Deming graphic., 1920-01-20
The High Cost
of Loving
By sAIDEE ESTELLE COBB

tCopyriEht, ltlp. by the Wsstsfh Ne"s
paper Union.)
"what's the answerT challenged
Bob Dacre, as he met his friend Earl
Foster coming out Of a pawn shop.
The questioner was naturally amaZ-
ed, for Foster was the heir presump-
tive Of John Baird, very wealthy
man who was more than liberal with
the only living relative he seemed to
care for.
"oh. was just getting rid Of some
superfluous gewgaws." declared Earl
lightly.
"HIgh cost Of livlngf"
mo, the high cost OF loving" cor
rected Earl, with a slight laugh. "Of
course you know who that harks back
to-"
"Mlss Rhoda Foster, Of course"
'You have It right, Bob. Mind
you, am not charging that sweetest
of earth's sweet creatures with en-
couraglng any extravaganza on my
part, but that self centered uncle OF
mine 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. /, Of course,
took a manly, independent course and
hope Rhoda will sustain me In IT,.
I thanked 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"
"But RhodaT
81 have written her that when can
prove to myself that | can earn my
own living, we shall resume our en-
gagement. hope and believe she VIII
be true blue"
$50 much So" replied Dacre, with
a spice Of Indignation, that II you
leave her without saying what you
have written It looks like the basesi
desertion
But Earl had his own ideas, and
dlsdained counsel. He swelled up rath
er proudly as he remarked:
1--WE borrowed enough to give ms
farm outfit, and it's overalls anc
early rising from now on. Fortunate
. ly met an old farmer, Rufus Dnytor
= of Warrenton. He offers me a Kline
of managerial position on his farm
? leave tonight for the rustic grint
and mean to make a success OF IT.
Which Earl seemed to have done b!
the end Of a month. II he missed tn
!. elegant leisure OF luxury he gave n
sign of It. He made friends with ev
. erybody about the place. He becam
Interested in farming as science
( and sat up In his room nights an
Q pored over books dealing with Inter
o sIye methods of cultivation and III
: like.
i II was well onto the second mont
Of his apprenticeship when one eve
ming. as he CHANGED to look up fror
the book he was perusing, through tn
a omen window about 80 feet away, hal
4 Screened by some shrubbery, he mad
n ont an unfamiliar figure. He dl'
cerned that II was that Of woman
e Judging from her gnrb, and although Il
a could not distinguish tie features D
Nns sure that her eyes were fixed VI
u on the lighted room in which he sa
:. The figure vanished and he thougi
% no more Of II until two evenings late
/. when the same appearance was maj
IS Tested.
r. For fully half an hour Earl lingere
II I'm his covert. He was about 10 abal
d don his vigil when the swish OF Ugl
garments swept the grass and grac
full. girlsh form stood silhouette
against the streaming light from Il
window. Its pose was that of pc
X son closely observing a certain poli
le Of interest, his room. Thlther the u
X ed glance of the intruder was vivid
81 fixed. there could be no mistake as
that and Earl mnrvelled, crept nea
, or. suddenly reached out and pinlon'
~, tho two arms of the mysterious VII
,d tor from behind, with the sharp chi
I'll lenge.
CT "What are you dong mere!
ne There was hutterlng femlni
al shrek as the intruder faced abo'
Earrs hands fell to his side, he fair
l., reeled with amazement.
is "Rhoda" he cried.
ye "Oh. Earl, had to do itV wall
the loved one. 81 have not seen y
l't for weeks" and then as she tottered
.et steadied her In his arms and ke
at her there. She was sobbing hyste
o." cally. but she clung to him In Il
vor Of Joy.
81 have just spoiled ALL" whlmper
Rhoda, "and Uncle John VIII sec
- rne terribly because both of us We
bo 10 come to the farm tomorrow q
ID explain"
!" "Uncle John, explain" uttered
'xt bewlldered Earl.
he ayes" spoke Rhoda, you see
ett have been staying at the Wald