Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-07-27

She shook her head. mo, Red" 81
"cissy, you're so rich and everything. would
you marry poor nobody? A fellow that hasn't
got nickel to his manner"
I'D be crazy about it, Red" replied Cissy.
"Have you any idea how poor anna" IS -
mo" st
well, I'm as poor as they come. Your chauf-f
feur makes more than I've ever made. You
spend as much on clothes in year as spent
all the way through Harvard. have exactly
$500 to my name. Ihayen't job, and If don't
get one in New York, I'll have to eat up the
800, and then I1l'drive taxi or run an elevator.
whats more haven't anything coming TO
me- My dad was minister in country
church So was his dad There's never been
a butler in the entire history Of the Stuart
family, Or a string Of pearls Or a limousine
We're the plainest, poorest people you prob
ably ever meet
Gas for me, may never get any further than.
my family has. want to make some money.
but may not. And If you marry me YOU may
have to be grubby like me all your lfe mean,
we have to face that Because don't want
a nickel from your father. wouldn't take it,
and 1 wouldn't let you take it.
Well have to live in dinky apartment at
first, and you'll have to work and go without
things You'll have to count nickels as you
count dollars now, or hundreds OF dollars.
You'll have to ride in Subways and eat pork
chops, and sit in cheap seats at the theater,
and buy cheap clothes and watch bills like
hawk and play anagrams instead of cent-a-
point bridge. You'll have to put up with sloppy.
cheap servants, and count the laundry your
self to see that they haven't gypped us out OF
one of my four good Shirts and go to bargain
sales and mend my socks and go to free~con-
certs instead of the opera and free lectures
instead of first nights 4.t
st can't buy you orchids or furs even prob
ably what you'd consider decent stockings.
-fw.
The little platinum wedding ring will be all
can manage. Now do you want to. Do you -
"I do, Red" Cissy looked at him clearly.
"An right" said Red. ST believe YOU"
They went to Cissy's father the next morning.
IT think can get $50 week, sir" said Red.
Two people can live on $50. Cissy Is willing.
I'm taking her at her word. We hope you're
willing. too"
Tom gasped He had just had Cissy's bills
for the month Of october, totaling well over
$4,000
IT would be willing" he said, "if Cissy knew
what she was up against, but she doesn't. And
I'm afraii she'd ga under and you with her,
boy Poverty's grinding, cruel thing, even
when you're used to it."
He looked at Cissy. The girl was shining.
"Well," he added maybe we can do some
thing If you'll stay in town -"
mo- SIR" said Red. Thanks awfully. But
we've got to go it alone. couldn't look Cissy
in the eye If didn't. ss1r
Dad understands that perfectly" put in
CisSy. laa
And Tom did, although he wondered how
Cissy knew that he did. 2a
"Well," he said. "supposing you SO on 70
New York and see what turns up. Cissy, Of
course, is free agent. She's a. and she's sup
posed to have normal intelligence Besides, it
always seemed to me that marriage is one thing
people ought to be allowed to manage them
selves.
Tom had heartfelt reason for this position.
He had married his own wife, q frail and lovely
invalid against storm of opposition. She
had lived only seven years. but they were years
so richly full that Tom, bereft as he was, still
lived on those brief years. had yet to find
living woman who could NIL his heart as his
dead Margaret did.
Red left that afternoon and Cissy went
around In high state of suspense. Only one