The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1919-11-19
The High Cost
of Loving
BY SAIDEE ESTELLE COBB
lcopyright. 1919. BY tho Western News.
'5Sy, paper Union.) o..

Dupert1uouS geWgaWS, declared Earl
lightly.
High cost Of living?"
Il ..No, the high cost of loving" cor
rected Earl, with slight laugh. "Of
course you know who that harks back
t."
'.Aiiss Rhoda Foster, Of course"
'sYou have it right, Bob. Mind
y6u, I am not charging that sweetest
of earth's sweet creatures with en-
couraging any extravaganza on my
part, but that self conferred uncle OF
nine has allowed me the choice OF
giving up Rhoda or his fortune"
with the result?"
That / am. going to work out my
destiny along new lines. l. Of course,
took manly, independent course and
j hope Rhoda will sustain me in, it.
lsthanked 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" N
.But Rhoda?"
s7...I have written her that when can
move to myself that I can earn my
own LYING, we shall resume our en-
1aSSment. i hope and believe she will
BE. true blue"
ESQ much So" replied Dacre, with
q spice Of indignation, "that If you
leave her without saying what you
have written it looks like the basest
Aeaertion!"
But Earl had his own ideas. and
disdained counsel. He swelled up rath-
q proudly as he remarked:
"I'ye borrowed enough to give me
=; farm outfit, and it's overalls and
early rising from now on. Fortunate
VI met an old farmer, Rufus Dayton
u Warrenton. He offers me kind
u managerial position on his farm.
Isleave tonight for the rustic grind
ana I mean to make success fit"
Which Earl seemed to have donesby
TIE end of a month. If he missed the
elegant leisure Of luxury he gave no
sign Of II. He made friends with ev-
Srybody about the place. He became
Interested in farming as science,
aud sat up in his room nights and
pefed over books dealing with inten-
olse methods of cultivation and the
slike.
ssIt was well onto the second month
se his apprenticeship when one eve
ding, 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
fril, girlish form stood silhouetted
against the streaming light from the
window. It's pose was that of per-
son closely observing a certain point
Of interest, his room. Thfther the fix'
"a glance Of the intruder was wildly
Gxed. there could be no mistake as to
that. and Earl marvelled, crept near
U, suddenly reached out and pinioned
tie two arms Of the mysterious visi-
tor from behind, with the sharp chal-.
,lenge.
n .sWhat are you doing here?"
There was q fluttering feminine
shrek as the intruder faced about.
Earl's hands fell to his side, ne fairly
reeled with amazement.
"Rhoda p he cried.
.Oh, Earl, 1 had to do it," 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
yef Of Joy. .
sss.'I have just spoiled all" whimpered
Rhoda, land Uncle John will scold
Ne terribly because both Of us were
tpscome to the farm tomorrow and
explain"
aUncle John, explain" uttered the
beNildered Earl.
ayes. spoke Rhoda, "you see, we
have been staying at the Walden
place for d 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, II you still insisted you would
never cease to love me. that would
prove you was worth having for
husband, and If you went; to work 1t
would show you was the right sort.
And he is so delighted at the splendid
way you have made good, and am
10 proud Of you that. II 1t pleases you.
he win buy us the best farm in the
district"
"A pair of merciless plotters." raj
lied Earl. Elbow dare you look me IN
the face after such confession"
~ won't" answered Rhoda meekly.
ana nestled her pretty head close up