The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1919-12-06
Betsy's Story
By LINCOLN ROTHBLUM
copyright, 1919. by the Mcclure News
paper Syndicate.)


paper syndicate.)
1t was such small hall bedroom
way up near the top Of the house
so high above the ground 1t 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 though the
| room by its elevated location Str0Ve
| for place in the sun. it received
none of its rays at any time OF
| the day, for the one window taceu
in unCeremOniOuS fashion, against the
| bleak and bland stone wall OF the
| building opposite. Now. if one were
as dexterous as Betsy Bond, very
good glimpse. albeit limited, could Dc
obtained not only Of the sun casting |;
seemingly forgotten beam of hgh
down the murky courtway, but also OF
the window in the other building ONT
floor below. It is true the bit OF Ign
was only enjoyed on Sundays, Whei
BetSy'S exacting and OnerouS duties
as Salesgrl at the notions counter o
Tilden'S, Inc, did not call for her eX
pert services for the somewhat starr
ling compensation Of seven dollars IN
Week-Startling how little might y
procured on that amount in the wa
of daily necessities. And 1t is ais
true the window OF the room acroS
the court afforded little diStractloT
for up to the writing of this-BetSy
stOry--it had remained untenanted.
For Betsy's heart, starving for a
lection and dying because there wa
none on whom to lavish the love per
up Within hungered for romance; sh
. looked for 1t everywhere, and foun
J it's substitute only on the "Fictio
7 page" of the evening paper 1t was
! very unsatisfactory substitute.
] The days of August had made
4 blistering advance, and 1t seemed
= Betsy this day that summer was e.
erting every effort to leave scar ar
scorching memory of its tOrrid pre-
ence. A hot, mUsty humidity paste
the ringlets about her perspiring for
head into fantastic forms as she e
e. tered the room breathless from Il
a interminable climb of stairs.
"a neighbor," she unused, al
. reached for the pillow from the bed
8 make her cramped position comfo
q able. Romance" her thought co
a tinued, and smile exposed two pr
ty rows of even white teeth. 1t W
q in spite of, and not because of, h
Il clothes tina Betsy was considered
a tractive; for the worn serge SIX
q loudly acclaimed its age by lustro
i sheen and the white lawn waist
longer admitted further mending.
. But there was little In the mans
cupation to excite undue curiosity
romantic conjectures laboriously
&c wrote, stopping to press his temp
- with his fingertips or pass hal
= kerchlef over his forehead. Be
- slipped from the sill to the floor a
" protruded her head through the W
- dow into the court until she co
:" almost touch the opposite wall, for
- through space came the voice of
~ man family singing:
- "When your Ship O. Dreams comes
~ dear,
-, When It's cargo comes to shore,
- With gold so fine, 1t will all be thi
os You alone I adore"
N. and then abruptly stopped. BE
no climbed back onto the window lee
70 and leaning far forward, peered dc
yn into the room. A gasp of conster
ton escaped her lips as she jun
to the floor and tore down the ST
the ascent of which had so taxed
strength. Out into the street she
and I'D to the door of the next bu
ing.
Mrs Slattery appeared in ans
to the imperative summons of the
and irritated because supper was
terrupted, eyed with landlady's
picion the Undated and dishev
Betsy. She did not make III
looking roomer.
81 guess all the rooms be fill
was the curt and unsolicited In
nation. Betsy inserted her foot
tween door and panel to proven
being shut in her face.
81 am not looking for a room,
Init" she stammered as the unu!
ness of the situation presented ii
zone of your tenants seems in
,ro bic" Betsy gulped hard, land
,sta ueye he has tainted. I've
sn,t help"
he Mrs. Slattery made unsympat
SON. interruption. "0h, it be that sir
INV man. Never pays his rent and h
at seem to live on air. He'll
round"
t,on In manner Mrs. Slattery
dru ward dubbed fresh Betsy brr
With her aside and deliberately Wake
tas. the steps, intuition directing HI
mo. the proper room. There lay the
! hv as she had seen him from a
and head fat on the table, arms ha
nprs Imply at his side. With uncons
command she turned to Mrs. Sla