Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1924-12-04
NY FANNIE kILBouRNE

side OF the menu. Sure 9~enOugh !,
prime ribs Pedro were forty cents.
THE girl had fish," Nancy took 1t
up gayly. Taking up everything in
life with quick, gay sympathy was
Nancy's way. Mercy, the extravagant
creature must have had fillet of sole !;
that's the only fish that's sixty-five
cents. But what can Is or an -
be2 There's nothing on the menu for
eight cents"
They studied the menu for a few
puzzled moments, then Jim grinned.
enlightened.
TITS budgeti" he exclaimed.
These aren't foods at all. Look
'R-40,' that's rent forty dollars. And
'F-85,' I'll bet that's food"
"Of course 1t isl" delighted. And
c. is clothing. But what on earth Is
I-S'f"
Insurance !" said Jim promptly.
Eight months a hundred a year.
That's about what five thousand
straight life would cost a young fell
low. I'll just happened to look ii up
the other day"
"And G & L is gas and lce," Nan
.cy guessed triumphantly.
An incredulous pucker appeared be-
tween Jim's eyes.
THAT guy isn't allowing enough for
rent, is he? He can't get a place fit
to take nice girl to for forty dollars,
can he?"
'Of course he can" said Nancy.
my cousin has two-room fiat out
near High Bridge that they pay thirty
five for and it's cute. If this girl has
any Ideas about fixing up a place, for
TVS plenty
at isl" Jim's establishment was
tinged with sudden brightness. GA
must be amusement" he went on.
Gosh. that fellows got nerve.
Think of expecting pretty girl who's
been used to good times and attention
and everything, to settle down to
eight dollars month for amusement
for two"
why, | don't think that's nervy at
all. Two people could have an awful
lot Of fun on eight dollars a month.
They could go to one good show-that
would be four-sixty, balcony seats and
car fare-and to q movie or two
And then just think of the. fun you
can have without spending hardly
anything Skating on Van Cortlandt
park in the winter and going on pic
MICS in the summer, building a fire
and cooking outdoors. And having
another couple in for dinner and to
play cards afterward-that doesn't
cost much"
That's so,' Jim agreed. Those
things are circus. And If you like
person lot, it's fun just TO stay
home sometimes, read out loud or play
cribbage."
"Cribbage is a good game" said
Nancy. Dad and | used to play
game after dinner every night when
! was youngster."
Tim looked across the table at her,
so gay and pretty and dear. A game
of cribbage after dinner every night
with Nancy! He looked down at the
figures, the chart by which some game
little vessel was going to chance the
seas. OF course the budget chart may
have been drawn by storm-tossed
old couple, by lone woman or q ia
Their and son. but Jim would never be-
IIeve 1t.
"Thirty-five dollars month fer
Clothes" he read. "They can't make
It for that, can they? If the girl likes
fha kind of clothes Won VICAR for in
stance?"
Oh, surely 1t was young couple
who had drawn up the chart! The
very breath Of romance can be in a
budget.
The special dinner progressed from
hungry buzzards in the aisle drew
nearer as dessert approached. But
Jim and Nancy neither tasted, saw
nor heard the cheapness. For the
second time sthat night, romance was
falling over the twosome table like
snowstorm over prosy and familiar
sights, changing rent and food and
insurance into glittering, mysterious
charm.
Under the eye of the disappearing
waiter, jim slipped the soiled menu
into his pocket. sent wordless wish
after the fellow mariners who had had
1t last. Wherever, whenever. however.
they were setting sail might Their
game little craft find good speed and
fair weather.