Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1919-07-04
The Borrowing
Neighbor
By MARVIN DRAKE WHARTON
Copyright. 1918. Western Newspaper UniOn-)

Eyes, twice" replied his rather re
served and uncommunicative helpmeei
and her lips met close and she dc
clined to further discuss the subject
Martha Barton was not so reticent
however, with her widowed sister VIII
lived with them. When Mrs. Dysar
~propoEnded the same query, adding
"And what did they come over TO
this timer" Mrs. Barton replied:
"Why, 1t was the daughter who cam
she had run out of mustard"
borrowing again, as usual? Tel
you, Martha, to my way of thinking
those Thorpes are becoming a nui
sance."
Don't be uncharitable, Anna" child
ed Mrs. Barton gently. Il III TIM
girl, she is SO pretty and modest.
fancy her mother is a confirmed in
valid. The father seems to be away
in the city most Of the time. l under
stand he has a law suit there, and he
can't be earning anything, for they live
very poorly"
"They must bel" observed Mrs
Dysart in her snappy, %censorious way.
ETo my certain knowledge they have
been over here on a borrowing expedi-
ton every day since they moved here
a week ago."
"Perhaps," admitted Mr.. Barton
quietly, 81 imagine they have few sup
plies and little money. ] told the girl
Crystal that / would get over to call
on her mother loon as my weeks bak-
ing was DONE"
"And cart over half of it, I suppose
your usual way"
Perhaps" again replied Mrs. Bar
ton. She knew how to do things grace
fully, and she did not make her neigh
bors feel under obligations when she
went over to the Thorpe home two
days later, and told how i~nconvenient
1t always was when a person moved,
how difficult to become familiar with
n new routine. She carried with her
a freshly baked loaf and some cookies
and %doughnuts wrapped up In a towel.
Then as she saw how pale and i'll Mrs.
Thorpe looked, she abruptly recalled
that everything that her daughter had
borrowed had been articles for that
mothers comfort.
Mrs. Thorpe sent her little son to
Mrs. Barton before the week was out,
asking her to come and see her. The
daughter was absent and the mother
had seized the occasion TO see Mrs.
Barton alone. With tears in her eyes
b q aaMstQ. lNap her Two. dollars
until @er husband returned, Saturday
night. 1t meant a depletion of hoard
ed pin money of light volume, but with
entire cheerfulness the kind-hearted
Mrs. Barton contributed the amount
asked for.
eve are in a very unfortunate con-
dition," Mrs. Thorpe confessed. "but
it can't last long. My husband for two
years has been prosecuting a law suit
he must certainly win, and a decision
of the judge is expected any day now.
Mrs. Barton noticed Mr.. Thorpe, a
serious faced, dignified appearing old
man, about the place over Sunday, and
the next day the two dollars was re-
turned with thanks. That week AID
rian Barton, the son, came home from
the city on his vacation. He had
been working there for nearly a year
and was not entirely satisfied with his
srlccess. His great ambition was to
start in business for himself In a small
way in automobile supplies and re-
pairs, a line in which he was prof.
,:o-A hit hic fafhn. 0oT1l1 NOT cnQrn
the capital required, even for a linn
tied experiment.
Naturally Adrian Barton met Crys-
tai Thorpe, and quite as naturally
they became mutually attracted. 1t
was a royal week for the city tired
young man, rowing in the woods, fish
ing, boating, and he and "the neigh
boris girl" as Mr.. Barton designated
Crystal, shared in these enjoyments.
Mrs. Thorpe had again drawn upon
her new friend for a few dollars, had
been Accommodated, and Mrs. Barton,
learning the full details of the suit at
law, became greatly interested. In
fact. one day when Mrs. Thorpe told
of a small amount Of final fees needed
in the suit her husband must pay,
Mrs. Barton advanced the same.
Adrian met Mr.. Thorpe when he
returned to the city and called upon
him. Adrian was free and open to
confess to the father of Crystal that
he had fallen in love with his daugh'
ter. These two became close friends
and one day both returned unexpect'
eddy home.
1t was to bring glad news. The suit
at law had been decided in the favor
of Mr.. Thorpe. a large amount being
awarded him. His first move was to
Oummon Mrs. Barton to his home.
"You have been a true friend" he
said. "We have been troublesome Dor
rowers, but now I am in the position
of the lender. Dear madam, and true
woman that you are, your son will tel
you that he and ] start in business
next week as partners, with ample