El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1914-10-10
Absorbing In Its Intimate Appeal
The Fortunes Of Fanny ::
Fanny Finds 1t Difficult to Rent Room for Small
Amount
Amount.
By Virginia TerhuDe Van de Water.

places advertised as on the cross
4 streets. Her heart beat high with an
Z ticipation at first, for some Of the
/ houses looked much less sOrdid ano
mean than those in the nelghborhooc
l to which she had been accustomed. fOl
her grandmother had never been will
ing TO move from the house in which
she had resided for fifteen years
In the house Fanny liked best she
was told that the smallest room on
the top floor rented for six dollars a
week. She caught her breath in
amaZement and beat a rapid retreat
dollars. BY the time she had been
to a half dozen different houses and
apartments she turned into Eighty
third street not far away from Ans
terdam avenue and looked up an ad-
dress that had been advertised as "a
light room at low rent The Hat
she sought was up FOUR IughtS OF
stairs. Here she asked timidly about
the furnished room" It was shown
to her by a rather hard-faced but
smiling landlady. The room was
small, yet not dark, a hall bedroom
with an iron bed. combination wash
stand and bureau, one chair and q row
Of hooks covered with a curtain. These
were behind the door and were in lieu
OF the closet which the room did not
possess At the foot OF the bed was
space for a small trunk. Noting this
Fanny recalled with relief that her
trunk was not large
81 suppose I could always get water
from the bathroom whenever 1 wanted
itZ' she asked.
LandIady Comes Down In Her Price.
Yes" said the woman condescend-
ingiy-'thaL is, you can get II when
my familyis not using the bathroom.
Late at night the baths empty"
(Fanny resisted a sudden hysterfcal
Impulse TO giggle at this statementl.
This is q firstclass house and Of
course bath privileges 90 with the
rent I don't really have to rent rooms,
but I don't mind having a lodger in
this one and in another down the hall
foI there's no sense in their standing
empty, and my small family and myself
don't need them"
7 see" rejOined Fanny. And what
is the rent2''
Il usually get four dollars" was the
reply Then. as Fanny shook her head
and remarked that she was sorry, but
she feared that was more than she
could pay, the landlady added prompt
ly. Wen since you look like a re-
spectacle. quiet person, III let Won have
It for three dollars"
I'm think about it." Fanny began,
put Mrs. Olson Interrupted her with q
Drisk, You'll have to decide at once.
LOT others want this room
And Fanny decided. She had no
WORK but she must have a room. The
money she possessed would pay her
rent Tor while. Before il was all
gone she would have a position. She
had hunted for several hours but had
round no other room as decent vet
cheap as this She still held 10 her
determination TO eschew the East side.
II take it." she said firmly.
AFTER she had paid a weeks rent in
advance she went TO the nearest eN-
press office and paid a half dollar TO
nave her trunk fetched to her room.
Ihen she decided that as she had been
put TO so much expense today she must
economic on food tonight
So, going into a cheap restaurant,
she made her evening meal Of a bowl
OF crackers and milk They tasted
good, Tor she was hungry, having eaten
nothing since morning.