Grand Forks daily herald and the evening times., 1914-07-21

"And for you in the days. Well
year"
But the year begun so u%npropiti-
ously did not improve with age. Jim
broke his leg and was idle for two
months. Lucy, worn and nervous
from the strain of nursing him. fell
i'll with a stubborn fever which it
seemed impossible to break. Her ILL
ness, too, necessitated the care Of a
nurse. And. while they were well
satisfied to make out with the nurse
unframed, the dollar a day that they
paid her ate into the small sum Jim
Altogether it was a di~sheartening
year.. 1t was after Lucy was we'll
again, but weak and needing change
Of air and scene that Jim wrote to
Bert. The answer was some time in
coming. AND when it did it gave nj
relief. Bert was laboring as hard as
he could. The work was not so well
been, but he was near his wife and
much happier. He had not forgotten
the note. Before it fell due he would
be ready with it. Through it all Jim
could trace a little hint Of annoyance
that he had asked before the note fell
due.
Lucy made out without going away
iiiOSl CApCiASiNc part OIL lllG QOC"
tors prescription. But she did not
mend as fast as they had hoped.
Jim borrowed a little here and there
to pay the doctor and for the medi-
cine. And it was something he had
never done befroe.
To all of us there have come years
when everything went wrong-years
impossible to get ahead Such a
one lac come to Jim and. Lucy. They
used every economy. but it was Of nc
use.
when old Bert squares up" Jim
said, "we'll be all right. This monthly
interest is hard to meet, but he'll make
good and then we'll be able to get on
again."
From time to time Bert wrote a line
to them. His wife val not doing as
well as he expected. The doctors had
not much hope. If anything should
happen to her
He broke off there. Jim's heart was
heavy for him. He knew much OF the
struggle he was Misunderstanding all
day and often watching far into the
night. His burden seemed far harder
to Jim thar his own did. But his own
waxed heavier as the year drew to a
close. The little sums he had Dor
roWed were asked again, with varying
degrees Of Impotence. And he could
not always respond. Little threads of
gray began to show in his close crop
ped brown hair and worried lines
came in Lucy's smooth forehead.
The note fell due at last; due, then
overdue. Jim and Lucy watched the
letter carrier like lovesick girls. And
at last the letter came. 1t was black
bordered. They knew the news it
had to tell before they opened It.
Poor Bert" sighed Jim, holding
it unread in his hand. Hell go all to
pieces"
But the note was not from Bert.
1t was from his wife. He had died Of
pneumonia after al illness of a few
days. And before he died he had
confessed about the note and how it
had come to be given. The letter was
a beautiful letter of gratitude and
faith. 1t would not be long until she
would be with Bert, she said. This
much consolation the doctor had
given her in her sorrow. And she was
counting the hours. But the note lay
heavily on her mind. She did not
know how to pay it. She could not
work. Whatever was over, she said,
she had directed to be sent TO them.
Was it a hardship, not having it all!
Or could they afford to wait for the
return Of their bread upon the wa
ters? t.
hen the eyes of Jim met the eyes.
of Lucy and he knew her for a true
mate in thought and word and deed.
She. spoke with sobs, but the words
were good and true.
THE home-we car get another
one, Jim How miserable she must
have been: If it had not been for
you!"
And Jim's voice, not so steady as
usual, answered her: "I know, dear.
That was how I felt when poor Bert
asked me. What if it were my Lucy,
sick and unable to get away, with
no one to help? I thank God I gave
it to him."
And SO do l." said Lucy. ?
They wrote a letter-a good, soul
satisfying. cordial letter-to the little
woman waiting to be fire.. And they