The Yale expositor., 1922-09-14
Leslie Solves
a Problem
By MARVIN ST. JOHNS.

heard me speak about my friend
Eunice Vane? / have just had let
ter from her; she is coming to pay
me a visit for couple Of days, with
her two children, while her husband is
away in New York. l haven't seen
her for nearly six years. You know
we were at college together"
"Then | guess I'll have to spruce up
tomorrow night" answered Leslie's
! fiance, as he rose to take his leave
Of her. He kissed her and put on his
hat. As he went down the steps Les
lie looked after him with a vague dis
satifaction which she could not quite
analyze.
Lucky Eunice!" she soliloquized,
| little bitterly. Here we are, both
verglng on thirty, and both engaged
in the same month. And you have
a rich husband and two babies, while
I" She shrugged her shoulders and
went back into the parlor.
George and Leslie had been engaged
for nearly six years. She was a
school teacher and George a lawyer
In the same town. But Leslie earned
more than George and he would not
marry her-nor did she desire it
until he was earning enough to sup
port her at home.
Happy Eunicel" sighed Leslie.
And then she began to understand
why she was miserable that evening.
1t was not altogether envy of her
friend. The fact was-she felt that
George and she were drifting apart.
Leslie spent miserable night. In
the morning Eunlce arrived with the
children.
Leslie was astonished at Eunice's
appearance. She had always thought
Of her as the young, immature rather
sedate young girl with whom she had
roomed at college. Instead of which
she saw before her a matronly young
woman, calm, self-possessed, with two
children, a boy and a girl, who made
Lesle's heart ache as, she kissed
them.
1t was not until after Georges
visit that evening that Eunice seemed
TO thaw
$50 that is George" she said. Then
she took Leslie by the hand. "My
dear. how long have you been en-
gaged7" she asked
"Five years." said Leslie, rather
frigidly.
Leslie, do you know that you could
have been married for five years and
had that much more happiness"
asked Euhice.
leslie began to explain the cir
cumstances, the long series Of tnisfor-
tunes.
my dear" she answered, II know
that you have made a great mistake
should say the great mistake"
"Why3' asked Leslie. "DO you be-
lieve in marrying before one is in
position to do so? If George had had
your husbands advantages"
"Wheh Philip and / got married."
answered Eunice, she had just $50 in
the world. And we spent that on Our
were continuous struggle. Philip al.
ways says that If he hadn't had me he
would never have reached the position
he holds today.
"If we had waited, as you have wait
ed-where would we be now? Dear
leslie, do you think marriage Is a
thing that should come after one has
made ones way in the world? Philip
says that It Is part Of life, not the re-
ward Of life"
Leslie hardly slept that night. And
on the next day, after Eunice had
gone, she was too i'll to go to school.
She knew now that It was not like
~ that George and she would ever
marry.
A ring at the bell-George's ring
He never called at four In the after.
noon.
George followed her into the parlor
and sat down heavily. His face was
unshaven, his tie sagged from his col.
lar; he looked thoroughly detected.
Leslie" he said, II have come to
offer you your freedom. I can never
marry you."
LIE Dduh nus lullSu, uC SOnlihutu,
In a monotonous voice Every penny
is gone. I am at the bottom Of the
ladder again. It will mean three years
longer. Leslie, can't hold you. Les.
lie Why, what are you laughing
about7"
She laughed, and the tears In her
eyes were those Of happiness.
my DEAR" she said, "how would
you like to marry me without the
house and the furniture and the new
trunks and the outfit and the trous-
seau2 Do you want me, dear or do
you want theseT
He leaped up and caught her hands
incredulously.
do you mean that, Lesller he
cried. "Why, have never dared to
make that suggestion. Do you--will
your TodayT
Tomorrow" answered Leslie, smil-
ing, and then flood Of happy tears
blinded her eyes.