The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1915-09-18
A SALARIED MAN
BY SARAH WHITING.

Hang prudence!" Jack Manners
cried impulsively "pd rather half |
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 Il have nothing against
your sweetheart except that | 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 won't stay to
hear her slanderously dissecred!"
Jack burst out Not even by the
woman to whom l owe my education.
Don't be uneasy-In pay you every
dollar. Elsie will help me. She is
already planning how we shall save
and thrive"
"You owe me no money, but l think
courtesy is due the blood-our blood"
she interrupted. you have been like
my brother-my dear younger brother
for whom / 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"
Il 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
ilict 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.
1t 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 a thousand-and Job
Means is going to give her a string of
pearls when they marry. 1t made me
so ashamed l hid my ring-hand first
but she saw it. So l had to tell her
was wearing this just until you had
time to run up to the city and get mo
real ring set in a special design
What an unprincipled little fiji
bert" Jack said fondly with yet an
unaccountable sinking of the heart.
Don't you think, Jack, it would be
better if you got me the real ring? /
know your cousin has a charge ac
count at Letfields."
But I'd starve before l added any
thing to it." Jack burst out
At this she tossed her head, sayine
with a pout, why, she's bound t.
give us a handsome presenter hel
own credits sake, Just do as | say
and tell her that settles it, / simply
won't let May Cutter put it all oveI
me as she does"
LCt AlC ICIA y Ou d lew luluBS, JaCr
said, paling to the lips. AS briefly ani
as BADLY as possible he told her of hi:
cousins attitude, of his own hopes
plans, even fears. Il know it's goin,
to be hard-an awful pull grille" ht
wound up; "but-wen face it to
gether. Isn't that better than beinj
apart?"
Elsie was sobbing. She had neve
dreamed of a situation like this He
plan had been to marry and e
straight home to the Manners house
the handsomest in town. Jack wa
the heir presumptive-he had grow
up there. Miss Louise was SO fon
of him she could never do withou
him.
You say she'll do something for us
How much do you suppose? We couI
manage fairly on $4,000 a year beside
what you make" she ventured doub
fully.
Jack laughed contemptuously.
suppose she will furnish the kitche
for us and give us half dozen te
spoons" he said. But $4,000 a year
Why l couldn't bring myself to tai
it if she offered it. | owe her too muc
already"
you are wickedly foolish" Els
sobbed. And unkind too. If you ha
told me in time | shouldn't be in tn
awful hole. OF course l can't mari
you as things are. have no taste {
talent for starvation Suppose v
wait year or two. Maybe | ca
bring her around. If that turns out
be impossible; well, we shall see.
simply can't stay here forever. Moth,
has three other girls younger than
am, remember; and father will ney,
be anything but a salaried man"