Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-10-05
hot rolls. the yellow butter and the
dish of marmalade.


ventured to go near her, and his task
OF writing those cheerful little notes
had become day by day more difacu1t.
He set his teeth and clenched his
fists. Every impulse In his body
seemed drawing him toward the door,
down the bare stairway into the street
to throw himself into taxicab, to go
and call for Frances and take her back
with him into the life from which his
own whim had exiled him, to confess
himself beaten, for her sake as well
as his own.
Then he heard the sound Of his own
name, and unconsciously he listened.
1t was his neIghbor in the next room,
the wife OF foreman printer, talking
to his landlady.
'If you can't let me have the other
room, Mrs. Heath, you must take a
weeks notice, so there! What with
baby and the other children, haven't
a yard to turn around in, and Jim said
to me only this morning he was will !,
ing to pay for it, and If we couldn't
get what we wanted here, we must
move. That young fellow, Bliss, or
whatever his name is, can get room
somewhere else all right. You'd bet
ter tell him how things are"
He heard his landlady's reply. Her
quiet, tired voice came to him with
a new significance.
IT am sorry, Mrs. Mappin," she
said. III your let 1t be Just for a
week or SO! The young fellows been
out of work and he's owing me bit.
1 don't like to turn him out onto the
streets. He's been brought up differ
ent-any one can see that-and my
husband used always to say that the
young man who has once had to sleep
out without roof over his head was
never quite the same afterward."
II don't care what your husband
used to say, my good woman" was the
shrill reply. III 1 can't have that
room we leave on Saturday"
Mrs. Heath's reply was inaudible.
Bliss rose to his feet. Immediately
afterward she entered with the break
fast tray.
Good morning, Mrs. Heath" he
said tentatively
Good morning" she replied, with
her usual attempt at cheerfulness.
"Your breakfast sir"
She turned toward the door little
YEARLY. In her face the signs Of her
lifelong struggle were more than usu'
ally visible.
Anything to say to me, Mrs.
Heath?" Bliss asked.
She shook her head.
maybe you heard she replied.
mo. I'VE nothing to say"
They're good tenants, aren't they?
1.-THE best I've got"
'I'll pay you what l owe you this
morning." Bliss promised, land you'd
better let them have my room. can
easily find a shelter somewhere else"
I'm not asking you to leave" she
said. "You stay right where you are"
That's all right, Mrs. Heath
Bliss replied cheerfully. 1--WE some
thing in my mind for this morning"
"Ill be sorry to lose you, Mr.
Bliss" she went on, but"
Her voice trembled for moment.
He nodded.
II understand" he interrupted.
Every likely you'll be able to take me
back again sometime"
He stood quite still for minute
after she had left the room. The he
sat down and ate as much as he could
of his breakfast. Afterward he
dragged out his little bag, packed it
with his spare suit and a few other
toilet articles he possessed. and walk
ed down starts with it in his hand.
He passed Mrs Heath on the land
ing. She stood to one side to let him
pass.
you're not afraid I'm going to
blk you then, Mrs. Health" he asked
with smile. T,
"Not in the least, SIR" she replied.
GLOW much do owe you exactly?'
"Twenty-eight and six-pence," she
told him, "and don't care II l never
see penny of it. I don't want you to
60, neither Mr.. Bliss, but if lose the
I'll never be able to pay my
rent. They're hard times, sir" she
wound up with little sob.
Bliss patted her hand and walked out
without speech. He made his way to
the nearest pawnbrokers and sold !
everything he possessed except the
clothes he stood up in for thirty shil-
lings. Then he returned to his lodg-
ings.
Eighteen pence change, please,
Mrs. Heath" he said handing her the |
And, look here! Don't you /,
worry If times are little hard. I'VE
a sort of idea that the new year may |
bring you luck"
She smiled wanly as she counted
out the eighteen pence.
i've given up expecting that, sir"
she replied drearily. "The best !
have to hope for is that shall be able
to hang on for few years longer until
/ can get the children started in some !
thing or other and then I think shall 1,
be just too tired to bother much more |
about myself or any one. l am sorry !
you're going, Mr. Bliss CANT tell
you how sorry!"-
May come back again." Bliss |
eff you've room for me!
Very likely I'll be able to afford one of !
your downstairs rooms some day"
What have you done with your
things?" she asked, still lingering the
money doubtfully.
LEFT them in the cloak room," he
lied quickly. I'm after job this !,
and hadn't time to look for
a room before l go. Goodbye!"
ua chook handa with her went ont