Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1913-05-22

men to make up the value in Myself,
| like the risk she took coming into this Office and
asking for that money. You may depend on 1t she
didn't like putting her pride in her pocket on the chance
of putting fifty pounds in his. The black marble clock
dusty and spotty, gave out an uncertain stroke MI
Werriss apparently dismissed Miss Findon with jerk
from his mind It's nearly lunchtmc, he said, and
| haven't finished UP these entries. But he found
it impossible to get with them Something had
happened to him. he kept seeing slim figure in black
hearing a low voice plead for money brothers
life Well there hundreds of sick with lives
to save. What did one or less matter?
lie sat at a marble table in the cheap luncheon place
round the corner, and served with two poached
eggs spinach and a cup of coffee. \ little way
down facing him. Miss Findon with cup OF
and half sconc; there butter to the scone
When she looked up and evidently recognized MN, me-
too saw that the eyes were soft and gray; but they
looked sad and tired, and her hands trembled little
she replaced the cup in the saucer lie wished nc
hadn't come to the same place to which she had come,
but it was his habit do so besides, he had never
seen her there beore-perhaps she had had different
He felt awkward for she must know that he had
heard every word She had said She finished her meal
quickly paid threepence at the desk, and went out
81 expect she's pretty well done he thought She
spent all her courage on Nilsson and probably hates
seeing here He looked up at the clock. Three
quarters OF hour before he need 60 back he hurried
the desk told the young woman to keep the change
from his shilling, and stood outside strainng his eyes
He could just Miss Findon at the end OF the street;
with long strides he fed after her. She went on toward
an old graveyard that had been cleared and turned into
a green space There two or three seats; tired
workers often them in their dinner-hour getting
such fresh air possible.
Miss Findon sat with her back to him, and was very
still lie knew that she saw and heard nothing; he
passed behind the scat once or twice, then determined
make desperate plunge He went up TO her and
lifted his hat IF you'll forgive me for speaking to
YOU I'd like to do So he SAID.
She seemed to he awakened from dream. Yes,
what is it,
II expect you saw me in the Office just now
Yes Her manner was cold and discouraging But
a brilliant thought had given him courage.
- heard YOU say something about teaching French
in the evening
Yes"
That language has been the great bugbcar OF my
lie. I've never been able to get near it anyway
OH! y smile came into her eyes. ut is difficult
Well what I'd like would be if | could get at it on
the quiet of an evening through the winter | might
take it by surprise, and wouldn't mind what I paid
ii did that
There arc schools and classes"
Don't want them; but | thought it might suit you
and help me, ii we could come to terms?
She looked almost resentful, and suspected him of
wanting to give her money in the guise OF lesson fees
Il shouldn't care to have one pupil only; ii had four
five
We'll, perhaps you'll allow me to sit down while
we discuss it,
She nodded for answer
I'D Ike. to Ok, know what your chargG would BE-
get two shlings an hour for conversation lessons.
But | would take less"
III you could get 1--WE Of us togcthcr'-he settled
himself on the lar away from her possible,
he thought it seemed respectul-"why, that would be
two dollars and half night say four nights week,
ten doars-wo pounds 1t would mount up--money
does. There's nothing more curious than money il
YOU don't look out it slips away, and before you know
where you its gone; but if you go adding to
it, it mounts up just surprisingly"
She hestatcd before she asked, Did you hear what
] said to Mr.. Mlson;"
Why yes, I did every word don't deny it. 1
was struck
why with the sense that you've got to see that lifes
valuable enough to make it worth while ask for what
may save it, hold with being independents People
who use-l mean who don't work or make you
feel better happier, decorate the world by being
good to look at, who don't pay for their footing in
any way-are better dead but there aren't many of
them about There's value in evetybody-I never yet
met any without it-and we've got to do the best we
to keep them alive. AS a rule it can't be done
without money.
He explained you see if a million arrived for a
man on his funeral day it wouldn't be any good to
him, whereas ten dollars the week before might enable
him to live and choose his own motor later on
That's why thought it fine of you to walk into the
lions den this morning and ask for that fifty pounds
bet YOU had struggle to make yourself dc, it,
ooh, | did, She gave little shudder.
"Wcl, its | wouldn't think OF it any more
only of some other way in which you get what yot
want II You take TO teaching French, or"he stopped
and held on to the back of the sea-"theres anothe
way; if you wouldn't mind taking loan from me"
From YOU" she exclaimed. Il couldn't; of cours
] couldn't
I've got it and I can't tell you how glad I'd be
Money is good till its spent; there it is, and i
you'd make OF it
Il couldn't" she repeated, firmly.
Don't see why you should mind borrowing of m
any more than of Mr. Nilsson"
q do. He is my employer. I've worked for hin
these two years and he knows me You yer
kind but its impossible"
He was afraid she would get up and walk ava!
'Wcll you must forgive for suggesting it." II
became busness-like again IF you don't mind m
asking haven't you any friends relations who'll ru
to tY
"None, except Harvey Fndon away in Los Angeles
She stopped for a moment. then ad5sd, firmly, 81
would be impossible to ask him.
Then suppose you think about the French"
yes I'll think about the French" she said anXious
but lack ought go at once; November begins ne>
week You see the typhoid fever came at such ba
time before we'd finished off the debts that mother
last illness made he never told me how he starved hin
self lie used to be so merry, it was dreadful to Sc
him white and ill., instead of laughing and running
She stopped suddney.
Mr.. Werriss looked at her; he put his hand to h
throat as if to steady his voice, and took anoth
} plunge, Look here, Miss Fndon. you don't know IN