The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1918-04-17

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expression that 1t was in vain that he
attempted to dissemble his depression.
"Tll have to tell you some time" he
began, when he had settled back in his
favOrite wicker chair with Caroline sit
ting opposite to him by the window.
If, ever a man had reason to be dis
cOuraged I'm that man-after five
years. Oh, Caroline, 1t is too cruel Of
fate" He buried his head in his
hands, and If he had been anything
but the every inch American man that
he was he would have shed a tear or
two.
Caroline was not the young woman
to put caressing arms about his neck
and assure him that everything was
lovely whether 1t was or not, and HOr.
ace liked her better because she was
not. She simply waited for him to tell
the rest Of the story.
II have to tell you, Caroline" he
said, because l know you will feel
the blow almost as much as l do. I
am sure of your love; If weren't, I
couldn't endure this terrible calamity.
I'm sure you'll wait-perhaps five
years MORE" He WINGED as he thought
of another long sentence of waiting.
TITS just our share of the war con-
ditiOns, suppose. The shipping tie-up
has knocked our business sky-high.
I've been hoping against hope we'd
find way out. But we've had to close
down one Of our plants-and that means
that the salaries Of men at the top will
have to be cut in half. If get out
and start in some other line I'll have
to begin at the bottom-every business
in our line is crippled-it may mean
two or three years after the war ends
even before things are back on their
| feet"
Caroline was still calm. "That leaves
you with just about twenty-seven hun
dred, doesn't it?" she asked, and the
surprising bluntness of her reply
served as bracer to Horace's whiting
spirits.
"Now listen to the seQual. Ny in
come has been dwindling. My little
money is all in X. and B. and that
Is worth about half what 1t was be-
fore the war. I've been meaning to tell
you. hated to-but I've got to give
up the apartment. I'd do more work
but there's no market for it now"
Horace forgot his own troubles and
was leaning over Caroline with two
outstretched arms. "Pcor, dear girl,"
he said. "How you must have wor-
ried-and now comes my tale Of woe
and even now you aren't crying about
it. Caroline, you've more pluck than
any man I ever knew" He knelt be-
side her, looking with infinite tender
ness and admiration into her unflinch-
ing blue eyes. slave you thought
what you are-are going to do about
it?"
There's only one thing to do" she
said slowly. "I'll have to give up this
place and suppose you'll have to live
some place cheaper than the Hotel
Bradford"
Eyes, of course"
"Well, why couldn't we both live
here?" Caroline's usually firm voice
faltered little as she made the sug-
gestion.
"You don't mean-Caroline-
could you? You don't mean that we
can be married? Don't you know what
you said about making toast and fry
ing eggs for twO-yOu've told me so
often that you couldn't-Caroline don't
let me hope If you don't really mean
it."
"rve thought 1t all out" she said
resuming her calm manner that Hor-
ace thought the finest thing he had
ever seen in any woman. ut is one
thing for two persons to live separate.
ly on two small incomes-and it is an
other thing for those two people to live
together on their joint incomes. Don't
you see how simple it is. It's just 9
matter of plain arithmetic. We car
pay rent for one apartment instead OF
for two; we can read by one light in
stead of two, and we don't have to g
out to the theater and places fol
amusement, because we'll be married
and can just stay home. It's such ,
simple solution. Horace, that Tn sur
!. prised we never thought Of 1t before.