Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1915-11-23
4 SALARIED MAN
BY SARAH WHITING.

StaTNe with Elsie imam FEAST WithOu
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 reproachfuIIv
Il deserve that for the folly of think
ing you would not misunderstood me- "
she said. Il have nothing against
your sweetheart except mat 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 won't stav to
hear her slanderously dissected!"
Jack burst out. mot even by the
woman to whom owe my education.
Don't be uneasy-I'll 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 l 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"
81 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 deiantly.
With this, Jack rushed away to
Elsie. Sore and bruised from the con.
f1ict 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 a 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 had to tell her
was wearing this just until you had
time to run up to the city and get me
a real ring set in a special design"
What an unprincipled little fib.
ber!" 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? l
know your cousin has a charge ac-
count at Letfield's."
But I'd starve before I added any
thing to it" Jack burst out.
At this she tossed her head, saying
with a pout, Why, she's bound to
give us handsome present-for her
own credits sake! Just do as l say,
and tell her that settles it. l simply
won't let May Cutter put it all over
me as she does"
Let me tell you 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. Il know it's going
to be hard-an awful pull, grille" he
wound up; "but-weII 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 go
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 Yentured doubt
fully.
Jack laughed contemptuously. 81
suppose she will furnish the kitchen
for us and give US half a dozen tea
spoons" he said. But $4,000 a year!
Why, l couldn't bring myself to take
it if she offered it. / owe her too much
already"
"You are wickedly foolish" Elsie
sobbed. And unkind, too. If you had
told me in time l shouldn't be in this
awful hole. OF course cant marry
you as things are. l have no taste or
talent for starvation. Suppose we
wait a year or two. Maybe | can
bring her around. If that turns out to
be impossible; well, we shall see. /
simply can't stay here forever Mother
has three other girls younger than 1
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
so-why, the sooner get rid Of this
trumpery the better,"
With that she dropped the ring at
his feet. He picked it up and left her
without a word
He thought his heart was broken.
Time healed it and his fortunes
mended. He did not marry for ten
years.
Elinor More, the girl Of his mature
choice, was worth the long waiting.
Copyright, 1916 by the Mcclure Newspa-
per Syndicate.)