Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1928-08-03
JOHN
. jEEDED
BOOST
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS s-o-a.k
&c by d. J. Walshl


~ ELLA BORDEN lay curled up
In the porch hammock. She
- had been sleeping, but voices
had aroused her. She listened
moment drOwsily, then her senses
became keemy alert as she realized
that the TWO women who were passing
the house We're discussing her Ris-
Ing cautiously on her elbow she
peeped through the vines one of
the women was Mrs Banks, her next
door neighbor; the other woman she
did not know.
1T Is shame !" Mrs. Banks was
saying in her hlgh-pitched voice This
place used to be the best kept one
on this street. The Bordens have
lived here going on nine years and
they've never done thing to the
house but patch it. 1t looks like u
crazy quilt"
What seems to be the trouble?" the
strange woman asked.
"Why, John Borden is a failure /;
| there's no doubt OF that | suppose
when mans failure nothing can
make him succeed, but then John
hasn't any help In his wife Della
| Borden is slack. She didn't used TO
be, but she just seems to have lost
her grip. It's hard to believe some
times, but | think a man usually re-
| fleets his wife"
The two women moved out of hear
ing.
Della rose to her feet Her knees
trembled. Mrs. Banks had called John
failure. She had blamed her For
| the first time she knew what people
| thought of her husband, her home.
herself. Had Mrs. Banks spoken the
truth? The old house was ugly with
its patched. roof and scaling paint,
surrounded by Its yard filled with
neglected shrubbery. 1t doomed large
Ia the row of smart, well-cared-for
residences set in neatly clipped lawns.
| Every one around them had progressed
while she and John had seemed to ret
rograde John was still barely holding
on to his job with old Mr.. Grant just
where he had commenced eleven years
! ago. Mr.. Grant in turn was clnging
to wornout business. John had
| lacked initiative to look for something
better. AT first she had been hopeful
that John would succeed; lately she
had given up and accepted things as
| they were. She had even fallen into
neglecting her home, her person. She
! at Inn II
and soiled dress. Had John noticed
Had he, too, felt something of what
she had Just heard? Certain things
he had said came to her with hard
revelation. Did he know that they
20, that she was IA failure? Oh, the
cruel hurt If she should lose his love
Della went into the house and be
gan to busy herself with preparations
for lunch. She worked furlously clean
Ing the dining room. She set the table
| with clean cioth ana A,er heat dishes
| She changed her dress and put ON her
best pair of pumps. Her thoughts
dwelt upon the situation that had pre-.
scented itself to her.
John came presently, looking more
duh tllan usual. He kissed her per.
funcforily and took his place at the
table
Beef stew with onions, dear-your
faVorite dish" Della said.
he looked up with faint smile.
Thanks, old glrl-can you bear II
biz Of bad newsY
"TcIl me- Della said, with cold fear
gripping her heart.
"Alr Grant Is giving up his shop
this is the last day for me. He's going
to live with his daughter. Cole takes
over the stock what there Is, and
there isn't much" John showed his
plate Of stew aside and buried his
head in his hands.
Good" Della's voice rang with n
triumph she did not feel. "Now you,
are free to do something for yourself
to get job that you can make "A
success OF. This Is your chance, John,
to see what you can do"
"Where Is such joby' John asked
with sneer
81 don't know. But you must find
one-you will If you look"
"Wherell | look" John said. Jobs
aren't picked up as easy as all that.
"They are, too" Della said, the color
heighlenlng In her cheeks 81 bet
could find something to do IL were
d man"
suppose you try" John suggested
81 will" Delia's voice was firm
ION tptaf T,ln
will both leave this house AT exactly
two O'Clock wen be really looking
for work. | promise you when I come
back not only 10 have job. but I'll
have some actual cash to show. Sup
pose you do the same" Relish for
stew was over so far as Della was
concerned She had made a statement
Would she be able to make good? She
must, for If she did not John would
In all probability go on being n fail
ure.
At exactly two O'Clock Della left
the house. John made some excuse
about having to shave. He would no
doubt start a little later. Della with
head held high and cheeks burning
stopped at -four or five places and
asked If they were in need Of help.
She left her name in several other
places They all said they might call
her later, just now they had nothing
for her TO do Al 4:30 With sinking
heart apd aching feet She was Just
on the point Of giving up, when Mr.
Carter, the painter, hailed her ~ she
was hurrying past Judge Wallis where
he was al work
"i.yN Mr. Borden go Nj Carter
callrd ort 90 lust got ID Telegram