“‘We both lived in the country in our early life and know how to work and would be willing to do anything to help, we are so anxious to be together while we live.
“‘Mary Smith.’”
“Well, Tom, I really think we will have to do something to meet these cases. I have heard that the usual amount for people over sixty years of age is about $300 each and is kept up by charitable societies. Of course this not being a charitable affair, it must be not only self-sustaining, but self-respecting as well.”
“Well,” replied Tom, “we could place a certain sum of money as the lowest amount that we could accept, and in that way we could reach a large number. The ready money just now would be sufficient to secure them a home together and would be a benefit to the society. As they are able to work we will not be running a risk. We will bring it before the board at our next meeting and hear what they think about it.”
CHAPTER VII.
After Scoris and Helen Vivian had returned to the city they were amazed one morning by a letter from their mother, telling them that Mira and Jack Moberly had married and left Lake View, having gone to his uncle somewhere in the far West. Not long afterwards another letter came from Geron, saying that their mother was terribly grieved about Mira and asking them if they remembered to what city Jack had said that he was going, for they had tried in every way to find out something about them.
Neither of them could remember, so they wrote to their mother in sympathy, telling her that they would do all they could to find out about her. Their lives were busy ones, so the time passed quickly. Scoris was an artist, employed by an illustrating firm, and Helen had a position in a large department store. They still lived in the flat they had shared with Tom before his marriage, and were giving all the time they could spare from their employment to the society in the city. The winter had passed, Mira had written to her mother, asking forgiveness, and the depression on her account had ceased, for she had declared that she was happy.
“Well,” Helen remarked one evening, as she and her sister were dressing, “who would have imagined one year ago that we would be benefiting from the society’s industry as soon as this? Do you know, Scoris Vivian, that I used to be actually envious of any one who could ride around leisurely in automobiles?”
“Well, I think if we are to be ready in time for our ride you had better finish lacing that shoe,” Scoris replied. “Do you know that it is only half done?” Helen looked down in surprise, smiled and gave her hair another twist, puffed it out here and there, secured it with hairpins, then sat down leisurely and finished tying her shoe.
Scoris watched her as she started to draw on her gloves.