Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1912-12-26

1t Was a Rough Road, but a
Check for $50 Came at
Right Tine.
BY LOUISE HOWARD.

Mavis had not trace OF tempera-
member name to the contrary not
withstanding. Necessity. hard and
grinding, combined with half-opportu-
nifty, had put her in the way of scrib-
bling for profit. That is to say, her
Sunday school teacher had been wife
to the editor OF a rather important
provincial newspaper. She 1t was who
had got Mavis' early efforts into print.
She it was likewise, who, when the
girl was sweet and twenty, and had
sold one short story to a ten cent
magazine, had counselled her to go
cityward
II feel sure you have career. Go
to meet it." the dear woman had said.
Mavis had obeyed. How after three
years she smiled recalling the speech.
then sighed thankfully, to know her
yond, and would never know how fu-
tile had been her prophecy.
II a career did really lie in walt for
her. it had, so far, successfully eluded
her. Unknown, sensitively proud, con-
scious of her provincialism, 1t WIS
rather woderfui that the girl had not
starved. She still wrote, desperately,
in intervals of sewing, substituting for
friend casually met who worked at
the ribbon counter, and exercising pet
dogs
Naturally the things she sent out
were crude-but with some vital touch
in them that now and then appealed,
and won acceptance. This was unfor-
tunate--acceptances we're Just fire.
quent enough to keep alive hope, pay
postage. and buy good yellow paper.
Mavis hated the yellow paper. She
promised herself that In the good time
ahead, she would use nothing but the
most spotiess linen.
This fall, she had been more than
ever beset by the writing impulse.
Consequently the drain on postage had
even scanted her daily bread. Where
she had devoured two loaves. she now
made one do. supplemented by crack
ers for lunch. She had found place
to get the most wonderful cracker
bargains--five pounds of broken ones
in a stout bag, for twenty-one cents.
1t was rather appalling to eat through
such a bag--but there were sundry
ways Of helping. Steamed crackers,
for example, tasted wholly unlike dry
ones. The steaming was managed
over the gas jet, IL the little stewpan
that cooked everything. When she
had sewing, which meant pay at the
end Of the Job. she had hot milk At
other times, hot water, barely dashed
with syrup, warmed her for her work
II 1t did not greatly nourish her. De-
cember had been wonderful-7Indian
summer balmier than May. She had
been extravagant enough to go out
and revel in the balm, through hours
that ought to have been given to work
even though she had no dogs to lead
Her patrons in that line fingered in
the country. But one or two had CIV
en- her sewing making over. mending,
beading
Altogether, Mavis felt reasonably
sure OF Christmas dinner. Debt she
would have none Other rent was paid
always to the day Summing up her
resources, she calculated that she
could pay everything, and have ten
dollars over. And she meant to spend
one Of the dollars upon dinner. Din
ner at the restaurant where all was APP
petizing and savory, was only seventy
five cents, But she meant to buy a
flower for her rusty coat also to tip
the waitress, and wish her 1uckalso
being very extravagantly minded, to
take cognac with her black coffee
She lived over the dinner in antici-
patton. almost every night. 1t helped
with the sewing, and also with the
milk and cracker diet. Two days be-
fore the holiday she had everything
finished Since she counted carfares
religiously, she set out then to deliver
her various parcels In one round. The
round would run through almost a
hundred blocks, to say nothing of zig
gags crosstown. But by continuance,
and transfers, she could make 1t cost
only fifteen cents. Reckoning cash In
hand, she found that after paying 1t
she. would have left little more than
her rent.
The day made her almost forget that
fact-it was so softly bright. SO filled
with hazy distances Dreamily she let
It soak In. as she went down hand
some street. with tall houses either
side, and motors standing at ease in
front of every other one. But coming
back her steps Jagged sensiblythe
maid had taken her parcel eagerly, but
had said: Mrs Gray is in the coun-
try she'll send yer money whin she
comes in
What If the others -Mavis stopped
there. with something like chill AS
she came to the car line, a sudden ap-
prehension held her 80 strongly she re-
solved to walk to the next place, in
spite OF the parcels. Only twenty
blocks up town and two across She
would ride then-of course If she got
money.
She did not ride thence-nor from
- nxr- III ~ - "a :