Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1911-06-02

all? I know you can't do anything for
me. and so do you"
Sam had dropped into his chair, I'M
able to stand before this storm; he
stared now. mute with Amusement, at
this child who had so long. so un-
complainngly, shared his poverty and
privationS. grown suddenly to the stat
ure of woman--and tormentcd.
passionate woman. Stung to the quick
by the injustice of her lot. He put out
q hand in feeble gesture Of plaza.
ton. but she brushed it away as she
bent toward him. speaking 50 quickly
that her words stumbled and ran into
one another,
81 can't understand IT." she ragged
"Why is it that | have to be more
shabby than any other girl in town?
Why is it that tie others have all the
fun and al the drudgery? Why IS
1t that | can't ever 90 anywhere with
the boys and girls and laugh and-and
have Il good time like the rest dor
Sam bent his head to the blast. In
his lap his hands worked nrrvously.
But he could not answer her.
at amt that mind the cooEin' and
dom the housework and-all the rest
but-why is ii you can never give me
anything at all? Why must it he 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
n
Of their families and give their Chill
dren things to wear. You've got only
lis two to look after. and you can't
even do that. 1t isn't right. 1t isn't
decent, and if l were you ID be
ashamed Of myself
Her temper had spent itself. ana
with this final cry she checked abrupt
". 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 sald.
And he was heartbrollen for her. lie
GOT up unsteadily and put gentle
hand upon her shoulder.
"Why. Betty-P'-
A dry sob interrupted him. He pull
ed himself together and forced his
voice to d tone Of confidence. Just
be a little patient. dear. I'm sure
things will be better with us sooa.
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
bitterly. "Oh. father Everybody
knows they're no good! You've been
wastin' time on 'em ever since | can
remember, and you've never made a
dollar out Of one yet"
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.
/ think III 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 neitherr'
"Well, perhaps you're right. I'll go
there. It's after u, but He start
ed to get his hat and stopped with an
exclamation. "Why, Nat! l 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
here some time cleaning up the cellar
to make room for the stuff that's COM
ing in. l came upstairs just Il moment
ago, but you were so busy talking you
didn't notice me-"
He paused, swept the empty shelves
with q calculating glance and came
out around the end of the counter
''Everything's in tiptop shape" he
said. 81 checked up the bill of ladins
myself, and there's not thing miss
ing, not a bit of breakage Mr. Ora
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 stuff that Sperry has sent us
we can make Sothern & Lee look
like 65 cents on the dollar. We're
going to make. things: hum. in this