Charlevoix county herald. (East Jordan, Mich.) 189?-1953, 1911-03-18

The box-iike hole where Howard
sat awaiting his meal was the largest
room in fiat which boosted of five
and bath" There was a 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 were cracked, the rooms
were carpetless. Yet IL showed the
care OF good housckeeper. Floors
and windows were clean, the cover on
the table spotless. The furnishings
were as meager as they were ingep-
ious. With their slender purse they
had been able to purchase only the
bare necessities-a bed, chair or
two, 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 a few photographs
} and tacks they had managed to i'm
|
, parlor. This place cost the huge sum
of s25 month. 1t might just as well
have cost 500 for all Towards ability
TO pay 1t. 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 a plate full she said: $50 you
had no luck again this morning.
> Howard was too busy eating to air
, swer. AS he gulped down a huge piece
: of bread, he growled:
:. Nothing, as usual-same old story,
, nothing doing"
= Annie sighed. She had been given
: this answer so often that it would
have surprised her to hear anything
else. 1t meant that their hard hand
: to-mouth struggle must go on. She
said nothing. What was the use? II
would never do to discourage How
3 ard. She tried to make light of It,
J "Of course it isn't easy, l 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" blurtet
out Howard, always ready to BLAME
others for his own shortcomings
you remember Coke! He was a
| ~ Col, fol
with blue eyes. He pulled stroke II
- the varsity boat race, you remem
Al ber?"
n 81 think l do" replied his wife. In
II differently, as she helped him to NOR
H stew. What did he want? What
II he doing in New York;"
II Hes got a fine place in broker
III office in Wall street. l felt ashame
II to let him see me low down like thi,
M He said that l could make a good dea
HI of money If only l had little capita
HI He knows everything going on 4
III Wall street. II l went in with him /
HI be on Easy street"
Ill How much would It require?"
I'll 1.-TWO thousand dollars"
HI The young wife gave sigh as 81
~ answered:
I'm afraid that's day dream. Onl
your father could give you such a
amount and you wouldn't go to hin
would you?"
Not IL we hadn't another crust
the house." snapped Howard savag
ly. You don't want me to, do you!
he asked looking up at her quickly.
NO dear" she answered caiml.
81 have certainly no wish that 20
should humble yourself At the sam
time am not selfish enough to wal
to stand in the way OF your futur
Your father and stepmother hate m
| know that | am the cause of you
separation from your folks. No doul
your father would be very willing
help you If you would consent
leave me-"
Ice Howard laughed as he replied:
well. If that's the price for III
81, 900 / guess I'll go without It,
wouldn't give you up for a millic
times $4,000"
Annie stretched her hand aero:
me the table.
n osg -