El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1914-02-03

me not to ask him for another cent
Wouldn't the store keep the coa5
Tor you for few months ventures 81
Helen. I'm sure if you'd explain II
they
"oh. it's only small shop and
they're going out of business. Inal
why they're closing out everything SO
cheap. IT I can't pay the rest OF inc
money, III lose my $50 deposit"
In a flash Helen realized what MIS-
Thurston wanted-to borrow the
money Of heri She should have senseo
it before. There was a moments IN
comfortable silehce-then Mrs. Thurs
ton made the plunge.
"Oh, you don't know hiw I hate to
ask you, it's so fearfully emDarras-
sing But if you could only 1end me
S75-for Just a few weeks! Wits a
little grouchy now-but he'll soon
come around. I'll give you my note
for the first of March, know III
Helen flushed resentfully. Mrs.
Thurston had no right to ask this
their friendship did not warrant It.
Yet how could she refuse?
You know I'd be willing TO 90
that much for you any time, in
hurt tone, noticing Helen's heslta-
ton.
Helen thought with grim regret Of
the day when she had conlded TO
Mrs. Thurston that she had her own
little bank account that Warren
wanted her to feel she need not come
to- him for every cent Now she was
taking advantage Of that confidence.
Hard Pressed.
ooh, YOU know I'd like to help"
unhappily, flushing deeper, but II
really haven't that much in the bank.
Warren's been complaining OF hard
times, too, and used some OF my own
money this Christmas"
Then how much could you let me
have2" promptly pinning her down.
But it wouldn't help, would it
unless you could pay for it alp asked
Helen evasively.
It suppose I couId let the grocery
bill run another month" in froWning
distress, but VIII would be furious
if he knew. You could let me have
at least fifty-cOuldn't your
Summoning all her courage Helen
murmured a regretful:
I'm afraid I haven't much more
than $25-and I'll really need'--
ooh, I can pay that much back in
a couple of weeks" interrupted Mrs
ThurstOn hastily. But I'd hoped
you could let me have more"
Helen was hardly prepared for this
taking it all for granted. She had
not said that she would loan the
money-but only that she had that
much in the bank. With lowered eyes
she pulled at the ribbon on her neg
ligee trying to think of a way out.
She felt helplessly trapped, and un-
able to combat Mrs. Thurston's high
handed methods.
II really hate TO draw out every
cent" in painful confusion.
ooh, of course" Mrs. ThurstOn with
a naughty, injured air made motion
as though to rise, "if you don't wish
to lend it to me-that's different. I'm
sorry I troubled you. I wouldn't
want to be under obligations to any
one for so small an amount. If I'd
thought it would inconvenience YOU, I
certainly wouldn't have asked iti''
This injured air had its intended ef-
fnrT Helen felt d111U ashamed and
IlerCenary, and she rose with an al
most aDOlOgetiS:
ooh, I didn't mean 1t that wayl If
S25 will help-Tu be very glad to let
You have that"
Helen is Dubious.
Helen got her check book and made
out the check, which Mrs. Thurston
took with effusive assurances that she
would return 1t very soon.
When she had gone, Helen stood
staring out the window with con-
flicting emotions. She thought of the
SIS she had lent Edith Wyman over
a year ago, and the SO she had given
that woman who had sewed for her
that, too, had never been returned
OF course Mrs. ThurstOn was differ
emit Yet since she was so careless
about money matters-she might be
careless about paying her debts
Helen was most exacting about any
thing pertaining to money. She had
never borrowed a cent in her life and
did not want to lend.
What right had Mrs. ThurstOn to
come to her2 She resented the way
she had called her up, without giving
a clew to what she wanted. Then
came the ranking thought of how
sccretely flattered she had been that
Mrs Thurston had chosen her for a
cOnfidant.
The thing that ranked most was
that Mrs Thurston had subtly made
her feel that she was mercenary for
hesitating over so small a sum. She
knew that Mrs. ThuTston prided her
self upon being generous, even care
less, about money, and she had heard
her speak disdainfully Of people who
were CLOSE"
Perhaps If she was a little more
s'close," thought Helen, furiOusly, she
would not have had to ask for this
should she tell Warren? That ques-
ton had been lowering in the back
GROUND of her thoughts. She longed
t. tell him. Just to talk it over to
give vent to her pent-up Indignation
would be a relief.
It was late when Warren came home
and she could see that he was tired
and not in a very good humOr. SO it
was not until after dinner that Helen
ventured to breach the subject
Dear, who do you think was here
this afternoon
'FWhoT'
She Doesn't Tell.
Mrs. ThurstOn. She called up and
L.