Hard Times

Thore were st 11 tracea of refinement in the countenaace of the woman who came to the door in response to the third ring. Care, however, was largely in the ascendancy among the emotions that swept across her features. "Are you the lady of the house?" inquired the stranger at the gate. "No," she sighed. "Isn't she in?". "No.' "Will shebe in soon?" "No." "Indeed!" He paused an instant ere returning his subseription blank to his pocket. "Yes - " her voice trembled as with regret, " - 3he wouldn't stay for less than f3 a week and we couldn't afford to pay that in these hard