The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1919-08-08
LOVES MIRACLE
BY SADIE ESTELLE BALLOON.


Erna Wolfe noticed that the lunch she
had ordered was the lowest priced on
the bill of fare--a bowl of soup and
crackers. Then, too, she ate with al
most ravenouS haste. Erna felt a
quick throb of pity. She could not
tell why. She spoke, making a casual
remark on the weather, and then
81 am going to order some ice
cream and cake for both of us, il you
have time and will talk with me.
and new in the city, and oh, so lone
some."
And thus the ice was broken and
the keen enjoyment of her new &C
quaintance of the little treat made
Erna happy. She became confidential.
She told her simple story, that of
country bred girl whose stepmother
had turned her adrift after the death
Of her father.
II found some steady work today"
said Erna, quite a batch of hand
copying Of old manuscripts for a
Museum. They cover the history of
various curios, the object being preser-
walton rather than publicity. Am not
fortunateT
"You are, indeed" responded Ger
trude Warren. II have been out Of
work for a week and not a single
prospect in view
"Oh, you must not be discouraged"
said bright-spiritsd Erna. II feared /
was going to use up my little surplus
store Of money waiting for work, whan
this came along. And, by the by, per-
hape you can help me in a dilemma.
have been staying at hotel, and
that is expensive. You are probably
better acquainted with the city than
myself. Can you advise me how to go
about getting a room In some respect
able place not too far from down.
town and not too dear?'
Gertrude seemed to have the room
desired Immediately in view. She
told Erna that she knew there was a
her own in a house where a widow
kept only lady dodgers. Erna was
grateful and pleased. Gertrude &C
companied her to the hotel, where Erna
paid her bill and asked her newly
made friend to carry one of her satch-
els. She treated to refreshing soda
on their way to her new home. Ger
trude introduced her to her landlady,
arrangements were made for an apart
ment that pleased Erna immensely,
and she was glad to have Gertrude
for close nelghboF and told her SO.
Gertrude left Erna after helping her
unpack her belongings and promised
to show her a convenient restaurant
later in the day. Erna was arranging
the manuscript on q little writing
table when she looked UP and listened
fntenly. Plainly she heard the land
lady outside in the han say:
Don't think me unfrienday, Miss
Warren but / must have the back
months rent OF ] shall have to ask
H0u to give up your rO0m to a new
tenant"
me, Mrs. Dale" came the low-tOned re-
Spouse, "and l would not impose on
your generosity any further, even il
you would let me. If / do not get
work tomorrow / will find new quar-
tiers and pay you up when / regain
situation"
Erna waited until the girl had en-
tered her own room, then she stole
down the hall after the landlady. She
took out her pocketbook and a whis-
| pered conference ensued. Half an
hour later Mrs. Dale announced to
Gertrude that she had changed her
mind. If she would be willing to as
sist her an hour each morning ironing
the napkins end tableclOths, she
would ask her for neither the default
ed nor future room rent, as long as
she was agreeable to the arrange
ment
Gertrude suspected that her new
friend was responsible for this great
benefit. She grew to love Erna as
dear sister, Better fortune came her
way III tie shape VI SGIN1CS LUZ TWO
hours afternoons in a doctors Office
at dollar day. Evenings she would
sit reading in Erna'S room while it's
owner copied the old manuscripts.
Erna was enthusiastic over this work
and often kept at it half the night
through. The strain broke her down.
She was taken i'll one morning and
for nearly a month passed through
period of fever and delirium and it
was then that Gertrude made the dis
covery that her friend had left behind
her in her old home town a man she
loved, Alden Thorpe.
Erna sat up at last. Her first ex-
| preston was of regret over her neg
| lected work, but in glad amaze when
| she learned that Gertrude had COM
| pleted the copying, the money for it