The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1913-08-30
UCopyr,sht. 1913. by w. Werner.)

49, ~ w.
Il wouldn't mind the snapny
chairs, nor the old carpet. nor the
ugly pictures" said Miriam lolefully.
" 1t We're not tor the curtains. Old,
worn. torn things" She ierked them
into more even folds. The strain was
more than the decrepit Nottingham
could stand. Another rent, in addl-
ton TO an already large supply. ap-
pearel. And right in the centre
where it woul show worst.
Miriam looked at ii i'm dismaN. She
mad been talking to herself. Helen.
aged two, crawling on the floor, and
Carl, aged four, building q city of
blocks. We're not old enough to under
stand their young mothers longings
for more than their young fathers
wages could buy.
Il don't care Miriam said fierce
y. I'D like to rip them into shreds
IA as soon have no curtains. Every
h"dN for blocks around has draper
les, rose or green. 1t wouldn't take
more than five yards. and tina mer-
cerized pongee would look just like
SIX from the street" She gazed
longingly at the windows. In her
minds eye the rose draperies already
hnng there. And then L could pull
the lace curtains close together so the
mended places wouldn't show. And
people passing by would never know
but what our fat was furnished just
IKE other peoples. Carl. quit teasing
the baby
She knocks my blocks down."
whlmpering, every time / get a
house built"
Miriam sighed. came out of her inn
aginings, and picked up the baby.
She was a pretty little woman, with
curly brown hair and blue eyes. When
she and Harry We're married, five
years before. her eyes had been radi-
ant, her dimpled face n continued
smile. Now the dimples had been lost
i'm frowning lines. She was tired of
the continual economy necessary in
order to get rent. food, and clothes
ont of n thin pay envelope. Be-
fore the b came there had been a
wear of comparatively comfort. Carts
arrival hal straitened them. Helen's
appearance had changed straitened
circumstances to skimping. And Har-
rvs raises Of salary We're few and
small. Lately Miriam had begun to
feel indignant at him-instead of his
employers. Surely there must be some
fault in his work. He was shipping
clerk in a wholesale dry goods house.
other men were advanced more rap
idly. And two weeks before she had
learned accidentally that young Gale,
VINO was in the same department. had
been promoted over Harry's head.
h loved Harry. He was a good
looking. clean-cut, clear-eyed young
fellow. But the serious doubt as to
his ability was slowly marring that
love. Meanwhile all her general dis
content with him n their life took
the form of a fierce longing for rose
draperies. Harry laughed at her.
What do you car for passers-by?" he
asked, while he bounced Helen to the
ceiling and caught her. Miriam sui
lenly made no answer. She went daily
over her expenses. tried to cut down
We're living as cheaply as possible.
Now she felt that she hated Harry.
He didn't care for ANYTHING. He was
content to slide along-live with any
sort of furniture. Tn tired" she
said aloud, GROSSLY. as she rocked
Helen to sleep. of being poor"
BY evening she had partly forgot
from the fiat below, ran up to ask her
about the quantity of lard for pie
crust. h was 4 bride, Just learning
tn cook. Laughing and talking With
her. Miriam was in a genial humor
when Harry came home for supper
He came in smiling gayly. Miriam
forgot all about being discontended as
she brought the steak from the stove
and poured Helen's glass of milk.
And then in a second Carl destroyed
the atmosphere of good humor.
"Mamma's tired Of heing poor" he
announced. land Mrs. Webb told
her,
rs it necessary to tell outsiders? %
Harry asked with bitterly hurt eyes.
I've noticed" and he gulped-''for
some time-anyway." angrily. I'm
doing the hest I cam" He rose. leav-
ing his half-eaten supper got his hat.
and sla out Of the fat.
Miriam had started to explain. But
his sudden anger inf1amed her. h
let him go without a word. Her ayes
grew hard. He might as we'll know
that she was tired-dishearteningly
tired. She left her own plate half