Show I BEGGARS r CAN CHOOSE I b by MARGARET WEYMOUTH JACKSON Sonic Sonia by Bobbs Co THE STORY n a childhood Attach attach- attachment attachment Attachment ment l of I a wealthY family Is attracted by Will Todd nev newspaper artist sister I lillan her hor to break tho mho af lr arr lr but fc re- re re A s runaway marriage fol follow fol- fol folIo Io lows low q Loring Hamilton uIna LII Ilan s 8 consent to lO become his hi wife tic ltd III and begin their married life In humble surround Will Viii best lugs John Poole a 8 friend gl gives elve vt's a a birthday part party for at Ruby Huby tanos s re- re resort resort ort re-ort- sort CHAPTER Continued IV-Continued IV Continued 5 But But you hl have hate e Ih lived ed In the lie country country coun country try try Oh yes always In the summer eummer My ly Grandmother I angley had a home In Indiana where here my father fathers s quarries rles are arc Why h by do y vou ou ashe ask ash e e ever eer er mind me fell lell 1 ell me of ot your elt 1 this house In the country and your home on Sheridan road Is n t long sya In from here Ernestine understood his Idea but ahe refused to be drawn dra n Into such a com conversation It Is only a few V miles she slie replied and he gave gate an Impatient ti on It It Is u thousand miles and a hun bun hundred bundred hundred dred ye l Irs at nt l least dSt he sid Tell me about your our mother mothers shouse house Ernestine thought about It It Do you know UI anything thin tiling about Amer Amerlean lenn period furniture Mr Ir There Is a n Duncan Ph fe tulle table HId imd pierced s fire nrc fender tender In the Irv lag Ing room four tour poster poter beds bells upstaIrs with hooked rus ru s and woven o colter counterpanes all panes all of ot the thIngs have hate come Into the family honestly through h nit ural i 1 o os and not from rooms Hut But of ot course jou Sou ou know kno She smiled at him hm Her long hands lay In tile the Immaculate of ot her 3 yellow v chiffon chIlTon lap Her Iler olce was as low loss only for tor his ears cars though she slie thought thou ht him ery sery ery strange she ga e him her gravest est youngest t courtesy I I know nothing about America at atall nil all It H seems Its It s just the hou house I I e-I III II take you vou to see It some dav da If lr Sou YOU ou II like be although mamma doesn't like lIbe people ople to consIder It a museum as ns some e experts do doOt doof doOf Ot of course e I don t use live Ih e there since my We e live Ilse Ih e In a n rooming house on Erie tret and It just sho shows s that furniture and things do not mean so much for tor I am nm happier now than I Iwas Iwas Iwas was You lou lou Rase hae ha c e lef ter this tills house of ot your mother with Ith pierced brass from your own o ancestors ancestor to live Ilse In Erie street She Slie nodded and smiled again and her e e eves ees es pleaded for tor his understand understandIng lag Ing He lIe shook his head sadly lIe He hea healed heaed ed eda a vast sigh o I do not under understand America Continually I am full of ot new aston astonishment astonIshment Women are BOme somewhat hat the same the world but around around but American men are outside my con comprehension lou You hive hale e been successful here she reminded him but he brushed herY hera her Y a W 1 t f But You Have Lived In the Country comment aside pursuing his Ids 0 n thought aloud Iio I o I do not If It my myson son Is penniless If lie he Is an nn artist starling In a 11 garret and the grunt the Incredible nod fortune come conic to him that he shall shull miry mirry a girl rl of ot no nohie noble noble hie ble birth who has a n quiet voice olce and gentle still sUIl hand hund hands and a brow a here sho shows shoes s Its 10 lovely lonely ely smile smile- smile It If my m son tease have e the grace and the smile of fortune to marry such a girl girland girland Irl Irland and he bring her to a place Ilace Ilk III- this this- this He lIe looked about him Ith scorn If It If he bring his wife Ife to this brothel tills I sink sink I take e a knife In my own u hand and still him him through h the hoart go awns u here bere now instantly Instantly now I 1 here Is l nL at In this ro room m that s the he ner er ery air lou You will strings II In It- It It s bent henl t stopped betting hI 1 n In her astonishment She be felt that thai 1 she had hud been unbearably affronted and she ro rose e and stood pale within with an anger er Mr Ir rose and stood before her lier and met with pith Ith approval al the 1 of or her eyes c e es lS A waiter halter alter oppen appeared red redIn In instantly with her Oat gnat and he took It and wrapped It about her with Im Immense mense dignity So So go princess r he exclaimed and ho honed hoed ed a little and looked at her his own nan e eyes alight You lou lou hire e only my tood wishes It Is unfortunate unfortunate I t must mast t confess the title to n a place e unfit for you Sou OUt but hut tills this place pI lS as not made fur for you the unlit the broken en the abnormal must have hate their haunts an and tile the are ure not nut for tor others otheN Some diy day perhaps It will be my m for fortune fortune or tune that we ae e shall hall be fi lends I very sery cry one wis ws staring at them III hid risen und and stood beside her smiling uncertaIn uncertainly I not know no knowing lug 1111 at atall atall atall all shat hat was sus going for forward ard I I want cant ant to U to M home Ernestine said to him Icily rommy will Sill tale ale e you OU S Will ill an ans answered s send end a sash easily II I have hate ha e to take tae Mr Ir Poole to hIs Ills flat fiat Ernestine felt fell herself beginning to tremble with Ith the Hie Indignities heaped upon her tier She he had hud been Iwen so In 10 lose e so 0 exposed that it all hurt her In Incredibly Incredibly credibly She Slie looked about her hu uncertainly then laii and ond answered ill answered ill III S 'S with Rh Ith como composure ure I I don t helle believe e I III II have hale ha e to depend on Tommy Here lIere are I lillan and I or orIng orIng lag Ing 1 I hey hl II 11 take me home Will III Sun S swung un about In astonishment and there then Indeed d coming through h the room ura sil wire ue I III Ian and tier her loser er irnestine stood smiling as they hey rune cime ron forward forssard ud II ne exclaimed 1 lllian when hen she was ner enough h I I 1 w n to see you youe e We went cent to Mrs Irs Bennetts Bennett s but the maid sold you were ere here so sowe e foil followed 0 ed you vou ou Can Cnn you ou come lIh us I was ass as Just going answered end Ernes Ernestine Ernestine Ernestine tine Put Put w a lit and meet our frIends This Is my sister Miss lIss Briceland Mrs Irs Iston ind nd Mr Ir Poole Lillian and Monsieur ind Sir Mr Ir 1st Iston on ot of the Sun and ancl Mr Ir Under Underwood and Mr Ir and and this Is Mr Ir a ho 0 owns ns this charming place And this Is Mr Ir Hamilton Mrs Irs Iston Iston- Iston fhe men mat hid had risen and were ere fum fumbling um tiling over oser 0 er the acl ad now no of ot the Introductions Ernestine e seemed the mot most composed person present and no noone noone noone one could have hale guessed gue that her knees were vere trembling e Ile e wanted to bet feet on If It you vou ou und and ill inn can come s Ith us sa od Ionn I orin IllIe Mr Ir stood and regarded the newcomers e I III Ill II come Ith you OUt but Will Sill III has hasan hasan hasan an engagement nt before he lie returns return home Lorne Mr Thank Thanh you ou for fur the e evening She he JJ e her hand liand to her host and he put hi his 0 own oan n hand liand on her shoulder to steady himself elf Loran Lonn winced and scowled Ild at this contact but hut Ernestine al now In complete of ot her herself herself herself self and smiled steadily Mr Ir Poole Pooles s hl he n l f flU fice ue his confusion did not dl dis dismay Ill her She Slie bade bude him hUn an nn affection affectionate affectionate ate good night then turned to the theother others other God Guc d night all nip of you ou I Im m sorry to run U 1 from m mi my own can part party parti but mu must t start sturt If you iou ou will alit ex LUSt cost me me- me Good night nl ht ill ill I III II see you OU liter later She blie Base JI ill ill a lumInous 1001 look lIe did not ans answer anser er but stared at ut her sI 51 sIl l and und she he turned sweeping s her crap about her lier herself like n a queen of the reini and wart ent o off IT black bulk hull between hll eLn the SI sins tern his face kirk dark wIth forebodings Down Don Do n the a wooden OlIden ouden stairs they the passed ed edIn In complete silence A new ne se sed um stood tood at ut the curb and I l In run ilia silence I opened the ear cur door for tor forthe Iris alto ho bot ot In the back baLk seat lie lle closed the door and tot kot In time the rs scat and und started the I illian and 11 ne sit bit l close to In the warmth and comfort lit of ofHie the heated upholstered tend bias kluss enclosed interior Ernestine Emes l felt fell for tor time the first time lime U a poignant homesickness for tom corn fOI fort t und arid convenience 1 liy hy by didn t 1 1111 conic come with u us asked ached Loring from trum the front seat tine decided tu to be ht frank lou You lou could see Sel Unit that Mr lr Poole had been heen too much couldn t yuu sell ell ell 5 iii felt that he lie ou ht to tu take he hIm home borne and see that he got there Sit safely fI lie He often does dots that The re bond friends you ou knoss And sou ou tn t l think badly hadly of Mr r Poole He lie s sold old und and realis he Is a n wonderful man Dlan Iut but l ut how about you iou ou How loss would sou OU have base got Jot home Our coming along was us an accident lummy Tucker would have base tulen talen rile said uld Ernestine l calmly Or the theS S actors or Monsieur II leur I Id d 11 H ee one lIne hums honK nil all right i hue here w is ms a 11 silence of ul ad ij adjustment I 1 he e c ir rr rolled s axon nion the quiet quilt trets I hen t thin things s nil ail asked usell I 11 1111 U nth Of Of Or course l d rl a i 1 I III in so 0 I Jad d 1 II vuu sou come and h lse lundi loom h aith m mil it in 1111 i anil III nip ie to u nod let nit im h till II i you 1111 ili all our pt II n inse i It I I s i l aid aid I lir I arc rl tine i mil vp sr II to L LI I li II 1111 I ii ten ibis ibisI Ili I 1111 I n I n f fI r I t II I Iii r I II I m tired too But nut Ernestine I Im m so 80 happy that I wonder If It I can be any happier Her lIer voice olee was bright and quick clear quick and competent Ernes Ernestine Ernestine Ernestine tine remembered the tears and pas slon of ot her oft 0 own n engagement loo You lOll will be happy haliDY always uh u S lou she said with Ith Intensity 7 1 hey left her at the stone steps and watched until she opened the door wIth her latchkey and disappeared Into the Dark prison like house Then Lor Lor- Lor LorIng In lag turned the car about and with Lillian at his side started back north lillan cuddled against him Oil Oh Oh I lurrie orne she said sorro sorrowfully tully she slie Isn t happy You know kno she slie Isn t t tIt It t be so bad for her to be poor If only he were ert good to her But you can see that drat he tae neglects her tier It If Ithe he cannot provide pro he for her decently he could at ut least be a gentleman to her herBut herBut herBut But after all she has lias done for him himlie he mistreats mistreat her Don Dont Don't t be he disturbed d about It dar darling darling ling said Loring in a low voice olce There here s nothing we can do now Only he be good to her and wait alt for tor her to towa towal towal wa wal I en In Irs Mrs Bennett s boarding house Ernestine climbed the stairs slowly ly feUng herself weak eat with rage CHAPTER V The First Quarrel Ernestine s anger aner and grew w like a bonfire The small front room roum was as cold but hut she sire w was wis lS una unaware are ot of Its temperature or of ot the frost gathering thick on the window I ow Es E Eer ery er thin thing was as fuel to the flame burned In her The lon longer cr Will de delayed hyed the more her anger grew gre Ills cavalier treatment of ot her Tommy could take her homel home I Mr Ir Poole needed him More than thun un anything thin else elsemore more she told herself than the hu of It Mr Sir s scorn ns aus thIs fact thit Mr Ir Poole mattered more than she slie did She Slie gave gale Ja e herself up to an anger er as she had given gl herself to with lose love Will 1 hid had neglected her lIe He had humiliated her She Slie knew kness that she would not hive hise cared for any ot of It so much if It she hid Ind not been forced to 10 see It through h the horrified eyes I if t her lier sister elster and I 1 oring The rhe They acre ere lit In her now noss She could Ima lOe hn s comments Lorin Loring s ss s mpa th That was as the crux cru of ot the hole matter mattel And Mr Ir Poole the vile lie old drunkard drunkard's r is s this the sort ot of friendship her marriage was to bring her She had glen given gl en up e eer everything er for for BI Ill e everything thin is Ras he lie to flee nothing for tor her lier Could he not this adoration of ot an obscene old man ammo ho happened to be a car cartoonist cartoonist It was a not necessary lr for these gifted people to foregather ther In such a place She Slie burned and trem trembled trembled bled as ns she recalled s contempt con contempt contempt tempt That strangers should need to Instruct her lier is to her proper place place- place bo So o absorbing were svere her thoughts so 55 rapped was aas she In time the of ot her 0 own n Inner tumult th It she did not heir hear the outer door nor norS nor ills S ill III s soft step on the stairs a when hen nt at last he lie came me Up Set et he asked ashel in a hu husky ky whisper 1 You loo I should hd tease have e been in hied hd t two tao 0 hours bourse hours ago ngo Its It's cold as fiS the thede des de il 11 outside e But s the m itter kitten Arent A rell rent t you iou wellDon well wellDon ell Dont Don t speak to me DI r said find and the fact fad that like lIbe himself she bhe sheh h ld and to loss 10 lower er her tier voice spice lIce In tion for people on elt either Side Idt tided to her r ric Ie But lint But 1 I Don Dont t speak to mel me I she crIed again and this time her voice was clear I never ne want scant to go anywhere a y you ou n again aln Be Be silent he commanded In n a olce low but stern and his eyes e es leaped back at nt her with Ith an un anger er equal to her own o Have flare you lost your our nits Its Shouting In this place In time the middle of ot the night stood her mouth open a little In amazement at his tone riot words trembled upon her tongue Undress Undrel s and und get In bed said SS ill 11 What hat do you mean sitting here with without without without out more clothes on In this Icy room Do you on wish to harm yourself She Slie laughed You You are ure concerned about mv ms welfare arent wren aren t you IOU she taunted him and for answer he her shoulders and gave gate e her a quick little shake I 1 he demanded will you do as ns I Say sa sav She stood trembling fighting down Clown time the stupid well ell of tears reaching out after her departing tinker er Will III her her voice olce was as ns low as ass s as his own own- own I 1 m In such a rage that I 1 have base got to talk tall to you You Youcan cant can t treat me this way ay lou You cant can t lease lea me to the courtes courtesy of ot stran strangers ers lou ou can cant t take me to such places places- places where here theres there s drunkenness and lm morality You lou ha have hae e got to be a bet better better better ter husband to me than that I hu hale e egl gl glen en up eer ev e er eo tiling for you e you you-esery you every everything ery thing thing- thing When hen you 00 are In bed III I II talk to ou he answered as he threw off of his coat and went scent ent to the time wardrobe and brought her |