Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1924-08-30
BY H. M. ECBERT


ingly. George has been at work for
years trying to discover new planet
which he has reason to believe exists,
and he says the discovery will bring
him fame and fortune. That is what
those figures are for. He has been
calculating for years"
But has he got to calculate in my
Officer" cried her uncle in exaspera-
ton. Either he stops finding
planets, or he goes out Of my Office"
And with this ultimatum he turned
away.
AS matter Of fact, Uncle Tom was
not a hard man, but he had been deep
ly disappointed in the choice of his
favOrite niece.
Lefty went hOsle in tears.
ooh. George" she said that night.
II do wish you could put those
thoughts of the new planet out Of
your mind and settle down to work.
You know Uncle Tom wants to help
us, and there won't be any future for
you or me unless you give up your
astronomy"
"See here, Lefty" he said, ut can't
be done: 1t is all my life to me and
it is not possible for me to give 1t up.
If l hadn't spent three years on this,
perhaps I might. But now things
have gone too far. In two years
more shall be famous. Lettyi
Would you be willing to paake great
sacrifice for me?'
"Of course, dear" she answered.
1T will be a tremendous one" he
continued. But other mems wives
have made just as great sacrifices for
them. And it will only be for two
years."
"What is the sacrifice, George?" she
asked.
THAT we part for two years, Lefty.
You must support yourself by teach
ing. as you did before, and l will get
some simple hack astronomical writ
ing to do which will bring in five or
six dollars week and enable me to
give all my time"
He ended suddenly, for Lefty was
crying.
Lefty! I am BRUTE" he said. II
didn't mean that, dear. No, it was
as much with the thought of your fu-
ture as of my own. love you, Lefty.
Stay with me and try to bear with
time"
About a month after this occurrence
her uncle spoke to her again.
She watched him that night, filling
sheet after sheet Of paper with his in
tricate calculations. How she hated
those figures! She often wondered
whether they meant anything to
George, or whether this was not some
mania, born Of diseased mind.
He threw away dozens OF sheets
daily, and he had at least four tllou-
sand stacked up in his desk and died
together with string.
When at last he mad gone to bed
she crept to his desk and took chem
apart and looked at them. There
they were, just sheets of cor,mon
writing paper, with those dreadful fig
ures on them.
She carried the bundle over tn the
crate. She hesitated for one moInent:
the next she had thrust it deep down
beneath the GOALS The fire licked it
up greedily.
She did not sleep that night The
next day was Sunday.
She watched him narrowly. He
seemed 80 happy and contented that
morning. And when the meal was
done he took her in his arms and
kissed her.
Lefty" he said, II have a great
secret for you. Listen, dear! I can
finish those calculations in three
months. Lefty! why do you look
at me so Strangely"
II threw your papers into the grste
last night" she answered stOnily.
He stared at her speechlessly. Let
ty!" he cried. "You are joking!"
Then he read the look on her face
and sank back in his chair like a man
stunned.
Lefty, you have ruined our lives"
he muttered. Lefty flung herself down
at his feet.
George! Listen! have some
thing to tell your she said. And she
told him.
He bent over her and kissed her.
Eyes. DEAR" he said, II will give
up my dreams. I am going to set to
work to please your uncle now and
keep our home going!"