Norwich bulletin., 1914-03-24
BABES IN A FLAT

Am I addressing the lady of the suite D. he asked in mild tone
 The lady of the suite flushed some what guiItily She was only IS and seemed unreasonably small for her years.
 Perhaps you didn't notice the card in the lower hall" she said with a touch of asperity in her tone, and yet the tone was strangely childish.
 What card ?"
 'Peddlers. book agents and solici- tors not permitted in this building. Take your supplies to the rear D
 I'm not an agent of any sort" he said. I'm just plain stranger lost in 8, strange fiat" He consulted a card. I'm looking for Mrs. Arthur Haines, whose maiden name was Abby S1oane-daughter of John and Lydia Dunham Sloane, who resided for many years in Fairgrove, Ohio"
 That's quite accurate" she said. T am the lady. What is it. special delivery"
 with a sudden grin. Wont you take me in? I'm your cousin"
 The child woman looked at him curiously, with her head little on one side
 How distant D
 'Oh, third. fourth, or fifth" She shook her head Tt doesn't seem reasonable that a fifth cousin would take such a lot of trouble to look up his poor relatives .'' Tt doesn't seem reasonable" he re- pIed, that a cousin of any degree would keep one of her own blood cool ing his heels on her doorsin.''
 He had a pleasant smile, and some how her childishneSs and quaintness kept him smiling.
 'fT have fau he Said that I'm inclined to hold fast to all l can find. Besides, l promised my fath- CT l would hunt up each of them-it was one of his last requests. She was silent for a moment, her bright eyes studying his face. We can't give you much of a vel come. cousin" she said You see how we live. Just two rooms Nice rooms. too. All we need, of course, but not intended for entertaining. You don't mind the big apron, do you?" T like it." he quickly answered. You look like the little princess in the fairy tale'
 A princess." she laughed. That's very good But princesses don't live [ in two rooms, on S14 week with g deducted every Saturday night to cut down a dreadful doctor bill But sou mustn't look at me like that. Arthur wouldn't like it."
 How is Arthur" Fine"
 Let me see-how old is he?" Twenty two"
 The visitor laughed. Babes in fiat ?''
 She turned on him quickly [ We'll, we're ever so much better off than the babes in the wood. Now, ? she said, as she spread her big apron across her lap, now we can talk You know something about us, don't you?' Something"
 k Perhaps you know that I came to the city to study drawing and Arthur met me and we ran away and were married and his mother was very angry and said he must give me up. And. of course he wouldn't and he had :! S3000 his father left him. and-and we We're very foolish and spent it all. And then we were poor. oh. so poor! And { l fell i'll. and oh. well don't let's talk about that. Arthur went to workAhe had never worked beforehand he is ! very brave, and I help him the best - know how. I've learned to cook and do lot of things-and I've learned to go without lot of thngs-and so has Arthur She paused and leaned for - ward. "l want you to know just how it stands with us. cousin. We are dolng the best we can, and some time maybe. we will do better Anyway when we sit down at our little table We have faith for our first course and iAOpC TUT CuI ldSl AIlu say, cousin. re- : member one thing, please. Don't offer to lend Arthur any money. He'd be l sure to spend it foolishly" i "F,oolishly
 ! Yes. Oh, know him. He'd want to spend it on me-a hat perhaps, or shoes, or maybe a coat. Don't you dc it, cousin. He isn't to be trusted with money. Why, if it wasn't for little mother he wouldn't save a penny i The visitor suddenly arose ] I'm going to call on Arthur" he said and stared hard at his watch. "PIl come home with him and stay to din ner. Goodby- And he hurried out
 When the cousin, who called himself 1 Dunham reached the little haberdash shop just around the corner from the
 main street, he paused at the window 1 and looked in. The only person visible was the young man behind the coun- ter, slender young man with youth