The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1920-12-24
A Way Out
BY MURIEL LEE
ID. l92O. Western Newspaper unIonl

| WHY OIL Dfufy PRESCOTT telllng winnie
Steele thar he loved her. In the first
place she was the burden bearer Of a
large and eXacting family. When she
was not miristering to her mother, who
was a confirmed invalid, she was busy
teaching, guiding and caring for her
three little brothers and sisters. Then
! her elder brother Frank made a mud
die of getting into business life, and
| Prescott was convinced that it would
Ne waste of time to attempt to win
her away from her round of duties.
II can wait" he patiently told him
self. ut can't always be this way.
The little ones will grow up and Frank
will behave himself, What grieves me
most is to see the joy Of youth taken
out of Vinnies life" -.
SO, as he told Winnie once, they were
| good friends, and he hoped she would
never shut him out from sharing in
that treasured privilege. She respond
ed to his many helpful llindnesses in
behalf of herself and those she loved
in a grateful, appreciative way that
won his entire fidelity and devotion.
Often he fancied she appreciated his
love for her and secretly thanked him
for holding affairs to basis where
they could continue their pleasant, mu-
tual companionship, for she priced his
counsel and sympathy.
81 don't know what has come over
Frank remarked Winnie one day, but
he has certainly turned over new
leaf. l think it was a good thing for
him leaving his old associates in Cliff
ton and getting into an Independent
little business in the city which he
writes US is quite profitable"
"Why, yes" replied Prescott" was
in Duluth last week and found him
busy, cheerful and sanguine. He has
rented q space back of a stationery
store and goes about selling typewriter
supplies by sample. From what he
tells me he is working up very prom
Using trade"
II wonder how he got this start. 1t
must have taken some capital"
"Oh, | don't think very much" Tres
colt FASTENED to say. you see, he
buys and sells close and quick and on
small margins. IFS business where
the volume counts"
Trescott did not wonder as to the
capital, for he himself had supplied
ii. He had made Frank promise faith
fully that he would not divuge his
share in the transaction, for Prescott
knew that this would worry Winnie
He had invested only few hundred
dollars, but it was all he had, and
few months later when Mrs Steele
died, the lack of that same little cash
meant great deal to Prescott,
In other words, Trescott had figured
out that now, with her cares greatly
lessened, Winnie was in a position to
marry. him, If she would have him. His
idea was to induce Mr.. Steele to re.
move to a house he would select, pay
the rent only, and he and Winnie woulu
see to the rest as to household expenses
and taking care of the children.
Mr.. Steele opposed this but Trescott
hoped if he could raise the money to
establish the new home he could be
won over. Mr., Steele had a half broth
er In a distant section in Canada to
whom he had written. The crying
need of this relative, according to his
own statement, was to have help. All
hands would count, even the chill
dren, about the farm, and they would
be assured a.living if nothing more.
II shall have 10 go where father
does Winnie told Trescott in sub
dued, sighful way. ut Is my duty"
Trescott said nothing but the next
day took the train for Duluth. When
he reached the place where he had
started Frank in business he found
that the latter had sold out his sup
plies and had gone with band of
stroling players, leaving q number of
debts behind him. Trescott assumed
the responsibility for these. and when
he came back TO Clifton was sorrOWed
at having to disclose the bad news to
Winnie, and knew there was now no
way to provide the new home he had
counted upon.
Mr.. Steele was making due prepare
tons to leave for Canada and Tres
colt discerned that he was surely go
ing TO lose Winnie. 1t was distress
full situation and daily he could read
in her forlorn face the same gloom and
disappointment that well nigh crushed
him.
Always good friendss no matter
how many miles separate u.s." said
Winnie braveIy more than once. but
there was lurking moisture in her
eyes.
1t was a week before the dreaded
parting when Mr.. Steele took. Prescott
aside. There was a manner about him
that told TrescOtt he had something
important to say. He was not wrong
In plain words Mr.. Steele told of dis
covering all he had done for Frank.
"You are the truest friend | ever
met, Prescott" he said. won't you
take way out of all your worry and
that of Winnie? Come with us.p
IF there was a place for me-" be-
gan Prescott in an uncertain, but long