The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1912-01-12

The bOx-l1k0 QOt6 WQSI0 k2OW1Jv
sat awaiting his meal was the largest
room IN q flat which boasted Of 'flye
and bath" There was bedroom d
equally diminutive proportions and Z
parlor with wall paper 50 loud that Il
talked. There was scarcely enough
room to swing q cat around. The
thin walls were cracked, the rooms
were carpetless. Yet It showed the
care Of good housekeeper. 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 bed. q chair OF
two, dining room table, few kitch-
en- utensils. When they wanted to sit
in the parlor they had to carry q
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 dresser in the
bedroom, and with few photographs
and tacks they had managed to Inn
part an aesthetic appearance to the
parlor. This place. cost the huge sum
of $25 month. It might just as well
have cost 800 for all Towards ability
to pay it. 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: $50 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. It meant that their hard hand
to-mouth struggle must go on. She
said nothing. What was the use? It
would never do to discourage How
ard. She tried to make light of 1t.
"Of course it isn't easy, I 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 I was. A big, fair fellow
with blue eyes. He pulled stroke In
the varsity boat race. you remem.
ber?"
Il 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;"
"He's got fine place in a brokers'
Office in Wall street. I 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. II went in with him I'd
be on Easy street"
How much would it require?"
1.-TWO thousand dollars"
The young wife gave sigh as she
answered.:
I'm afraid that's q day dream. Only
your father could give you such an
amount and you wouldn't go 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.
IT have certainly no wish that you
should humble yourself. At the same
time I am not selfish enough to want
to stand in the way of your future.
Your father and stepmother hate me.
l know that. I 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:
well. If that's the price for the
$4,000 guess I'll go without it. ]
wouldn't give you up for million
times $2,000!"
Annie stretched her hand across
the table.
"Really?" she said.
CrO BE CONTINUED)