Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1920-03-19
ocNoo1 % % % 90 % % % oooo 7o,,
<,NCIA'o 20 900 0COCOC 0COCN-Nc1
THE PROBLEM
BY JULIA A. ROBINSON.
DC. &c. % % % 90 90 90 % 100
CNCNCNGNCN

!
Nancitc trudScd wcarily home after
her days work-that is. she went to
her small room in II lodging house She
was tired. and Il little discouraged. for
! the dnr had been Il hard one. She
stopped on the first floor TO DAY the
rent for the following week. for she
might ovcrslecp In the morning and
not have time to see the landludy be-
lore going to work: then she would
run the risk Of losing her room. She
always crinSed when she paid out
those precious dollars; II took so long
10 earn them. and SO much hard work
Then 1t was that tho great blow came.
From now OH It'll be so cents more
week. announced the landiady.
blandly, not noticing the shock to the
girl. "Evcryth!ng'S gone up" she went
on.
Nanctta gaspcd. but dared no, say
word. How often she had heard that
same story. ''l2vcrything's gone up"
dreadinG the result. Now 1t had come.
and what WAS she to do? Had not
things gone up for her as we'll? Who
was to help her on her expenses? She
had no one to fall hack upon and de-
mand more money OF them to meet the
high prices for everything she must
buy. 1t WAS the way they all did. and
she dared not protest.
YEARLY tho girl paid the extra half
dollar and mounted the stairs to her
lodgings. Somehow. tho little room that
She had tried to make beautiful with
her own simple bric-a-brac. had lost its
attraction for her. 1t no longer looked
homclike. She sank into chair and
burst into tears. Everything look ed
dark before her. II don't know what
I'm going to do! she walled. 81 was
paying the limit before. shall have to
20 without clothes"
How could she pay the rent and have
enough to cat to keep her health on
her small salary? They would turn her
or If she complained. The world was
very cruel. What was the use of liv-
Ing, anyway?
An hour later John came. He had
not called for long tine and Nanctte
was afraid he had forgotten. She
frightened up. brushed the tears from
her face, and went down to meet him.
Perhaps he would take her to the NOV
les; that would help her to forget.
But John was not thinking Of the
movies. They walked out to the river
bahk. Moonlight streamcd across thc'I
river PasSers-by chated gaily. but
John was Gium and silent, not at all
like himself.
NO. I'm not going to the movies !"
ne growled, when Nanette dared the
suggestion. Couldn't stand 'cm to-
night ~
"Why not? What nils you, John?
thought YOU liked the movies" =.
"How can YOU expect hungry man
70 enjoy the movies or anything e!se?"
he grnaned.
Hungry? Why. John. you're not
hungry. rcalIy?"
'YcS, I am"
'fBut didn't you have your supDer?
What's the matter with you:"
Matter enough, should saw" he
stormed when man can't get de-
cent meal anywhere in the city! You
pay all creation and don't get what's
MT to ent, and not half enough of II.
FIN tired Of It,"
"Oh. John. It's too bnd" she sym.
pathized. IT was down in the dumps.
too. when you came because Mrs.
Stokes has raised my rent, and every
thing costs SO much. I confess ] 20
hungry myself sometimes. What are
we going to do with such prces?"
John whistlcd. That's the problem,
and hard one, tool"
They sat silent for long time, star
ing ut the ground. too much cast down
to talk. Suddenly John asked: "Can
you make an omelette, Nanctte?"
Nanette laughed. "Why. used to
make them ut home. I think ! could
now. If I Ind fresh eggs, and a stove
to cook them on"
And little house to put the stove
in" he added. THAT'S just II, Nanette.
it's home we need. What's the use of
dragging on in this way. paying out all
your money and having nothing to
show for 1t. Let's go to housekeeping.
you and l. Wen have Il little house
somewhere where we can keep few
hens and have few green things
growing to eat. We can save money.
have ii good time---and have enough TO
eat at least!"
He had grown enthusiastic but Nan
cite was silent. She had never imay
ined being wOoed in quite that way. II
seemed very practical and homefy,
just to be thinking Of eating. She
wanted love and romance-but then.
John was hungry and she piticd him.
Yet she would not yield Mt once. Her
womanS coquetry came to her aid.
"Oh, you want me just for your cook,
do you? she retorted. Cant yon hire
come one else for q rnot T,,,, ~