The Topeka state journal., 1919-11-13
EVENING STORY
Betsy's Story.
BY LINCOLN ROTHBLUM.


1t was such a small hall bedroom
way up near the top of the house
SO high above the ground it seemed
suspended midway between heaven
and earth, somewhat after the fashion
of those hanging gardens which are
said to have required neither under
nor upper support. But tho the room
by its elevated location stroye for a
place in the sun, that orb reflected
none of its rays at any time of the day.
ceremonious fashion, against the bleak
and blank stone wall Of the building
opposite. Now, if one were as dexter
Gus as Betsy Bond. a very good
glimpse, albeit limited, could be OBJ
tanned not only of the sun casting
seemingly forgotten beam of light
down the murky courtway, but also of
the window in the other building one
floor below. 1t is true the bit of light
was only enjoyed on Sundays, when
Betsy's eXacting and onerous duties as
salesgirl at the notions counter of Til
den's. Inc. did not call for her expert
services for the somewhat startling
compensation of seven dollars the
week-startling how little might be
procured on that amount in the way
true the window in the room across
the court afforded little distraction.
for up to the writing of this-Betsy
story-it had remained untenanted.
For Betsy's heart, starving for at
feetion and dying because there was
none on whom to lavish the love pent
up within, hungered for romance; she
looked for it everywhere, and found
its substitute only on the Fiction
Page" of the evening paper. 1t was
very unsatisfactory substitute.
The days of August had made
blistering advance, and it seemed to
Betsy this dusk that summer was ex-
erting every effort to leave scar and
scorching memory of its torrid pre-
.ence A hot, musty humidity pasted
the rinelets about her perspiring fore
head into fantastic form as she en-
tered the room breathless from the
interminable climb of stairs. Up went
the window, the courtyard sending
forth it's rightly quota of onion and
other stencil from the quarters below.
BETSY had no taste for the articles of
food on her table and listlessly ad-
justed herself in the oblique and un-
comfortable position necessary TO see
the window in the building opposite
She leaned forward. Glaringly 1T stood
forth, ana not even the dirty panes
concealed the yellow jet of gaslight
which illuminated the room and its
solitary occupant Betsy laughed
alo6d.
"a neighbor," she mused, and
reached for the pillow from her bed
to make her cramped position more
durable "Romancen her thought
continued, and a smile exposed two
pretty rows of even white teeth. 1t
was in spite of, and not because of,
her clothes that Betsy was considered
loudly acclaimed its age by lustrous
sheen and the white lawn waist no
longer admitted further mending.
But there was little in the mans oc-
cupation to excite undue curiosity or
romantic conjectures; laboriously he
4 aH0 tn Al forrl los
with his fingertips or pass a hand
keI chief over his forehead. Betsy
slipped from the sill to the floor and
protruded her head thru the window
into the court until she could almost
touch the opposite wall, for up thru
family singing:
''When your Ship O. Dreams comes in,
dear.
When its cargo comes to shore,
With gold SO fine, it will all be thine,
You alone 1 adore"
and then abruptly stopped. Betsy
climbed back onto the window ledge,
and leaning far forward, peered down
into the room. A gasp of consterna-
tion escaped her lips as she jumped
to the floor. and tore down the steps,
the ascent of which had so taxed her
strength. Out into the street she ran
and up to the door of the next build
ing.
Mrs Slattery appeared in answer to
the imperative summons of the bell,
and irritated by the supper so inter-
rupted, eyed with a landlady's sus-
picion the Undated and disheveled
Betsy She did not make a likely
looking roomer.
Il guess all the rooms be filled"
was the curt and unsolicited informa-
ton. Betsy inserted her foot between
door and panel to prevent it being
shut in her face.
II am not looking for a room, but,
but" she stammered as the un-
usualness of the. situation presented
itself. "One of your tenants seems in
trouble" Betsy gulped hard, land 1
believe he has tainted. I've can
help
Mrs Slattery made unsympathetic
interruution. "Oh, it be that singing
man. Never pays his rent and he
do seem to live on air. He'll come
round-'
In a manner Mrs Slattery afterward
dubbed fresh" Betsy brushed her
aside and deliberately walked up the
steps. intuition directing her to the
proper room. There lay the man as
she had seen him from above, head
flat on the table, arms hanging Imply
at his side. With unconscious COM
mand she turned to Mrs. Slattery, who
had followed in her wake.
Help me lift him over to the bed"
and hypnotically Mrs. Slattery obeyed.
awkwardly assisting as they loosened
his collar and undid his worn shoes.
"Get some water was the parting
order, and Betsy flew out of the room.
down the steps, out of the house into
her own, and thence up the stairs to
the room where mutely reposed the
untouched food. Gathering the arti-
cies in her arms she rapidly retraced
her steps, and as the young man came
to consciousness he saw a not unbeau-
tiful girl standing on a chair holding
a tiny pot above the gas jet. She
smiled down at him d genuine, COM
forting smile.
Hot milk in a minute. Toasted
crackers and mite of cheese. How
does that sound?" Her voice sounded
merrilv in the room and the man an