The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1920-02-06
ArAR1YFoKHM



tA. 1929. ~ Mcclure Newspaper Syndicate. J
lie had been chuckling to himself all
day. For that morning he had leased
an apartment and had a big surprise
for Dorothy. They had been married
In May. upon his return from France.
and on account of the house shortage.
they had been obliged to live in = room
and take their meals out.
He was in the gayest of spirits. Dor
othy, who, under the circumstances,
had retained her position. was home
ahead Of him. She was combing her
hair. He bent Over to kiss her and
demolished her couture. She laughed
and kissed his cheek and began comb
Ing again.
Then with "a boyish eagerness he
told her Of the apartment, how his SIS
ter had heard of 1t. how happy they
would be. And what a stroke Of wis.,
dom that had been when they had
bought their furniture at the reduced
summer rates. All day his thoughts
HAu CVOnCd SuNH SOSy ptNtuACSS anu
he had spoken with such enthusiasm
that at first he wasn't conscious Of
DOrOthy's lack of spontaneous sap-
prevail.
His cheeriness vanished. He sub
jected her to q sharp scrutiny. 1T
sounds NICE" she returned smiling !;
"and we can talk about it after dinner.
Come: I'm famished."
Her tone had been a trifle careless
and noncommittal. Still, he told him
self that he must lot be too exacting.
He admitted that ii was rather high
| handed OF him to have taken the whole
responsibility. He should have con
| suited her. Going back from the res
taurant. he apOlogized, but the atmos-
phere did not clear.
"Let's have 1t all straight out. Dor
Othy." he said quietly. once more in
| their room.
He fixed his eyes upon her with an
eappeal that stirred her. She knew Of
his longing for a home and with what
| gustO he talked of the fine house warm
ing they would have, IL they only had
q little fiat. Two years ago.. when he
and his brother had gone across. his
home had been broken up.
That she was o as keen about a
home as Jim had never dawned upon
Dorothy. But now that she was facing
| such a possibility, she was alarmed at
her disinterestedness. Though she was
sorry to disappoint him, she must
speak the truth though she smiled
as she talked, he was aware of the
| sadness that tinged her reply.
She didn't want to give up her posi-
| ton. Today she had a raise of IS
nov $35 q week. And she didn't have
the strength nor the inclination, after
working all day. to putter around the
house at night. Living was too high
to give up $35. How could they meet
expenses on $40 a week?
"You silly boy" she said softly. "you
have no idea what clothes cost today"
She opened a box and displayed a new
suit. '"That cost me $780,"
Jim flushed red. Her money; not
his. he thought. And 50 all his beau
tifui dreams collapsed. The reference
to her raise and to his meager salary
hurt him. She knew nothing Of his
scheming to earn extra and Of his fine
figuring; for he could show in black
and white that It cost very little more
to have q little fiat. As the days went
by. he felt lonely and depressed to an
extent that Dorothy didn't realize.
They never referred to that subject
again. Jim grew sensitive about mon.
ey. He never told her Of his raise.
One day Dorothy renewed her pro.
p0sal Of some time previous. which
Jim had Indignantly ~repudiated. thai
she BE- allowed to pay her share. and
Il was accepted with such alacrity that
Dorothy was startled. Even Jim wal
surprised 1t himself.
November came. One evening Dor
sthy went yer to rec her friend Jen'
ni9. who noticed At once . troubled
wlstful look ia DOrothy's face. Per
hals she WAS beginning to realize thai
- M leaiAg senethIng worth fal
1870 than -
Tears 6lled Dorothy's eyes. Theu
sAe confessed that she had been house
hanting aed was thoroughly disAeaTt
ensA. - waeted to be1ln whore ~
ana Jim had started, when they used
= talk u ~ the happeaings q tn
~. Mon the9 were al10et straneors
J1nale - been he8Ged to help and
- ~. 1heonGh her we're located
fsoeroo9s = nodern asastnenta. Der
othy vas j1bilaut. With gratitudA ~
anented and acted upon Iennie'e ssg
gssdea that she take HAS mother and
daeer i4te hsr ceaedencs. for Jleni<
49, an4teus = 800 that breach
- nsxt week Dorothy worked barn
80 Iate. mvorythlng was 10 it, plece
49, 0enGot - had meyer -
II ~AWGA F