Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-10-06
CHAPTER XIV.

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CHAPTER XIV.
CHAIRMAN sighed bit the end of her
~ pen, and sighed again. She was deep
in her housekeeping accounts, adding
and subtracting and, between whiles, re-
garding the result with rueful frown.
Her sleeves we're rolled up over her
round, white arms, and I inwardly won
dered If the much vaunted Phrynes were
ever more perfect in their modelling, or
of a fairer texture. Had 1 possessed the
genius of a Praxiteles l might have given
to the world a masterpiece of beauty to
replace his vanished Venus of Cnidus;
but, as it happened, l was only humble
blacksmith and she fair woman who
sighed, ara nibbled her pen, and sighed
again.
What is it, Charmian?"
Compound addition, Peter and | hate
fisures--I detest, loathe and abominate
them-especially when they won't bal
ance!"
Then never mind them" said l.
Never mind them, indeed-the idea, sir!
How can / help minding them when liv-
ing costs so much and we so poor?"
Are we?" said /.
why, of course we are"
"Yes-to be sure-I suppose we are"
said l dreamily.
I'VE have spent four shillings for meat
this week, Peter!" said Chairman, glanc-
ing up suddenly.
"Goodv' said l.
Nonsense, sir-four shillings is most
eXtravagantw
"Oh!-is it, Charmian?"
"Why, of course it is"
"Ohn' said /; "yes-perhaps il is"
"Perhaps" said she. curling her lip at
me, perhaps. indeed" Having said
which, CHAIRMAN became absorbed in her
accounts again, and l in Chairman.
And bread. Peter" dhis in a voice of
tragedy "-eightpence."
Excellent said / recklessly, whereat
Chairman Immediately frowned at me.
"Oh, Peter!" said she. with sigh OF
resignation, you possess absolutely no
idea of proportion. Here we pay four
shllings for meat and only eightpence
for bread; had we spent less on lux
uries and more on necessaries we should
have had money in hand instead of-let
me see!" and she began adding up the
various items before her with soft, quick
little pats of her fingers on the table.
Presently, having found the total, she
leaned back in her chair and summon
ing my attention with tap of her pen,
announced:
I'VE have spent nine shillings and ten
pence, Peter"
Good, indeedr said /.
Leaving exactly-twopence over"
"A penny for you and penny for me-"
81 fear ! am very bad housekeeper,
Peter"
ION the contrary"
you earn ten shillings a week"
"Well?"
"And here is exactly-twopence left-oh
Peterv'
"You are forgetting the tea and the
beef and-and the other luxuries" said
/, struck by the droop OF her mouth.
But you work so very, very hard and
earn so little-and that little"
Il work that may live, CHAIRMAN. and
10 l am alive"
"And dreadfully poorl"
"And ridiculously happy"
81 wonder why?" said she. beginning to
draw designs on the page before her.
Indeed, though / have asked myself
that question frequently OF late, / have
as yet found no answer, unless Il be my
busy, care-free life. with the warm sun
about me and the voice Of the wind in
the trees"
Yes. perhaps that is IT,"
And yet / don't know" / went on
thoughtfully, "for now l come 70 think
OF It, my life has always been busy and
care-free, and 1 have always loved the
sun and the sound Of wind in trees--yet.
like Horace, have asked What Is Hap
piness? and looked for Il In vain; and
now. herein this out-of-the- world spot,
working as a village smith. II has come
TO me all unbidden and unsought-which
Is very strangeF
"Yes. Peter" said CHAIRMAN. still busy
with her pen.
Upon consideration / think my thanks
are due 70 my uncle for dying and ieav-
ing me penniless."
"Do you mean that he disinherited
your"
In way, yess ne left me his whole
fortune, provided that I married a GER
tain lady within the year"
"A certain ladyl"
"The Lady Sophia sefton, OF Cam
bourne" said 1.
Charmians pen stopped In the vehy
middle Of a letter. and she bent down to
examine what she had been writine.
"Oh." she said very softly, the LADY
sophia sefton Of camboune2'
CONTINUED ToMoRRoW)