEcN uOWs mute WIN huhntnneut, ~
this child who had 10 long. 30 un-
complainingly. shared his poverty and
privations. grown suddenly to the stat
ure of woman-and a tormented,
passionate woman. stung to the quick
by the injustice Of her lot. He put out
hand in a feeble gesture of plaza.
ton. but she brushed Il away as she
bent toward him. speaking so quickly
that her words stumbled and ran into
one another
~ can't understand ltr' she ragged.
"Why In Il that | have to be more
shabby than any other girl In town.
why is II that the others have all the
fun and all the drudgery7 why is
II that can't ever go anywhere with
the boys and girls and laugh and-and
have a good time like the rest dor
Sam bent his head to the blast In
his lap his hands worked nervously
But he could not answer her
at amt that mind the cookin' and
doin the housework and-all the rest
but-why Is II you can never give me
anything at all? why must II be that
every one looks down on us and sneers
and laughs al us2 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 II isn't right. II isn't
decent. and II | were you I'd be
ashamed of myself"
Her temper had spent itself. and
with this 6nal cry she checked abrupt
", with catch al 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
cd himself together and forced his
voice to tone OF confidence. Just
be little patient. dear I'm sure
things will be better with us soon.
Just a little more patience; that's all.
Why. there was 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
bitterly "Oh. father! Everybody
knows they're no good! You've been
wastin' time on 'em ever since I can
remember. and you've never made a
dollar out of one yet"
he bowed to the truth OF thia, then
again braced up bravely. But this
gentleman seemed quite interested.
He's over to the Bigelow House now.
! 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 II o'clock neitherl"
"Well, perhaps you're right. I'll go
there It's after IL. but He start
ed to get his hat and stopped with an
exclamation "Why, Natl I didn't
know you'd got back"
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, 1--WE been
here some time cleaning up the cellar
to make room for the stuff that's COM
ing in. came upstairs just moment
ago, but you were so busy talking you
didn't notice me-"
He paused, swept the empty shelves
with calculating glance and came
out around the end of the counter.
"Everything's in tiptop shape" he
said. IT 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 old mans shoulder.
you're going to have the finest drug
store In the state within six months.
With the stun that Sperry has sent us
we can make Sothern & Lee look
like Go cents on the dollar. We're
going to make things hum In this
old shop, and don't you forget It."
He laughed lightly. with a 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" Ora
ham quavered. "I-but I'm afraid II
WON'T
"Now don't say thatw Duncan inter
posed firmly. "And don't let me keer
you. think you said you were going
out on businessf And I'll be busy
enough right here"
And. without exactly knowing how Il
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 fina
redding up. He desired least Of al
things an encounter with Betty In hel
present frame of mind. With a sud
den movement she threw herself II