The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1929-04-05
MORE
THAN
WAGES
t0 by D. ). Walsh,

ttc] Dy -. y. w diSh-J
@YRENA WARE had stepped
into CottrelI's on her way
home to look at a rack OF
new ginghams. She needed a
fresh gown 10 wear to her work and
gingham was so satisfactory. There
was one of green-and-white check with
white pique trimmings, smart and
serviceable. She was just taking
peep at the price tag when she heard
her name mentioned by some one who
was standing hidden behind an ad-
Joining rack of late spring bargains.
'Tt's shame. his letting her work
the way she does" ~
"But, my dear. ne can't earn enough
to keep her and the child" returned
another voice. Sag
"He had no business to get married.
then" 81 M ak
swell, I am terribly sorry for the
poor thing" "
Cyrena's face glowed' and her dark
eyes flashed. She bit her lip until
it hurt. She had recognized both
voices; they were those of two neigh
bors who were always most cordial TO
her. Yet here they were discussing
her in a public place. She was tempt
ed to show herself to them and chal-
lenge them, but, after all. they were
neighbors. One had to live beside ones
neighbors a long time. Better never
to let them know she had heard any
thing, better to steal away secretly
If she could and ignore the matter
afterward.
There was a rack of coats near and
Cyrena made her way to it unob-
served. The only saleswoman visible
was busy with the two women who
had been discussing her and her af-
fairs. From rack to rack she moved
cautiously until she was well out of
their way A moment later she was
in the street walking rapidly home
ward. 1t came to her regretfully that
the dress she had wanted so much
probably would not be there when she
again had time to go after 1t.
Cyrena Ware was thirty, a tall,
well-proportioned woman with the
color of health in her cheeks, the
light of vigor in her eyes and the re-
dundant grace of strength in her easy
movement. Plainly, trife shabbily
dressed, she still managed TO present
an appearance Of style and feminine
charm. She had been married nine
years and had worked seven in the
same office. During that time her pay
had been increased twice. She was
now nearing $50 week with her
brains and hands. Her husband with
his hands alone had never earned
more than SIS and for some time now
he had been out of employment.
Those women, Mrs. Scott and Mrs.
Taylor. had. Cyrena knew, voiced the
common opinion of all who knew her.
It did seem strange to them, she sup
posed. They had husbands who
drought home the bacon" in vulgar
parlance, and all they had to do was
to cook it. Mrs. Taylor had been "ter-
ribly sorry for her, Cyrena WINGED.
The pity had hit her harder than the
criticism. She did not want pity.
She wanted TO be LET alone to do the
best she knew how.
Her thoughts were troubled and her
heart heavy. 1t was spring and she
was tired. Junior had just got over
the measles and Albert's leg had been
hurting him again. Then, too, the
work at the office had been unusually
heavy. Cyrena felt old and de-
pressed.
Birds were singing and daffodils
glowing in Bennett park through
which she passed as the shortest way
home. She sat down to rest a mo-
ment on a convenient bench, to look
at the flowers and listen to the birds
and get back to normal If she could.
She would not go home with long
face.
Suddenly she realized that It was
not so much what her two neighbOrs
had said as what had been gathering
in her own consciousness for days that
disturbed her. 1t was spring and she
wanted to be about woman'S busi-
ness Of cleaning, settling her home to
rights. She wanted flowers green
grass, little car, maybe. Above all,
she wanted.to stay at home. Her bust
ness air was all pretense. At heart
she was q mere woman who loved
domesticity, longed to be provided for
and protected. 1t was not her desire
to go forth and earn wages for the
three of them. But Albert could not
do It, and they had to live. She had
known all about the bad leg before
she married him. Yet 1t had made no
difference. She loved him.
There was rustic and young pair
took the bench behind her. The young
man put his arm about the girls
shoulders, she inclined her head to-
ward him, he looked into her face.
They were as unaware of Cyrena as
IL she had not existed. In their low.
happy voices they were talking. She
heard the word "love" repeated again
and again.
It brought back to her her own
courtship. She and Albert had come
to this very park to talk over the fu-.