The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1930-05-30

"And what have you two young
pieces of impudence been doing since
last saw your"
1--WE have dined in state at man.
mas" said Ernestine, smiling mis-
chievously. evil missed the signifi-
canoe of it entirely. Papa has, under
duress, forgiven him. He offered Will
a job in his Office"
"And what does Will say?"
"He didn't even pay any attention
to it. He just said that he was salts
fled with the job he had, thanks just
the same, and went on talking to
mamma"
Mr.. Poole laughed with delight.
doesn't he know what papa wants?"
II don't know whether he does or
not. But anyhow, papa knows that,
now he has decided to forgive Will,
Will doesn't intend to let it make any
difference. Papa really would like to
let us struggle along. He feels pretty
disappointed in me. But mamma can't
bear it.. She is determined to take
care of us, whether we will or no.
''But how can she, if Will does not
change his employment?
Ernestine's face grew firm. "She
can't. I won't let her. I've made up
my mind to have nothing but what
Will can give me. / don't mind being
poor"
You must resist poverty" Mr.
Poole said. sit is the deadly enemy
Of marriage"
Ernestine's small face was scornful.
Poverty was not so black as it was
painted, she observed. He looked at
her.
"You do not believe me? Wait, then,
and see."
But we are poor now. It's fun to
be poor
"You-poor!" His amazement was
so genuine that Ernestine looked at
him in surprise. "My darling child"
he reasoned with her, you don't know
what the word means. You two
still in the flush of first love, without
children, without house to burden
you, without a responsibility! One
bed will do for both Of you, one room
will hold two hearts together. You
are well, you are eager, you are fed
and clothed and housed. You have a
trunk full Of pretty clothes, an ador-
ing mamma begging to do things for
you. You do not know the cold and
odious breath of poverty at all.
could show you its dark face: slums.
little children with great heads and
emaciated bodies, houses held to-
gether by strings-shambles I'll
show you pale girls, and prostitution,
and bare shelves, and empty cup
boards, and pride bent double. Lack
is cruel witch. Pray that you may
never know her."
"Yet you just told me to waltz"
"Ah, but that was nonsense. Life
will never be cruel to you"
They ate the excellent food put be-
fore them, and talked, the men argu-
ing among themselves about a tech
nicality in some ones work, Will and
Underwood and Mr.. Wiston deep in it,
Mr.. Poole and Tommy competing for
Ernestine's attention. Presently Tom
my was drawn into the mems talk,
and Mr.. Poole leaned close to Ernes-
tine and became very confidential.
"Will tells me you are going to have
a child. I think that is the last per-
lection. always knew that he was
gifted, but his marriage with you has
established the certainty Of his future.
Such things are not accidents. He is
the chosen of the gods, or one of their
finest gifts would not be his. He has
all the elements of success. And a
wife and children will do the forging"
Ernestine's cheeks burned. She
could not understand how VIII could
have told his still precious secret to
Mr.. Poole. But she exercised great
self-command to be quiet and respon-
sive to him. He went on praising
Will. and assuring her of the bright
ness of his future. until. after little,
she forgot her confusion and told him
her own feelings about viii.
The party grew very gay, and Ernes-
tine joined in the general happiness.
without warning the tight little man