The Washington herald., 1914-06-13
DAILY SHORT STORY.
FLATS AND FURNITURE.
By CATHERINE COOPE.
tCorynsht. Isi.I

N'NtNH-hts i"'h-f
Marina dropped her weary head on her
arms and sobbed She was completely
exhausted with her effort TO make both
ends meet and her nerves were torn TO
s.-eds. There seemed to be no inn
me-. a-te chance for mending her nerves,
since ne needles of necessity were even
then pricking her painfully. IL there
were any way of getting out of the city
and into the wonderful life-Giving coun-
try for a short time. Marina felt that she
could again go on with her writing and
the struggle would seem less severe
For a time her stories had sold rapidly.
and her pen had flown with inspirational
swiftness across the pases, but even an
inspired pen cannot go on without cesSa-
tion through months of monotonous grind
Marna realized that her stories were nat.
With lack OF hrill!ance that even a
lenient editor might not overlook
Only by renting out her best sunny
room to two women who were out during
the day had Marina been able TO pay Tor
her small Hat and for the furniture she
had selected with 50 much joy Without
the five dollars a week which the renting
Of the best bedroom brought her, Marina
could not possibly have eked out home
life Boarding houses were detestable
to her, Yet now. after one year or struG-
Cling and the knowledge that she was
practically tied down TO the city because
of her flat and its contents, she lohGed
for the freedom that boarding Would al
ford her.
IF ! have TO he tied down to this fiat
1 will ntSp nv
mind. she told herself. with a hysterical
little laugh at her own weakness
feel now as if | could batter my beduti-
full rose-colored walls to pieces because
they hide the world from me Marina
felt very much like Gagged animal but
she knew that If she gave up her cage
she would still have to pay for storing
the furniture. and that she could not
afford if she had TO pay board at a sum-
mer hotel. Neither could she rent a
town fiat in the hot months.
In a desultory way she glanced through
the advertisements with the faint hope
that some one would want her fiat. \
wan smile fiickered in her eyes and struS-
eIed TO her lips. 1t WIS not often that
Marna gave way To depression
"Oh, | do believe this is my oppor-
tunity" she re-read an advertisement
new to the column.
Young man, getting marrled anu
having small fat would store furniture
for one year for use of same. Best care
taken. References.
Poor man." laughed Marina. he is
almost worse off than ! am. He is in
love. which | am not. and he has not
the. price for furniture. do believe
that would be a good scheme for me
II would save me storage money and
surely bride will take good care of my
lovely things Oh" she drew great
anticiptory breath, Il can almost taste
my freedom nowi A whole year to go
where ! want to! JOY. could write
story that would sell this minute for the
very thought of it,,
She sat down without loss OF time
and sent a communication to the adrer-
tiser stating in rough way the amount
of furniture she had. its intrinsic and
sentimental value and asking him to
come in the evening and look II over.
She wanted also to look him over, but
that fact she did not put on paper
When a decidedly good looking, bright
eyed Young man came to her door Marina
was instantly relieved of the suspense
sbe had been under during the hours
since she had written her letter. Many
doubts had assailed her, but they van
ished with one glance into his honest
gray-blue eyes.