Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1915-08-31
A sALARIED man
BY SARAH WHITING.

starVe with Elsie than feast without
her."
"How about whole starving?"
Louise, his cousin. asked provoking
ly. Sure it may not come to that?"
(Which means, being interpreted,
you hate Elsie Denton" Jack retorted,
his mouth settling doggedly.
Louise looked at him reproachfully.
Il deserve that for the folly Of think.
ing you would not misunderstood me-
she said. II have nothing against
your sweetheart except that I have
nothing for her. Like all the Denton
girls, she has been brought up with an
eye single to misunderstanding rather
than misunderstanding"
"Good afternoon! I wont stay to
hear her slanderously dissected!"
Jack burst out. "Not even by the
woman to whom / owe my education.
Don't be uneasy-I1l pay you every
dollar. Elsie will help me. She is
already planning how we shall save
and thrive"
"You owe me no money, but I think
courtesy is due the blood-our blood"
she interrupted. you have been like
my brother-my dear younger brother
for whom I had such hopes" she
went on. steadily. BE halfway sen.
sible. Jack-for the blood's sake. Wait
until you have your profession, at
least"
IT shall get It, never fear" Jack
said holly, but not at your expense.
I'm deep enough in your debt al.
ready"
''Let that pass, please" Louise said
her eyes growing steely. TELL me
exactly what your plans are"
I'm going into Blaney's Office to
study" he replied defiantly.
With this, Jack rushed away to
Elsie Sore and bruised from the con.
flict with his cousin. he sought COM
fort and reinsurance. 1t hurt him to
find her on the verge Of tears, sur.
veying his ring with petulant frown.
It had been his mothers engagement
ring and was set with a small dia.
mond Of fine luster. He priced it SO
dearly he had thought she must do
likewise.
MAY Cutter ran in to show me her
ring" Elsie said petulantly. "Such a
beauty-a blue-white solitaire. She
says it cost thousand-and Job
Means Is going to give her a string OF
pearls when they marry. It made me
SO ashamed hid my ring-hand first
but she saw It, So had to tell her
I was wearing this just until you had
time to run up to the city and get me
Q real ring set In special design"
What an unprincipled little hb.
ber!" Jack said fondly. with yet an
unaccountable sinking of the heart.
Don't you think, Jack. It would be
better II you got me the real ring?
know your cousin has Z charge &C.
count at Letfelds."
'But I'd starve before added any
thing to it" Jack burst out.
At this she tossed her head, saying
with pout, "Why, she's bound to
give rs handsome present-for her
own credits sake! Just do as say.
and tell her that settles it. l simply
won't let May Cutter put it all over
me az she does"
Let me tell you o few things" Jack
said, paling to the lips. AS briefly and
as badly as possible he told her Of his
cousins attitude. of his own hopes.
plans, even fears. II know it's going
to be hard-an awful pull, grille" he
wound up; "but-we'll face it to-
gether. Isn't that better than being
apart?"
Elsie was sobbing. She had never
dreamed Of situation like this Her
plan had been to marry and 60
straight home to the Manners house,
the handsomest in town. Jack was
the heir presumptive-he had grown
up there. Miss Louise was so fond
OF him she could never. do without
him.
You say she'll do something for us?
How much do you suppose? We could
manage fairly on $4,000 a year besides
what you make" she ventured doubt
fully.
Jack laughed contemptuously. II
suppose she will furnish the kitchen
for US and give us half dozen tea
spoons" he said. But $4,000 a year!
Why, I couldn't bring myself to take
1t II she offered 1t. owe her too much
already"
'You are wickedly foolish" Elsie
sobbed. and unkind, too. II you had
told me in time shouldn't be in this
awful hole. OF course l can't marry
you as things are. I have no taste or
talent for starvation. Suppose we
wait year or two. Maybe l can
bring her around. II that turns out to
be impossible; well, we shall see. /
simply can't stay here forever. Mother
has three other girls younger than
am, remember; and father will never
be anything but salaried man."
Suppose I'm never anything but
that?' Jack asked abruptly, something
logged creeping into his face.
Elsie flushed and returned sharply:
IF you are going to let yourself be
the sooner get rid of this
trumpery the better!"