Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1929-11-22
JUST A
PROBLEM IN
THRIFT
i0 by D. J Walsh !

JENNIE CRAIG sat down upon the
edge Of her bed when she heard
the doorbell ring below Her
y mother went to lei Joe Sherman
In. There were the usual greetings
between Mrs. Craig and her daugh.
ter's friend. Then, Are you most
ready to come down. Jennie2 guess
she'll be here in minute Joe. Go
into the parlor and wait"
Jennie continued to Sit rigid upon
the edge of her hard, narrow little
bed. She was having terrible fight
In which her head was trying to stand
ground against her heart. with as yet
no perceptible possibility Of winning.
Until the battle was finished she
couldn't 20 down and face Joe Sher
man.
She had been going with Joe Sher-
man for a year. She loved him. She
thought he loved her. But there were
hindrances TO their marrying. Joe be
longed to a family who lived from
hand to mouth, accommodating nothing
often getting into serious difficulties
through debt Jennie had inherited
desire for thrift along with her
wavy red hair. She had saved por
ton Of her wages as religit usly as she
went to church on Sunday. Every
instinct Of her being was unfriendly
to JOe's happy-go-luckiness. But Joe
himself she adored with all the In
tensity Of a girls first love.
She rose at last, smoothed down
her prlm little figured wolfe, and went
downstairs. Joe was walking impa'
tiently about the parlor. looking at the
family portraits on the wall. Ugly pOr.
traits Of ugly, honest folks who Of
necessity would have had little In COM
mon with this big, handsome, easy
going young fellow. at sight Of whom
Jennie paused. her hand futterlng to
her throbblng throat.
ats raining hard. We can't 60
anywhere tonight" Joe said. as they
sat down upon the worn sofa. Hear
thai on the wlndowi And the wind
oh. bOyl Turned my umbrella inside
out. I'll have to get new one to
morrow"
"Why not have the old one mendedf"
"rhere you 60. Jenniei But you
look awful pretty tonight. Your hair
well. It's so much like sunshine that
It makes me forget the rain"
ats Just red hair. Red hair is com.
mon. II stands for temper and
stinginess and-and lot Of other
things you've no use for. We aren't
suited to each other, Joe. I'll think
It's all fooIIshness for US to 20 on "
Joe looked at her sharply. "What's
the idea?" he demanded. "Are you
trying to tell me you-yOu've had
enough Of mel Is that It, Jennief"
He got up and stood before her. red.
faced. excited. 1T your folks are cut
ting In on what's our business" He
made beIlIgerant gesture
"Oh, they're not They let me do
as please. They trust me. It's my.
self I'm to blame. can't can't"
"We'd be awfully happy" Joe mup
INJURED dazedly
"Just for a little while. Then
oh. whnis the use? | don't dare. II
isn't as II IL could make you over,
Joe, or you me-" Jennie was break.
Ing dnwn II she began to cry Joe
would take her In his arms and that
would Ph6 II all-the wrong way. She
ran ont Of the room.
Joe looked after her, stunned She
was gene for good After a moment
he took his hat from the table I'm
derneaih the hat was the box Of ex.
pensive cnndy he had brought for
Jennie nnt forgotten until this mo.
meni lie went out with dreadful
pain tearing MS heart
Next day she wrote letter TO Joe
She was rather forceful with the pen.
Her letter was an explanation of all
the things she felt she owed II to
Joe to say She laid all the blame on
herself She couldn't change her
make up. She wanted to be happy.
Joe wanIed to be happy. They could
never be happy together.
silence IN Joe's pnrt followed that
letter. Jennie kept at work doggedly.
Work wns n blessiU. at time like
this But she ate an0 slept so little
that II was no wonder her bright color
began to fade. Even her sunny hair
looked dim One night she went TO
the movies with another girl and saw
Joe across the aisle with & girl named
Pat who was not well spoken Of
That took the heart out OF her com
pletely. She wanted him back n
only n save him from Pat.
Three weeks pissed. One night
Jennie. returning 10 the house from
an errand In the nelghbOrhOOd. found
o huddIed figure on the front steps
ats me Jennie" Joe unfolded his
long length ave got t. have q talk
with you"
Jennle's heart bounded But she
sat prImIy down beside him She
waited.
"If you want man thnt's steady
going and saving and and honest and
all that I'm going to be that man."
Joe said ~ don't even ask you to
take me on trial, Jennie. When I
come to you AGAIN you'll know I've
made good ':nnd by This time be
left her.
"JOe!" Jennie spinng 10 her feet,
too tate She heard him humping
down the sIdrwni Wini had he
meunif Could II h. she was going to
be happy yeti The promise and hope
in hIa vprtIs thrilled hpt SLa aank
back upon the steps buried her red
head on the arm III Eer old brown
sweater and crlrd 10 10y
Aftei thai when she mel him he
always gave her erin and u wink.
But he WIS usimll, IN t,p big II hurry