The Spectator., 1916-02-08
THE HIGHER BASIS
By HOPE AInSLiE.
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fortunate so far Tn ms earthly pilgrim age Even if Fate had not handed him it's spoils on a golden plate it had been first-rate imitation. Earl had always objected to the grocery store the same as his mother before him
 You don't need to run it, pop" he said, the week after he had arrived from Dartmouth. It's just habit
 Like enough it is, Earl but l sorter like it." old Finley answered pleasant ly, tilting back in his favorite arm- the store. If l shet down where in town would the boys play checkers?"
 They all came to play checkers there and had for years. If the old man happened to be absorbed in a game and a customer came into the store, the Finleys had lived in the rooms be- hind the store. but as prosperity dawned they had bought house upon the hill. and Mrs. Finley and Earl had done the honors of the family while pop played checkers.
  sent it's favorite citizen as a delegate to state convention down to Boston, and Earl gave up his camping plans to take hold in the store.
 You know. wish had authority to change things little,' he said that grocery can be run on-well. a high CT basis than pop realizes. 1 just took a look at one of his books this after noon. Why. marmie, nearly everybody in town runs an account with him and there's bills back for three years and more Doesn't he ever collect?"
 "I don't know. I always let your father run his own affairs and I run mine. He seems to get along all right. Somebody must pay
 "Oh, suppose they all pay in time. But store like that should be run on a strictly cash basis. l think I'll speak about it to some of the worst cases"
 The next day Judge Everitt came into the store. The judge was a privi ledged character all around East Gross cup. He was about seventy-three, with a mop Of curly white hair and twinkly blue eyes. He lived alone in the old Everitt homestead, with about six cats for company and all kinds of old clocks.
 Hello, there, boy" he said genially. "How's things? When do you expect your pop back?"
 eli Eo rl paf lis courage !" Do you think, judge, you could let us have a little cash on that old account?'
 Like enough" said the judge. 'l'll talk it over with your father, though. I guess. son."
 That night at church supper he met Dorothy Winthrop, the judges niece. He had always known Dorothy. it seemed to him, but since his last year at college she had grown into a woman, and he heard she was to teach school up at the central division after Christmas.
 I'm glad can do it." she told him, as they sat together eating pink ice cream and chocolate cake. We're go- ing to take Uncle Walter home with us the rest of the winter. He hasn't been a bit we'll since he lost so much in the street-railway-bond deal"
 Father was one of the packers Of that. He believed in it.
 II guess he must of" laughed Dor othy, for he made everybody else be- lieve in it. too, and it just slumped. They say Doctor Purdy lost lot and so did the Jenningses."
 Earl gave the books second going over the next day. The Purdy and Jennings families both were heavy customers on the side. He said no more about the old bills.
 There seemed to be good reason why the grocery store should not press any of the old debts against old man Finleys town folks.
 Fathers coming back today" Mrs. Finley said happily. a week or two later, stopping in at the store. Earl was busy shifting some soap powder stock from the currant and raisin shelf He stopped whistling and smiled down at her. This seemed too far away. and he jumped of the ladder and over the counter beside her.
 Land. Earl. how rough you are. :" she laughed. as she smoothed her hair from his quick hugging. What ails you. child?"
 Want to know, mumsie?" he slipped back to the childhood name for her. Dorothy promised she'd marry me last night. You were asleep when l got Tn so didn't want to call you"
 Her eyes shone with love for him and pride, too.
 "Oh, Earl, can't believe it! Why, yon're just two children"
 No, we're not. We're grown up,'' he squeezed her again joyously. And here's another thing. Going down to meet dad, aren't you? You just tell him from me that Senator Lathrop has changed his mind-about the street