“I feel better,” he said, taking a long breath.
“So do I,” said she.
He paused for a moment to frown in some perplexity.
“Say, Nell, I left my cane in a street car coming down. Do you think it would be worth while to advertise for it?”
CHAPTER V
CHRISTMAS
The weeks went slowly by and Christmas came to the little house in Tarrytown. He had become resigned but not reconciled to Nellie’s continued and rather persistent absence, regarding it as the sinister proclamation of her intention to carry out the plan for separation in spite of all that he could do to avert the catastrophe. His devotion to Phoebe was more intense than ever; it had reached the stage of being pathetic.
True to his word, he wrote to Mr. Davis, who in time responded, saying that he could give him a place at the soda fountain in May, but that the wages would of necessity be quite small, owing to the fact that the Greeks had invaded Blakeville with the corner fruit stands and soft-drink fountains. He could promise him eight dollars a week, or ten dollars if he would undertake to come to the store at six a.m. and sweep up, a task now performed by 125 the proprietor himself, who found himself approaching an age and a state of health that craved a feast of luxury and ease hitherto untasted.