The Elbert County tribune., 1911-03-10

The box-like hole where Howard
sat awaiting his meal was the largest
room in a fiat which boasted OF five
and BATH There was a bedroom of
equally diminutive proportions and a
parlor with wall paper so loud that it
talked. There was scarcely enough
room to swing a cat around. The
thin walls were cracked. the rooms
were carpetless. Yet 1t showed the
care of good housekeeoer. Floors
and windows were clean, the cover on
the table spotless. The furnishings
were as meager as they were ingen-
ious. With their slender purse they
had been able to purchase only the
bare necessities-a bed, a chair or
two. dining room table, a few kitch-
en- utensils. When they wanted to sit
in the parlor they had to carry a
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
part an aesthetic appearance to the
parlor. This place cost the huge sum
OF s25 month. 1t might just as well
nave cost SlOO for all Howard's 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 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"
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? 1t
would never do to discourage How
ard. She tried to make light of it.
or course 1t 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" blurted
out Howard, always ready to blame
others for his own shortcomings
you remember Coke! He was at
Yale when | was. A big. fair fellow
with blue eyes. He pulled stroke In
the varsity boat race, you remem-
ber?"
y think | do" replied his wife. in
differently, as she helped him to more
stew. What did he want? What's
he doing in New York;"
Hes got 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 If only had little capital
He knows everything going on in
Wall street. If went in with him I'd
be on Easy street"
How much would 1t require?"
1.-TWO thousand dollars"
The young wife gave a sigh as she
answered:
I'm afraid that's day dream Only
your father could give you such an
amount and you wouldn't go to him,
would you?"
mot 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.
Il 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 If you would consent to
leave me-
Howard laughed as he replied:
We'll. If that's the price for the
$4,000 | guess I'll go without It,
wouldn't give you up for a million
times s2,O00."
Annie stretched her hand across
the table.
Really" she said.