The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1911-02-10

The box-like hole where Howard
sat awaiting his meal was the largest
, room In fiat which boasted or "fiys
and bath" There was bedroom OF
equally diminutive proportions and
parlor with wall paper so loud that II
talked There was scarcely enough
room TO swing cat around. The
thin walls We're cracked. the rooms
we're carpetless. Yet IL showed the
care OF good housekeeper. Floors
and windows were clean. the cover on
the table spot.ess. The furnishings
were as meager as they were ingen.
iouS, With their slender purse they
had been able 10 purchase only the
pare necessities-a bed, a chair or
TWO. a dining room table. few kitch-
EN- utensils. When they wanted TO sit
in the parlor they had TO carry
chair from the dining room: when
meal times came the chairs had TO
travel back again. A soap box turned
upside down and neatly covered with
chintz did duty as a dresser In the
bedroom. and with few photographs
and tacks they had managed 10 Inn
part an aesthetic appearance 20 the
parlor. This place cost the huge sum
OF $50 month. II might just AS we'll
have cost 500 for all Howard's ability
to pay IL. The past months rent was
long overdue and the janitor looked
more insolent every day But they
did not care. They were young and
life was still before them.
Presently Annie came In carrying
a steaming dish OF stew. which she
laid on the table. AS she helped How.
ard to plate full she said: so you
had no luck again this morning."
Howard was too busy eating TO an.
swer. AS he gulped down huge piece
OF bread, he growled:
Nothing. as usual-same old story,
nothing doing
this answer SO often that it would
have surprised her to hear anything
else. IL meant that their hard hand.
tomouth struggle must go on. She
said nothing What was the usey IL
would never do TO discourage How
ard. She tried 10 make light OF IT,
"Of course II isn't easy. | quite
understand that Never mind. dear.
Something will turn up soon. Where
did you go? Whom did you see? Why
didn't you let drink alone when you
promised me you would?"
THAT was Coxe's fault" blurted
out Howard. always ready to blame
nth hnr for la
You remember Coke, He was at
Yale when | was. big. fair fellow
with blue eyes. He pulled stroke In
the varsity boat race you remem-
ber?"
IL think | do" replied his wife. I'm.
differently. as she helped him to more
stew. What did he want? What's
he doing in New York;"
Hes got a fine place In a brokers'
Office in Wall street felt ashamed
| TO let him see me low down like this
! He said that | could make "A good deal
! OF money II only | had little capital
He knows everything going on In
Wall street. II / went in with him Id
be on Easy street"
| How much would IL requlreT
Two thousand dollars"
The young wife gave a sigh as she
answered:
I'm afraid that's a day dream. Only
! your father could give you such an
amount and you wouldn't 80 to him.
would you?"
Not II we hadn't another crust In
the house." snapped Howard savage.
! ly You don't want me to- do your"
he asked looking up at her quickly.
mo. dear" she answered calmly.
II have certainly no wish that you
| should humble yourself. AT the same
! time / am not selfish enough to want
TO stand in the way OF your future.
! Your father and stepmother hate me.
/ know that ! am the cause OF your
| separation from your folks. No doubt
| your father would be very willing to
| help you II you would consent to
/ leave me-"
Howard laughed as he replied
We'll, If that's the price for the
$1,000 / guess I'll 90 without II. I
wouldn't give you up for million
times $4,000"
Annie stretched her hand across
q 50