Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1920-01-08
A PARTY FOR jim
BY MATTE A. RAMSAY.


| t@ isss, BY Mcclure Newspaper Syndicate,
+ He had been chuckling to himself all
| day. For that morning he had leased
m apartment and had 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 Q 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 boyish eagerness he
told her Of the apartment, how his ais
ter had heard of It. how happy they
would be. And what q stroke Of wis
dom that had been when they had
bought their furniture Ut the reduced
summer rates, All day his thoughts
had evoked such cosy pictures. and
he had spoken with such enthusiasm
that at frst he wasn't conscious Of
Dorothy's lack Of spontaneous ap-
prevail.
| His cheeriness vanished. He sub
jected her to . sharp scrutiny. ut
sounds NICE" she returned smiling
"and We can talk about 1t after dinner.
Come; I'm famished."
Her tone had been Z tribe careless
and noncommittal. Stu, he told him
self that he must not bs 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.
Lets have II all straight out. Dor
othy." he said quietly, once more In
their room.
| He fixed his eyes upon her with an
appeal that stirred her. She knew Of
his longing for home: and with what
gusto he talked Of the fine house warm
ing they would have, II they only had
q little Dat. Two years ago. when he
and his brother had gone across. his
home had been broken up.
That she was not a. keen about q
home as Jim had never dawned upon
Dorothy. But now that she was facing
such 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 q raise Of s. !;
now $35 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 week.
"YOu silly boy" she said softly. 'you
have no idea what clothes cost today.
She opened box and displayed q new
suit. "That cost me $780,"
Jim flushed red. Her money: not
his, he thought And 20 all his beau.
tlful 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 1t cost very little more
to have little fiat. Al the days went
by. he felt lonely and depressed to m
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-
posal Of some time previous. which
Jim had Indignantly repudiated. that
she be allowed to pay her share. and
It was accepted with such alacrity that
Dorothy was startled. Even Jim was
surprised at himself.
| November came. One evening Dor.
othy went over 70 see her friend Jen-
ME. who noticed at once q troubled,
wistful look in Dorothy's face. Per.
haps she was beginning to realize that
fhe was losing something worth far
more than $35.
Tears nIled Dorothy's eyes. Then
she confessed that she had been house
hunting and was thoroughly disheart.
ened. She wanted to begin where she
and Jim had started. when they used
to talk over Ill the happenings Of the
day. Now they we're almost stranger.
Jennie had been begged to help and
she did. Through her were located
four rooms In modern apartments. Dor.
othy was jubilant. With gratitude. she
assented and acted upon Jennie's sug-
gestiOn that she take Jim's mother and
sister into her confidence, for Jennie
was anxious to see that breach
spanned.
The next week Dorothy worked hard
and late. Everything was In IT. place.
Jennie thought she had never seen
such homeiike apartment. She loved
the look Of the rooms. the good taste.
and especially the living room, IN the
soft glow Of that handsome lamp.
1t was three nights later, and Jim,
~ he supposed. with Bill. his brother,
were coming to make . call. Dorothy