The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1923-07-18
The Doctrine of
Necessity
By MARTHA WILLIAMS
10 by Mcclure Newspaper Syndicate

DcShuoc udtc uilu-uulc iii
worse than pumpkin pie" Marion sale
scOwling at her married sister, VIII
stood the very moral and pattern Q
angry disapproval. cycling the recal
citrant as though she were some mon
ster.
Most giriA in your tx, wouldn'
throw away their chances" she sal
cuttingly. mot II they were sensibl
that's certain. All mighty well t
talk Of working your fingers OF rathe
than to marry him. Time you've trie'
It till you're lean and faded. and you
nerves all frazzIed, you'll wish you. too
had been sensible"
"Neverw Marion snapped. mot Il
Joe Scott stands for sense. / cam
bear him-turn cold ut sight Of him
the bare thought Of touching him Ii
sickening. He's got home, and
money In bank-true enough. But I'd
rather live In hollow tree than that
grayeyardy place-and he's toe
stingy to eat enough, except away
from home. He gorges here-and brags
about 1t. Told me he never ate break
fast Mondays-you'd fed him so well
he didn't need 1t. And that poor dog
Of his-I wonder the creature doesn't
run wild. He must catch rabbits now
and then, or he'd starve. And IL dog
gets that treatment, what wouldn't a
woman get? Dogs can bite and run
away-women can't"
They can run fast enough when a
ne'er-do-well whistles to EN-" Mrs.
Green said pointedly. ''That's the
trouble-I've seen 1t all along. Your
mind Is so set on that tramp, Jim
Dale"
Hes no tramp Marion interrupted
sturdily. "All he wants Is a chance
to work. Bert Green would give him
the chance-if you'd let him."
"Right-o. It's enough to have TO feed
and clothe you. without throwing In
worthless husband, and baby every
year." Mrs. Green said cuttingly. Ma
rion wheeled away from the kitchen
table at which she was making the
Soathed pumpkin pies, looked full In
her sisters face, and said between
shut teeth: $50 you have had to take
care of me? Other folks say different.
Good cooks get good money--even
when they don't do the washing, the
sewing, and half the garden work. I've
kept accounts these last two years
all you've spent for me- and putting in
your old clothes at half price, amounts
10 no more than a hundred and fifty
dollars. l sleep in the children's room
no place Of my own for rest and
quiet-l eat. mostly what nobody else
wants-get the tag ends of everything.
So l don't feel myself in the least an
object Of charity"
"Thats what Jim Dale has been tell |
ing you" Mrs. Green exploded; HE |
goes packing tomorrow--youll follow
him, unless you change your tune II
you are my flesh and blood so make
your choice. don't say you shall
marry Joe Scott-only that l won't
stand to be sassed and blackguarded
In my own house-after all I've done
for you"
Marion held up her hand for silence,
saying DULY: 1--WE made my choice.
Soon as ever l get things straight here
pies baked and kitchen clean, I'll go.
lust where. don't know-but a good
willing cook amt likely to starve."
Don't be fool. You know Bert
won't have you slave In anybodys
titchen-a common hired girl" Mrs.
Green temporized. Marion went on
Iilently with her work. When she fin
shed II she looked round the tidy
;itchen with bitter smile, saying to
Ter sister who had watched her mar
owiy over the stockings she was
arning, 'Tm leaving pattern for
our new cook-but you'll hardly make
er live up to It."
Mrs. Green was troubled. Was Ma
lon In earnest? 1t would be dreadful :
she left them. with company CON- ,
az the very next day. BY the time :
his was well revolved. in what did :
uty for her mind, she heard the outer ,
DOR shut and saw through the side /.
'indow Marion marching Off, head
Ugh, and a battered leather bag =
Iutched In her left hand. :
She couldn't go far with only IS, the >
lrgesse Of the whole Green family. ),
Ilghtn't even be that much-she had
ought something for little Herby's
rthday. Mrs. Green had an impulse
} run and drag her errant sister back,
ut 1t froze at sight Of Jim Dale, who @
epped eagerly to Marion's side and ,,
ont OF with her, talking hard. !,
They were certainly pair Of fools, 4
m had $40, the clothes he stood in, =,
us an extra shirt. Marion was some l.
Ing richer than her sister thought a.
Ie had earned So by washing for the a
,arders at the Ray place, but half of r.
had been spent for the children, :,
bom she loved despite the friction a.
|th their elders. After a swift swap :,
ng Of news and comparison Of re- h
urces Jim said hopefully, AT least ii
, can buy the license-the preacherll
edit us, he told me so-and be sure
! make good. Once we've got each
Ter wen fen like somebody's, not h,
aims Of dust as we are now" b,