The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1921-12-11
By Louis Weitzenkorn

caught by q lighted shop window. drew him
toward q rack Of millinery.
Don't you Ike that hat. Paul. So
pointed to one.
"ummn." he srunted. sensing = new outlet
for some money In place Of the methods
he chose.
II need a new hat said Marion; . I'm
wearing q summer hat yet. As a matter OF
fact, haven't had a stitch Of new clothing
since we've been married.
We'll. neither have L"
Warmers reply added a charge TO the TAN
which was already slightly electrical. Marion
said quickly:
I'VE shouldn't have spent that dollar for
the theater."
II noticed you enjoyed IT well enough
IF you can spend money for shows and
chop suey.- Marion bristled- you can buy
me some decent clothes I'm the shabbiest
woman In the apartment house. I'm ashamed
TO walk out when the other women are mar
keting."
-what On earth DO you start this for now
Couldn't you wait until we got homer Come
on. lets 10 home. You certainly can hn .
night better than any one I ever knew"
He turned away from the shop window and
she followed him to the street car. In cold
silence they rode across the bridge and down
Ogden avenue. Not until they entered the
fat was a word spoken. and then Marion lost
her control:
DO you ever stop to think Of my condi-
ton You're too selfish for that. EverDif you
hate me you might at least have enough In
stinct to realize what I must go through
You never think Of any one but yourself
You want to go 10 /. show. It doesn't matter
about me. You smoke cieareu. spending
money for tobacco, while go about the
neighborhood like a charity victim Consid-
Grafton for others isn't IN you. You think
because you have 20 work on that under
takers trade journal you are the most perse-
cuted man in the world. It's time you real
lied that other people suffer. Just remember
me in this two-by -four fat that notice
when that cortes woman across the hall gets
a new dress or a trip TO Long Beach. II you
don't like the Job OF riting about funerals
take mine and scrub out some dirty pans and
sinks There are the dishes. Go wash en-
And out Of breath, her face flooded with
crimson. Marion flung herself from the room.
In such light and shadow did they live.
Christmas came, and Warner gave Marion
some books and a bouquet OF flowers. She.
saving a few cents here and there upon her
~
two dollar and q half fountain pen tn.
whole OF New Years day they did not speak
TO each other. Occasionally. by some unfore
seen occurrence, Marion would get into small
debt. to the butcher. as when: Warner
brought Stephens or some one else
whose acquaintanceship he made home 70
meal Then there were accommodating pur
chases at the drug store. more than the
usual number on account Of Marion Once
Warner was I'll for a week with a heavy cold
In March, q realization came upon him
that he must begin 10 arrange for a physi-
clan and a nurse and bewlldered- he cast
about him 10 discover how other men In hs
financial condition met such gigantic prob.
lens. He discovered that doctor, one with
enough ability to insure AAr1on's safety.
would charge at least sixty dollars The
nurse so he was told. would cost about Eve
dollars day. He would only need a trained
nurse three or four GAYS. and after that he
could employ some middle aged woman for
ten or fifteen dollars week
he looked back upon the last eight months.
What had he accomplished? Nothing He
had been given work. He had kept himself
and a woman alive, barely alive His clothes
had grown shiny, thin. His shoes protested
at the strange soles which passed beneath
them. He had hole, partitioned into three
rooms, stuck up in the wilderness OF brick
and mortar which they called the Bronx
Toward the end Of March Marion tainted
as she was preparing his dinner. Warner
heard her collapse and a pan rattle 20 the
floor. He hurried out and found her, dead
white, in front OF the gas range shock of
pity passed through him. How small abe
seemed! The thought was in his mind ~
he picked her up and carried her 10 thu
lounge in the front room He pressed a VET
cold rag upon her temples. and she
moaned he became psniclCy. Finally. prop
ping a chair to prevent her rolling from the
sofa he ran out of the apartment, lesped-
almost, down the four fights Of steps, and
like a mailman entered the drug store
opposite.
L. -