The Washington times., 1930-01-16
CHAPTER VIII
"HE quarrel had been COM
ing on for weeks.

Ing On 4OI WcSAS.
It had been coming on
like a gathering storm, ever
since the first day that Mrs.
Anderson had set foot in the
little house. Mrs. Alder
son, with her clothes and her
diamonds. With her light
hearted freedom and her pity
for poor stay-at-home Lovejoy.
And now-like a Storm-the
quarrel broke over them.
They had been having their
early supper. Lovejoy had only
o mouthful or two.
But she had all she wanted.
She pushed her plate vio-
lently away from her, upsetting
her glass Of water, and stood
up.
Eyes, and you can sit there,
trying to look surprised, all you
want toI" she raped out. But
you know perfectly well that I
lead the dullest, rottenest.
gloomiest life that anybody
leads anywhere, Tom Nichol.
SON. .
Toms face didn't change, It
kept its look Of amazement and
hurt and helplessness-the help
lessness that a man always feels
when the woman he loves sud-
denly turns on him.
"Good lord, Lovejoy," he said,
and there was no anger in his
voice. I'm giving you every
nickel I make. I'm doing
everything that I can do to make
you happy"
1.-THE dickens you are" Love-
Joy snapped him up. The
first thing I've asked you to do
for me in months-to go to this
party with me-you calmly re-
fuse to do. You can't afford
to give me any amusement
yourself, and you won't let me
have any when it's offered
free. You're away from
the house all day. seeing people
and having a good time "
and you never think of me here
with nobody to talk to but the
baby and the grocer and the
man who comes for the rub
biSh-"
She turned from the table,
pulling the cloth with her, as
she turned. A plate crashed to
p the floor.
At the sound of it, she jumped
and then burst into a storm of
sobbing. She stood against the
wall, laid her face on it and
cried like an angry child.
;. 'Lovejoy, you know I don't
have a good time all day. You
know I work like q horse all
day and every day." Toms
voice came to her through the
noise she was making. "And.
you know things aren't always
going to be this way with us,
sweetheart"
He came from his side of the
untidy little table that had been
so pretty three minutes before,
and put his arms around her.
I'VE aren't always going to
be poor" he whispered into her
hair, his lean hard cheek
against his wife's wet 'quivering
one. I'm another six or seven
years we'll be sitting pretty"
"Six or seven years." sobbed
Lovejoy, pushing him away
from her. six or seven years
!" What good win that do
me? I'll by 80 in six or seven
years !" want some fun
now. Now, now, now! Do you
hear me?"
'I'd be deaf as a post If
didn't" Tom answered, angry
now, himself. do you realize
that you're screaming like a
fish-wife? Lovejoy, what's really
the matter with you? You're
not raving like this just be-
cause Of one party. There must
be some other reason"
She raised her wet flaming
face to him.
"Oh, I've told you I'm sick
and tired Of all this!'' she told
him, her SobS sinking lower
and lower. Look at this place!
Look at these tiny rooms that
other people have, lived in
Not even those dishes on
the table And here I'm
stuck in this hole"
She stopped crying and
looked around the humble little
place with eyes that seemed
to see it for the first time
There was a greasespot on
the dining room t"AI~ +'-~t bcd
been there before they took the
house. The creton' cover of
one Of the chairs was worn
into q big hole. The cord was
gone from one Of the window |
shades.