The Pulaskian., 1917-04-20


 more unlikely than that Sidney would ever be free to live her own life. The Street, stretching away to the north and to the south in two lines of houses that seemed to meet in the distance, hemmed her in. She had been born in the little brick house, and, as she was of it, so it was of her. Her hands had smoothed and painted the pine floors her hands had put up the twine on which the morning-glories in the yard covered the fences; had, indeed, with what agonies of stacking lime and add ing blueing, whitewashed the fence it. self
 She's capable" Aunt Harriet had grumblingly admitted, watching from her sewing machine Sidney's strong young arms at this humble spring task.
 She's wonderful p her mother had said, as she bent over her handwork She was not strong enough to run the sewing machine.
 So Joe Drummond stood on the pave ment and saw his dream of taking Sidney in his arms fade into an indefi- nite futurity.
 "I'm not going to give you up," he said doggedly. When you come back, I'll be waiting"
 The shock being over, and things only postponed, he dramatized his grief a tri1e, thrust his hands savagely into his pockets and scowled down the street. Sidney smiled up at him.
 Good night, Joe"
 Good night. I say, Sidney. it's more than half an engagement. Won't you kiss me good-night?'
 She hesitated, flushed and palpitat- ing. Perhaps, after all, her first kiss would have gone without her heart gone out of sheer pity. But a tall fig ure loomed out of the shadows and approached with quick strides.
 'The roomert' cried Sidney, and backed away.
 "D-n the roomer!" !"
 The roomer advanced steadily. When he reached the doorstep, Sidney was demurely seated and quite alone. 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 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. I think 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 panicky thought of the little room upstairs.
 T don't mind heat. I-I suppose don't think about it." said the roomer, rather surprised at himself.
 I'm 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 ernoon from the humming of sewing 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. Genteel 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.
 K. Le 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 buoyant spirit. He had no in- tention of letting the Street encroach on him. He had built up a wall be- | tween himself and the rest of the world, and he would not scale 1t. But he held no grudge against it. Let oth- CTS 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. I work in the gas office-I don't believe I told you."
 Its very bad for you," said Sidney, with decision. 'It leads to slovenly 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 certain time"
 Tt sounds like marriage" He was lazily amused.
 ''It sounds like Mrs. McKee's board ing house at the corner. Twenty-one meals for five dollars, and your ticket is good until it is punched. But Mrs. l Mckee doesn't uka if if yolI missr