The Washington times., 1936-06-09
NOW READ On
Bv ELENORE MEHERIN

Inc blood Tell away from Nell
brain. She felt Keeling. Instinc.
lively, childishly, she reached for
her ring, hanging by fine chain
about her neck. She read the in
scription aloud: May 10, 1884
I didn't dare to tell it. I simply
CAN'T lose my job. My family de-
pend on me-"
"You know it is the rule in this
office that a girl must leave when
she marries. If it was SO neces-
sary for you to keep your job,
could you not have refrained from
marriage?"
Nell looked at the efficient,
Sharp-nosed Miss Kinsell. She
had refrained from marriage. A
good 80 years. perhaps.
"And, certainly, Miss Doran-
or what is the name?-you can't
possibly expect to keep on with
your work when you are so obv1-
ouSly about to have a child"
. Nell leaned across the table, her
dark eyes Smouldering in an ashen
face: $50 you've all been talking
about me? I'm sorry! I didn't
think it was this obvious"
Miss KinSeu raised her browS in
a quiet, superior way: "You did
your best to slip things over on us. "
"Oh, no! I haven't thought I
was so smart. My huSband-the
name is Richard Calhoun. Our Ii
cense is on record as is also the
marriage ceremony in the Church
of Saint Luke-my husband does
not earn enough as yet. He will!
I must remain at work a few
months more. Can you not permit
this? My mother is dying"
well, Miss Doran-or pardon
me, Mrs. Calhoun, you have chosen
to flout the rules. Do you think I
can now give you special priv
legeS? The staff would be demon
allied in no time. You are owed
two weeks pay. I'm giving you, in
addition, q full months salary.
This is all I can do"
Nell stared at the woman in a
goaded, bereft way.
Miss Kinseu went on: II am
sorry for your misfortune. But
one might suppose, in these deS-
perate times, you would think
twice before bringing another hun
CRY mouth into the world to fill. -
Nell got to her feet. She spoke
softly across q blazing quiet. "It
is no misfortune, in my opinion,
but q privilege and joy to bear
my child. And it shall not be
hungry! Despite your disapproval,
I am exceedingly glad about it all"
"a very worthy attitude, I'm
sure. Please believe I wish you
we'll"
Somehow, with a stiff, glazed
smile on her lips, Nell passed
through the outer office. Furtively,
the girls stared.
She went to the dressing room.
Sigrid followed her. Sigrid knew
what had happened. They all
knew.
Nell showed Sigrid her ring,
saying weakly: "She doesn't be-
neve I'm married. I suppose no
one will"
Sigrid cheered her. She said:
"It's a matter Of record. I'll stop
their tongues. All, Nell-my poor
dear friend-do you not need me
to go home with your"
This brought desperate tears to
Nell'S eyes. She turned quickly and
left the room; left the building;
left the life Of the past five years.
Though the day was sunny, she
felt driven in a bleak, lonely wind.
She walked rapidly, keeping that
stiff, glazed smile on her lips.
Over and over her mind whiS-
pered Starkly: you've lost your
job! What are we going to do?
God, what CAN we dol"
She figured her child would be
born in June. She had $165 in her
purse. No more money to be
earned. This must keep them four
months.
Emily would help a little. Ricky
would continue sending his $50.
But this she wouldn't touch. This
was for it-for him-their little
child. It should NOT starve!
She halted suddenly, her
strength gone. She had a wish to
rush back there to that office, bat
ter on the blind, unfeeling walls;
scream at them: demand back the
work she so frightfully needed.
Fortunate for Nell she didn't see
the dark cup of anguish the future
held for her lips. Fortunate she
did not know the shocking and
pitilesS way in which her problem
would be solved.
Nell was glad she had taken her
love. Even now with the full toll
Of it upon her.
She stole noiseleSsly to her own