Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1920-02-06
A PARTY FOR jim s
BY MATTE A. RAMSAY.
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tie had been chuckling to himself all
DAY. For that morning he had leased
nn apartnicnt and had Il big surprise
for Dorothy. They had been married
In May. upon his return from France.
ana on account Of the house shortage.
they had been obliged to live in room
and take their meals out.
lie was In the Eayest Of spirits. Dor
othy, who. under the circumstances,
had retained her position. was home
ahead OF him. She was combins her
ham. He bent over to kiss her and
|. demolished her couture. She laughed
and kissed his cheek and began comb.
ing again.
Then with Il boyish eagerneSs he
told her Of the apartment, how his Sis
ter had heard OF it. how happy they
would be. And what stroke Of wis
dom that had been when they had
bought their furniture ut the reduced
summer- rates. All day his thoughts
mad evoked such COSY pictures, and
he had spoken with such enthusiasm
that at first he wasn't conscious of
Dorothy's lack of spontaneous ap-
prevail. ..
His chcerincSS vanished. lie sub.
Jected her To sharp scrutiny. 1T
sounds NICE" she returned smiling;
land we can talk about it after dinner.
Come: TN furnished"
Her tone had been n tritie careless
and noncOminittal. Still. he told him
self that he must not be too eXacting.
He admitted that it was rather high
handed OF him tn have taken the whole
responsibility. lie should have con-
suited her. Going back from the res
tnurant. he apologiZcd. but the atmos-
phcre did not clear.
Lets have it 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 4 home and with what
gusto he talked OF the fine house warm
ing they would have, If they only had
little fiat. Two years ago. when he
and his brother had gone across, his
home had been broken TN.
That she was not as keen about n
home rs Jim had never dawncd upon
Dorothy. But now that she was facing
such possibility, she was alarmed ut
her Observation-Disclosures. Though she was
sorry to disapnoint 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 raise of So;
now $50 !, 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 $50. How could they meet
expenses on $40 week?
"iou silly boy" she said softly. "you
have no idea what clothes cost today"
She opened box and displayed new
suit "That cost me $780,"
jim flushed red. Her money: not
his. he thought. And 30 all his beau
tiful dreams collapsed. The reference
to her raise and to his meager salary
hurt him. She knew nothing of his
schemins to earn extra and Of his fine
figuring; for he could show In black
and white that It cost very little more
to have little fiat. As the days went
BY, he felt lonely and depressed to an
extent that Dorothy didn't renlizc.
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 BIO allowed to pay her share, and
1t was accepted with such alacrity that
Dorothy was startled. Even Jim was
surprised at himself.
November came. One evening Dor
othy went over to sec her friend Jen-
ME, who noticed at once troubled,
wistful look in Dorothy's face Per-
haps she was beginning to realize that
che was losing something worth far
more than $35.
Tears filed 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 all the happenings Of the
day. Now they were almost strangers.
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.