Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1921-05-07

tblus u JIM VIein OUT loI lIlt eve
ming. ,e .resh young faces under
he care ully waved hair and the pref.
~ slim feet In their high-heeled
pumps l Ide Edith feel rather elderly.
FOR she lved part OF her salary each
week Ia ard little home In the fu-
ture
Il ain aisng the board dollar q
week" bounced her landlndy as she
gave r. ia her pudding The cost OF
food is caring and so greatly that !
may ha i, To raise again before long.
too" sh added as the girls eyes gazed
back at her In dismay.
Edith had just removed her flow
ers. intending 10 pu, them in her tooth
brush mug to keep fresh for the next
day. when there was 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
an insurance agent" Mrs. Mller's
sharp eyes dwelt upon the tired face
before her as She specialized. He
NbbIhH %lNf lliN
Thank you. Mrs Miller" Edith's
tone was colorleSS. but once again
the thrill OF spring seized her.
From the house next door came
languUrOus love song the rather dingy
lace curtains stirred In II breeze
straight from the lake laden with a
spicy sweetness that even the flight
across the city had not leSsened. From
the tiny lowers in the common china
mug nodded u call of the woOdS--Of
glossy green leaves against the linger-
ing patches of snow in cool hollOwS.
She rcarranged her hair slowly,
dallying with the pleasure of anticipa-
tnn. II might be most any one wait
ing in that Stifi. gariShly furnished
front parlor with It's heavy doors OF
long-eatcn meals-with the grim at
moSphrrr of lovelcSs lives that had
tarrcd for brief stay and then fit
ted To. perhaps. worse environment.
II probably was an insurance agent,
aS Mrs. Miller had uniindly surmiSed.
but if So he could wait.
Edith smiled back at her Shadowy
reflection in the pale mirror. She
would pretend that she was dressing
for an eScort--onc who would bring
beribboned box of candy and who
would maSterfully assist her down the
steps rs she had seen the trim-belted
young fellows do when they went
laughngly 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 II 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 rs she crteerd the
door and looked at her caller
Hello, Edith. Thought maybe you'd
go 10 the movies with me tonight
There was a tiny gasp as the incred-
ible words fell upon the ears under the
soft loops of black hair. Ed was smll-
ing back AT her under the crude light
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
dreamily in the sweet dusk Of the
spring night. The township high
school is finished now and I'm 10 be
the principal at an Che paused and
looked down meanngly into her facet
adequate salary"
"Adequate?" murmurcd the girl. for
his salary as principal of the grammar
school had seemed almost opulent to
her
Yes. ~ last. adequate" he said.
with a Tilt 0f joy breaking through the
grave notes of his deep voice Il shall
have enough To keep up really good
i.ttle home. ana | want TO know If you
viii Gomez
The fragrance Of the first spring
flowers driflcd up and Edith knew at
last why she had resented the calm
Appropriation pI I.lilUlh. SIle iiHU not
known she cared for Ed In that way.
But the gold and pink Of other spring
days that had begun so happily and
ended in the fatigue OF hard day
among the gariSh colors of railway
literature We're ms nothing to the pres
ent.
She lifted her head and listened. for
b." had gone on talking excitedly. his
r"licence Of the past forgotten.
II 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 10 have H.
hrary in 1t. and think of the pleasure
Of choosing the hooks"
And We'll always have bowl OF
arDutus in the spring" murmured the
girl. feeling glad she had divided her
cluster with Enm1 After all the