The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1924-05-31
Words That Struck
Home
BY ELLA SAUNDERS

Kathleen looked around the lit
lie shabby hall bedroom that she
was soon to leave forever. Her
suitcase was packed. and ii con-
tanned all her worldly possessions.
The only other thing she had Of
value was her face-her beauty.
She surveyed herself in the glass
For Sale." she thought bitterly.
Well. why not? After those three
years of struggle and poverty in
the city-why not. when Ellis loved
her?
Mechanically she picked up let
ter lying on the table. She must
not leave 1t there. She was grow
ing careless. She read 1t once
again:
III call for you at nine tonight
and We'll be on our way West by
midnight"
Ellis loved her. He was employed
IN the same office with her. He
was manager of department.. He
had had an offer OF better post
III California. He had five thousand
dollars n year In his present posi-
ton, and he had money saved. Yes.
II was Il good thing for her.
And he had sworn to marry her
after his wife divorced him.
kathleen's last scruDleS had
been broken down. She was eager
~ waiting for him. Soon she would
hear his footstep on the stair. He
would catch her in his arms. And
she would be safe with him at last.
Safe forever. Safe from the daily
s"rdid grind, the poverty.
a tap at the door. Surely II
could not be Ellis! Kathleen went
to it with a wildly beating heart
and opened it. But it was only old
Mrs. Toms the landlady.
Il beg your pardon, Miss Jane.
son, but about that weeks rent in
advance" she began. You leaving
so sudden
"Oh, yes. Mrs. Toms" said Kath-
leen, taking up her purse.
She paid the landlady. Il
wouldn't ask for 1t. God knows,
Miss Jameson, II things wasn't so
hard" said Mrs. Toms. But yon
know how it is."
II suppose things are pretty hard
in your business" answered Kath-
leen mechanically. She wished the
woman would 60.
Say, hard amt the word, Miss
Jameson! And what with four
children to bring up. and my hus-
band God knows where! It's often
I'm tempted just to go off some
where and get job and leave them
ALL"
But Of course you wouldn't do
that"
"Well, I guess not. But-youll
understand. Miss Jameson, there
was a time. just after little Charlie
was born--I was younger-lookine
then than l am now, and considered !
pretty. And there was a gentle.
man"
Mrs. Toms put a corner of her |
apron to her eyes and began to cry. |
Frank and me never got along |
together, not from the beginning. !
He used to illtreat me. And Mr.. |
harrington, he came along and
wanted me to- go South with him.
Heaps OF money he had, too. Ii
only la gone. But there was little
Charlie. and somehow | couldn't
And are you glad or sorryY
Kathleen was speaking with sup
pressed eagerness.
'Why-l guess I'm glad on the
whole. Miss jameson" answered
Mrs. Toms. IL like sometimes to
think OF it, when I'm feeling low,
and to picture what might have
been. But l guess there wouldn't
have been no real happiness in 1t.
You can't get happiness that way. |
It's all Il sort Of game, this living /
and ones got to play 1t. And I've
played It,"
Her words struck home in Il way
she did not imagine. She turned
toward the door.
We'll, Pm sure I'm thankful to
you for that money. Miss jameson"
she said And Of course you un.
1erstand how 1t Is"
"Oh. quite. quite" answered
Kathleen.
She was standing in the middle OF
he floor, her hands clenched. In
hat moment she was making the
lecision of her life. A game! TIC
)lay or not to play?