The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1913-07-24

1t was the first warm day. The
pavement felt hot beneath the worn
soles of Juliet's shabby shoes rs h
stood. beside. the huckster's wagon
contemplating its freight of wilted
vegetables. These things reminded
Juliet that it was spring and thai she
was too poor to buy.
h other women Of the tenement
bought n wrangled over the price.
raucous discords. In all the hard
wears Of her city experience Juliet
had never learned to heat down even
a street huckstr. She drew back diff
IDENTIFY into the shadow OF the gaunt
building wherein she found shelter. A
woman passed CARRYING a bunch Of
onions under her arm. her hands full
of lettuce. She was a big, red faced
Irish woman who had a brood of
children to work for her. suddenly
she turned and came back holding out
some lettuce.
Take it," she said. IN never miss
The color sprang to Juliet's white
face.
No" she said. proudly. Then she
thought Of Jacob and she reached for
the gift, though she knew it to he
made in charity. Thank you." she
murHured. meekly.
h ran up three flights of dirty
stairs n entered a room which held
for her all she loved and possessed in
the world. II held a tiny stove, a bed,
two chairs. a table, and a cupboard.
AT the one window stood a man with
his hands in his pockets. He turned
almost eagerly. Juliet put on her best
smile and waved the lettuce.
You bought it,"
why not? We're not so poor, l
hope, that we can't afford a bit of
lettuce on our first spring day."
Juliet's cheerful tone was inspiring.
With the salad You'll not mind a
cold lunch today, dear?"
Mind? Well. hardly. In fact. I
don't need any lunch. Juliet, OF de-
serve it. Work If YOU van to eat. l
don't work. Wherefore should 1 eat?"
Juliet laughed gayly. oh. my dear:
You'd work if there was anything for
o to do" she said. You always
have worked. There'N be an opening
presently. In h meantime. we aren't
going to starve.
For six weeks Jacob lac been u
of work. 1t had begun by his falling
i'll. When he went back his place was
filled. He had tried everything after
that. and While he was zone Julier
had tried too. 1t was wen more dim
cult for the woman than for the man
to get work. she found. At one or two
places where work was offered her al
something more than a starvation
wage she shrunk from accepting il.
Thank heaven, it was spring at last
and they could save the expense Of a
fire. But later they must have ice.
And all the time the rent would be
going on. How much longer they
would be able to pay for even this
Juliet could not tell. Still she sang
as she prepared the humble meal. And
then before she went to her place al
the table she kissed her Jacob.
Dear me-" h exclaimed. The
buffers out
wv don't need butter with this let
tuce." Jacob said. How good it is!
days" He was silent a moment. DO
YOU know. Juliet. I've been thinking
a lot about the country lately? It's
on account of the spring weather. l
guess. I banker after green grass and
dandelion blossoms. ! was a man when
I came to the city. I brought a good
deal to the city-youth and hope and
a determination to win out. l didn't
know what l had to grapple with. 1
know now. And it sort of d%isheartens
me-"
Il was a child when I anne" Juliet
recalled. sadly. My parents hrough.
me. The city worsted them. I took
up the fight. Then I found you.' Her
face turned radiant: her eyes sought
and held his. Across the bare little
ia bic their hands clasped strong. You
remember. dear" You came into the
store to buy darning cotton and I
sold it to YOU. You confided to me
that You wanted it to darn Your OWL
socks with. And thought that 1
shouldn't mind darning them for o
If YOU were to ask me some time.
They laughed together softly over
the tender remembrance.
IT was drawing SIS per then" Jacob
went on. 1T seemed enough to keep
a wife. And it was the way YOU man.
agd. But I got turned out Of the job