The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1914-02-03
Tie Evening Story
n
WHEN NlIsFoR TUNE CAME.

Copyright, 1911, by w. Wcrncr.)
Veronica Hay sat at her window
and looked at the brick wall, -four
feet away, down which the rain was
drearily dripping. II was Il cold, gray
fall of rain and. together with the
brick wall. it seemed to shut nj
everything that made life worth liv-
ins.
The room in which Veronica sat
was just such Il room as you might
have expected from the window. The
wall paper, the Worn red and green
carpet, the few sticks of dark furni-
turc conspircd with the brick wall to
prevent light or its scmblancc. Yet
the room, being warm and quiet ana
a reasonable shelter, seemed good
enough when one came back to it
tired at tho end of Il hard day behind
the counter.
The night before Veronica had
Spraincd her ankle. The doctor hat
said it would be a week at least be-
fore She could go back TO work. The
prospect was not ~enlivening, but Yer
onica, having provided for just such
a rainy day, was determined to take
her hardship bravcly.
There was one difficulty about tho
affair which she could not vet man.
8 to hcr liking. She must cat.
Veronica faced the possibility of be-
'ns Very hungry without any food in
slsht; for Mrs. Crum did not feed her
people and there was no restaurant
nearer than the next block. Veronica
could not hobhlc thai distance. More
over, she dare not ask Maud, the
maid, to buy eatables for her.
II haven't a single fricnd.' she
thought. signing. That comes from
being brought up in the country and
the PRESBYTERIAN church. I don't wen
make acquaintances. And when it
est of ALL"
Somebody came upstairs quickly
and slammed a door across the hall.
II wonder II that's the woman I've
me on the stairs so often--the gray
haired woman who peddles church
literature. She looks as if she could
be trusted and as il she wouldn't mind
doing a bit of missionary work even
If it takes the form of buying rolls
for a sprained ankle salesgirl. I'm
positive she has the room across the
nan. could ask her to get mc some
thing tomorrow"
Veronica got up and hobbled to her
storehouse--the top bureau drawer.
II window ledge was her r%efrigera-
TOR. when she had anything that re-
CURED cold storage. She had in the
bureau drawer not Il few graham
waters, two oranges, half a can OF
dried beef. and egg.
Il thought there We're two eggs"
She pondered. surely I bought half
a dozen. l ate two for breakfast. two
for lunch. and-ah. dear me, that
Srocer's clerk must have cheated me
or else lost n on the way" Yet
This last did not seem probable.
Il will so m ask that woman
now. If ] wait I may miss her alto
sether. And then I'd have to ask
somebody ] don't like the looks of so
we'll or starve.'
Veronica VAS not without a prop.
Beside the bureau stood the black
thorn stick which her grandfather
had cut in his native boys and brought
To the new country of his desire and
bequeathed to the one he thought
would most prize it. Veronica took it
and leaning upon it. knocked softly at
tho opposite door.
There was an ~instant's pause, then
the door opened and on the threshold
stood Il good looking Young man, who
first looked, then stared. at Veronica
through his glasses without even
smiling.
"Oh. / hes your pardon" saspcd
Veronica. i've made a mistake. I
Thought"
Il came to this room last night
, said the young man, as il he foresaw