Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1921-05-07
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Inner "a we're sitting on the front
steps waiting for their friends to
come 4, ;sk. them out for the eve
ming. - ;resh young faces under
he care ully waved hair and the pref
~ slim feet In their high-heeled
pumps ide Edith feel rather elderly.
for she Ived part OF her salary each
week to ard little home in the fu-
lure.
Il AIN aislng the board a dollar q
week" bounced her landlady as she
gave f. III her pudding. The cost OF
food is "dring and so greatly that
may ha To raise again before long.
too" sh added ms the girls eyes gazed
back at her In dlsmay.
Edith had just removed her flow
ers. inteading to put them in her tooth
brush mug to keep fresh for the next
day, when there was a tap on her
door.
"A man TO see you. Miss Jones.
Lands sake. you never had man call
on you before. but then | suppose he's
All lH>uIbutt uEfut. hIN' h'lAtl -
sharp eyes dwelt upon the tired face
before her as she speculated. He
wouldn't give his name"
Thank you. Mrs Miller" Edith's
tone was colorless. but once again
the thrill OF spring seized her.
From the house next door came r
IanguorouS love song, the rather dingy
lace curtains stirred in breeze
straight from the lake laden with a
spicy sweetness that even the flight
across the city had not leSsened. From
the tiny flowers in the common china
mug nodded Il call of the woOdS-0f
glossy green leaves against the linger-
Ing patches of snow in cool hollowS.
She rearranged her hair slowly,
dallying with the pleasure of anticipa
tion. II might be most any one wait
Ing in that stff gariShly furnished
front paror with IT'S heavy odOrs OF
long-caten meuls-with the grim at
mo>pherc of lovelcSs lives that had
tarrird for brief stay and then hit
ted to- perhaps. worse environment.
II probably was an insurance agent,
rs Mrs Miller had unliindly SurmSed.
but ii 80 he could wait.
Edith smiled back at her Shadowy
reflection in the pale mirror. She
would pretend that she was dressing
for an eScort--One who would bring
berbboned box Of candy and who
would inaSterfully assist her down the
steps rs She had seen the trim-belted
young fellows do when they went
laughingly down with the girls who
now waited on the steps.
Tucking the flowers back in their
Silken nest, she turned slowly away
and went sedately downstairs. No one
must guess at the joyous riot of spring
that had suddenly pervaded her drab
evening She was young woman go
ing down To her company in the front
parlor and the gay smile still fingered
on her face, lending new expression
To the rosy mouth as She e7,eerd the
door and looked AT her caller.
Hello. Edith! Thought maybe you'd
go TO the movies with me tonight"
There was tiny gasp as the ncred
ible words fell upon the ears under the
soft loops of black hair Ed was smIl
Ing back AT her under the crude ligh,
of the yellow gas whose globe hat
long since been broken.
Il wanted to tell you my good
news" he began as they went out into
The Shadowy street and joined the pro-
cession Of young people who loitered
dreamly in the sweet dusk of the
spring night. The township high
school Is finished now and I'm To be
the principal AT an Che paused and
looked down mraningly into her facet
adequate salary"
"Adequatc?" murmured the girl. for
his salary rs principal of the grammar
school haG seemed almost Opulent to
her.
Yes. ri last. adequate" he said
with Tilt Of joy breaking through the
grave notes of his deep voice Il shall
have enough To keep up really good
l!ttle home. and want to know If you
will Gomez"
The fragrance Of the first spring
flowers drificd up and Edith knew at
last why she had resented the calm
appropriation Of Emma. She had not
known she cared for Ed In that way.
But the gold and pink OF other spring
days that had begun 50 happily and
ended in the fatigue of hard day
among the gariSh colors of railway
literature We're rs nothing to the pres
ent.
She lifted her head and listened. for
d" had gone on talking exctedly. his
rcticence Of the past forgotten.
Il couldn't speak sooner. for the
life was too hard but now. Edith.
thought of the new. soft. green bunga-
low on the street south OF the high
school. We are going TO have H.
brary in II, and think of the pleasure
of choosing the hooks
ua'l nluaEN Lava bn,.I 80