The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1936-05-15

NIlhE, 1ISfAN&
He did not tell her how appalling
it had really been. How he had
had to take two cuts in his already
inadequate salary, and how Julie
had striven frantically to make
ends meet.
He did not tell her of his shock
when he suddenly realized that Julie
was losing weight, and felt tired all
the time.
The doctor had not told Julie the
truth, but he told Bob.
She's suffering from malnutri-
ton. She's been literally starving
herself to death"
1t oawned upon him all at once
what Julie was doing. She had said
months ago that they must econo-
mize. He had realized just how she
was economizing! She had been
quietly going without things so
that he might have more. She had
been sacrificing herself.
The doctor said sternly. mo hui
man beings constitution can stand
this sort of thing-least of all a
woman's. Your wife has got to have
rest, and fresh air, and good nour-
ishing food. Here, I'll draw up a
diet for her"
WITH the paper ciutched in his
W hand Bob walked out of the
doctors Office, dazed. He would
take care of her somehow, of course.
Then, a few days later he lost his
job, and despair descended upon
him. He told Aunt Harriet.
Julie mustn't know that I have
written you. She mustn't even
know that I have lost my Job.
Couldn't you invite her to come
and stay with you for a while?
Shed think 1T was just for a visit,
but once she was under your roof
you could find ways of keeping
her there. When I'm lucky enough
to land a job-a good job-Ill
i
promise you I'll stay out of the
picture. I'll never try to support
Julie on starvation wage again!"
1t was the only thing he could
do, and he had done it.
So he waited for the letter which
would take her away from him.
Hoped for it for jules sake, and
dreaded it for his own. 1t was 6
o'clock now, and he climbed the
three dingy flights of stairs to their
apartment.
A S soon as Julie opened the door
~ he knew that it had happened.
Her blue eyes were very bright.
She said excitedly:
Bob, there's a letter from auntie.
After all this long time, she's writ
ten to me. Guess what she says!"
There was hard lump in Bob's
throat. Il couldn't guess, darling.
Is it something good?"
"Good?" Julie exulted. cts
marvellous! Listen-I'll read it to
you. Oh-this letter is just typical
of auntie!" Julie read
I'm just beginning to under
stand, Julie, that I have been a
fool for a good many years. I've
got more money than I know
what to do with, and I've never
had any fun out of it. I am
about to turn over new page in
my life'S book. You will be sur
prised to know that I am sailing
for Europe next week. At my
time of life, I find myself seized
with the wanderlust! I want to
visit all the places I have read
about before get too old to APP
preciate them.
There's only one drawback.
There's nobody to take care of
the farm. 1t has been my pride
for a long time, and l refuse to
leave the place in the hands of
strangers. Julie, my dear. couldn't
you and Bob forget our past diff
terences and manage the farm
Tor me while 1 am away? The in
come derived from it would, of
course, be yours, and I may saw
that 1T is a very satisfactory one.
You can tell that stubborn young
man OF yours that I am not giving
you anything for nothing. ThereIl
De plenty of hard work in it for
him, in spite of the fact that 7
nave capable man here to assist
him. But if Bob has the RIGHT
stun in him, think he can make
good. If he does-and YOU like
n-well, maybe I'll like travelling
so much that I won't want to
settle down again. and I'll give
you the place as belated we'd
ding gift"
Dos laughed suddenly. His dazed
~ mind was trying to conjure up
different picture of Aunt Harriet.
An Aunt Harriet who was keen
enough to read between the lines of
his stiff letter. An Aunt Harriet
who had emerged from behind the
she'll of her grimness, at last, and
found that she was human being.
A woman capable of a perfectly
grand gesture. He thought that
he was going to like this new Aunt
Harriet. AS he bent to kiss Julie.
Bob said happily: When do We
rack?"
TILE ENID