Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-04-05

Not that they dwelt upon serene
heights above the world of care. Days
came when Ends gray eyes were wet |
and her brave heart misgave' her, days
came when Robert sought tomorrow with |
look almost of fear In his eyes. For,
after all, they were Just at the be-
ginning OF life, and that great common
roadway is at times choked with dust
for. all its wayfaters, at times broken
and flinty underfoot, here and there cut
across with chasms which threaten,
spanned with bare, cold ridges. And
man and maid who elect to make their
journey side by side, even though their
love be pure and strong and eternal,
must travel the one great highway.
1t had been Robert Ellis expectation
to have worked for a year or so before
marrying, 80 that he could have saved
up some small sum for their nest
egg" But Enid was not afraid and
Enid, having worked hard and earned
money. was ready now to put herself
into his. care, to let him become. the
bread. winner. Supported by his old
optimism he was no more afraid than
Enid. He had nothing, but he would
find the way to support his wife mod
estly for a little while, then as beftted
her.
Thus they entered into the strong.
bright light of full day. He went forth
happily from their little home and
sought work. This, in itself, was for
him an adventure! He srinned when
he asked for his first job. And he
got it, too. Perhaps his grin helped
him. He worked in n hay field day
after day for a week he blistered his
stiaened and hardened. He came home
at night knowing what bodily fatigue
might mean.
But he earned his $3.50 per day
Fifteen dollars a week! He was proud
of 1t. And so was Enid. And Enid
was proud Of his calloused hands, for
no longer were they the hands Of Lady
fingers.
At the end Of the week he lost his
place. He didn't know why. The other
men had been kept; work was still
going on. He wondered IL he had failed
somehow and asked the farmer who had
hired him. The man seemed embor-
rassed and escaped without answer
ing.
Thereafter some nine or ten days
passed during which he did little be-
yond seek for work and fail to get It.
He put in part Of each Of these days
improving their own ranch. He didn't
want to touch another cent of the money
Enid had put by.
During the months which passed he
did whatever came to his hand and
did it cheerfully, and thereby failed
to bring in quite enough money for
his and Ends tiny expenses. 1t was
Ends reserve fund which paid each
month the SIT and interest for their
home. Neither OF them lost hope, both
knew that in the end it must come
out right, somehow. But 1t hurt the
man to see Enid doing without little
1t hurt his pride not to be able to
do more and better for her; 1t hurt
her to see him battle with life bare
handed and suffer SO many defeat.
Enid, with a great assumption OF
carelessness, suggested that she teach
another term; when she saw the look
in his eyes she came to him and put
her arms about him and laid her cheek
against his. And they said nothing
further about it.
He did everything that he could find
to do. He chopped wood and devoted
his evenings to turning out some little
lyrics which he trusted he might sell
to some Of the eastern magazines.
Editors kept. them long periods Of time
and returned them. He worked in
|
then was dismissed. He didn't know
why although he began to suspect. He
got job driving delivery wagon
for the chief grocery store in Lock
worth and brought parcels to the back
door of the Big House and to Evelyn's
home. A querulous old woman upon
the edge of the valley learned OF his
record and Immediately informed the
grocer that his driver had stolen an
egg out of the first dozen he had
brought. The grocer, who had come to
like his driver, told him of the matter
as rare joke. Even Robert was
amused by 1t. Ends eyes grew as
hard as diamonds and her two fsts
clcnched.
So it went. For six months Enid
was hard beset to keep Robert from
understanding just how keen their pri.
vation was. But they were happy.
Happy even under the contemptuoua.
cold stare Evelyn DAILY Bond bestowed
upon them when a couple Of times they
chanced to meet her in town. Happy
even under the glare of old Rachel
Stetheril, who had neither forgotten
nor forgiven. Happy though there were
times when 1t was hard to be happy.
Such a time came when Robert lost
his place as delivery boy. The grocer
apologized and explained. Mrs. Steth-
eril had sent word that she would dis.
continue her orders; Mrs. Bond had
sent similar word. Robert could un-
derstand?
A little, but not all. 1t was not with
in him to understand how Rachel
Stetherils old anger had grown and
ranked; how she had come to hate
Enid for the pure and simple and all
| sufficient reason that abe was Jealous
Of her.
ale left me for that girl |"
the old woman cried over and over in
her heart. "And now he's Haunting
her in my face! By God, III drive the
two of them out Of the country -
When Ends little savings account
was exhausted they were forced to
mortgage their equity in their home.
Bond, friend to them in his heart, ar
ranged the matter and at low rate Of
interest, merely cautioning them to
SAY nothing about it," Frantically
did Robert strive TO increase his earn
ings. 1t was what is known as a bad
year. Rachel Stetheril's open ami
mostly made matters worse. A look Of
worry came often into Roberts eyes.
Enid, after her frank way, came to
him one day and put her arms about
him and said:
ROB, no matter what happens, II
things get worse instead of better
If were starving, even," she
added for emphasis with a little laugh
that did not ring any too mirthful
''you will never you
won't be tempted to ."
steadily. "For your sake. Your sake
| IL