Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1917-01-25

The rOOmer looked very warm. He
carried a suitcase, which was as it
should be. The men Of the Street al
ways carried their own luggage, except
the younger Wilson across the way.
His tastes were known to be luxurious.
''Hot, isn't it," Sidney inquired,
after a formal greeting. She Indicated
the place on the step just vacated by
Joe. YOU'D better cool off out here
The house is like an oven. | think l
should have warned you of that before
you took the room. These little houses
with low roofs are fearfully hot
The new roomer hesitated. He did
not care to establish any relations with
the people in the house Long eve
nings in which to read, quiet nights in
which to sleep and forget-these were
the things he had come for.
But Sidney had moved over and was
smiling up at him. He folded up awk-
wardly on the low step. He seemed
much too big for the house. Sidney
had q panicky thought of the little
room upstairs.
Il don't mind heat. II suppose
don't think about it, Said LIS roomer
rather surprised at himself.
TIN afraid you'll be sorry you took
the ROOM"
The rOOmer smiled in the shadow.
I'm beginning to think that you are
sorry"
His quick mind grasped the fact that
it was the girls bedroom he had taken.
Other things he had gathered that aft
ern0On from the humming of a sowing
machine, from Sidney's businesslike
way of renting the little room from
the glimpse Of a woman in a sunny
window, bent over a needle GenteeI
poverty was what it meant, and more
the constant drain of disheartened
| middle-aged women on the youth and
courage of the girl beside him.
<. LIE Moyne, who was living his
own tragedy those days, what With
poverty and other things, swore quiet
oath to be no further weight on the
girls DU0yant spirit. He had no in
tenti0n of letting the Street encroach
! on him. He had Quilt up a wall be-
tween himself and the rest OF the
world, and he would not scale it. But
he held no grudge against it. Let 9TH
ers get what they could out Of living.
Sidney, suddenly practical, broke in
on his thoughts:
"Where are you going to get your
meals?"
q hadn't thought about it. I can
stop in somewhere on my way down
town, work in the gas of1ice-I don't
believe told you"
It's ver> bad for you" said Sidney,
with decision. Ut LEAFS to slovcnly
habits, such as going without when
you're in hurry, and that sort of
thing. The only thing is to have some
one expecting you at q certain time"
ut sounds like marriage" He was
lazily amused.
1T sounds like Mrs. McKce's board
| ing house at the corner. Twenty-one
meals for five dollars, and your ticket
| is good until it is punched. But Mrs.
/ Mckee doesn't like it if you miss"
Mrs. Mckee for he" said lie Moyne.
81 dare say I'll be fairly regular to my
meals
| 1t was growing late. The Street,
| which mistrusted night air, even on
q hot summer evening, was closing its
windows BY shifting his position, the
man was able to see the girls face.
| Very lovely it was, he thought. Very
pure, almost rauidnt-and young.
From the middle age of his almost
thirty years, she was child. There
| had been Il boy in the shadows when
he came up the Street. Of course there
would be q boy-a nice, clear-eyed
! chap
Sidney was looking at the moon.
| With that dreamer's part of her that
she had inherited from her dead and
gone father, she was quietly worship
| ing the night. But her busy brain
was working, too-the practical brain
that she had got from her mothers
side.
What about your washing?" she in
CURED unexpectedly. Il suppose you've
been sending things to the laundry,
and-what do you DO about your stock
lngS?"
Buy cheap ones and throw 'em away
when they're worn out" There seemed
to be no reserves with this surprising
| young person.
and buttons?"
''Use safety pins. When they're
closed one can button over them as
well as"
Il think" said Sidney, that it is
quite time someone took a little care
| Of you. If you will give Katie, our
maid, twenty-five cents a week, she'll
do your washing and not tear your