The midland journal., 1917-01-12

tireIy pr0blematical going away. Moth
| ing, that early summer night, seemed
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 !" 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
mite futurity.
Sim 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
! q trifle, thrust his hands savagely into
his pockets and sc0wled down the
| street. Sidney smiled up at him.
"GoOd Eight, joe"
"GOod night. 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 tall fig
ure loomed out of the shadows and
approached with quick strides.
"The roomerr' cried Sidney, and
backed away.
| "D-n the rOOmer"
The r0Omer 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.
slot, 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 I
should have warned you Of that before
you took the room. These little houses
with low roofs are fearfClly 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.
II don't mind heat. II suppose I
don't think about It," said the roomer.
rather surprised at himself.
'Tm afraid you'll be sorry you took
the ROOM"
The r0Omer 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 Sldney's businesslike
way of renting the little room, from
the glimpse Of a woman in a sunny
window, bent over 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. LIE Moyne, who was living his
own tragedy those days, what with
poverty and other things, swore a 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-
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?"
81 hadn't thought about it. I can
stop in somewhere on my way down
town. work in the gas Office-I don't
believe told you."
"It's very bad for you" said Sidney,
with decision. at leads to slOvenly
habits, such as going without when
you're in a hurry, and that sort of
thing. The only thing is to have some
one expecting you at a certain time"
"It sounds like marriage" He was
lazily amused.
''It sounds like Mrs. McKee's board