The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1919-10-15
The High Cost
of Loving
BY sA1DEE EsTELLE COBB


"What's the answer" challenged
Bob Dacre, as he met his friend Earl
Foster coming out Of apawn shop.
The Questioner was naturally amaz-
ed, for Foster was the heir presump-
tive of John Baird, very wealthy
man who was more than liberal with
the only living relative he seemed to
care for.
"Oh,'I was Just getting rid Of some
superfluous gewgaws." declared Earl
lightly.
High cost Of living7"
mo, the high cost Of loving" cor
rected Earl, with a slight laugh. "Of
course you know who that hanks back
to-"
Miss Rhoda Foster, Of course"
"You have it right, Bob. Mind
you, I am not charging that sweetest
of earth's sweet creatures with en-
couraging any extravaganza on my
part, but that self centered uncle OF
mine has allowed me the choice OF
giving up Rhoda or his fortune"
with the result?"
''That I am going to work out my
destiny along new lines. I, OF course,
took a manly, Independent course and
hope Rhoda will sustain me in it.
thanked Uncle John for all his past
consideration, walked out Of the house
and have Just financed myself for an
initial struggle with the cold, hard
world"
But Rhoda?"
-"I have written her that when can
prove to myself that I can earn my
own living, we shall resume our en-
gagement. 7 hope and believe she will
be- true blue"
$50 much so," replied Dacre, with
4 spice Of indignation, that If you
leave her without saying what you
have written it looks like the basest
desertion!"
But Earl had his own ideas, and
disdained counsel. He swelled up rath-
er proudly as he remarked:
i've borrowed enough to give me
farm outfit, and its overalls and
early rising from now on. Fortunate
~ I met an old farmer. Rufus Dayton
Of Warrenton. He Offers me kind
Of managerial position on his farm.
I leave tonight for the rustic grind
and ! mean to make success OF It,"
Which Earl seemed to have done by
the end Of Il month. II he missed the
elegant leisure Of luxury he gave no
sign of II. He made friends with ev.
erybody about the place. He became
interested in farming as 4 science
and sat up In his room nights and
pored over books dealing with inten-
sivss ID e.ttthcils Of cultivation and the
like. "
It was we'll onto the second month
of shissspprenticeship when one eve
ming, as he CHANGED to look up from
the book he was perusing, through the
open window about so feet away, half
screened by some shrubbery, he made
out an unfamiliar figure. He dis
cerned that It was that of woman,
judging from her garb, and although he
could not distinguish the features he
was sure that her eyes were fixed up
on the lighted room in which he sat.
The figure vanished and he thought
no more Of it until two evenings later,
when the same appearance was man
ifested.
For fully half an hour Earl fingered
in his covert. He was about to aban-
don his vigil when the swish Of light
garments swept the grass and grace
full, glrlish form stood silhouetted
against the streaming light from the
window. Its pose was that of per-
son closely observing certain point
of interest, his room. Thither the fix.
ed glance Of the intruder was wildly
fixed. there could be no mistake as to
that. and Earl marvelled, crept near
er, suddenly reached out and piniOned
the two arms Of the mysterious visi-
tor from behind, with the sharp chal-
lenge.
"What are you doing here?'
There was futtering feminine
shrek as the intruder faced about.
Earl's hands fell to his side. he fairly
reeled with amazement.
"Rhoda!" he cried.
"Oh, Earl, I had to do It'll" walled
the loved one. II have not seen you
for weeks" and then as she tottered he
steadied her in his arms, and kept
her there. She was sobbing hysteri-
cally, but she chung to him in fer
vor Of Joy.
Il have just spoiled all" whimpered.
Rhoda, land Uncle John will scold:
me terribly because both Of US were
to come to the farm tomorrow and
explain"
"Uncle John, explain" uttered the
bewildered Earl.
EYES," spoke Rhoda. you see, we
have been staying at the Walden
place for a week. Uncle John came
to me as soon as you went away and
told me how to try you out. He was
going to pretend you must give me up
Then, If you still insisted you would
never cease to love me, that would
prove you was worth having for
h,nhord ond n Won went tn work It