“My time was absorbed during the morning hours trying to determine the cause of her violent abuse of our friend. My mind was relieved about the luncheon hour, when I had another caller; this one also a neighbor and a woman of refinement. She came to console me in my trouble, saying among other things, that it was an event which had been looked for as the inevitable result, for many weeks. I was not overjoyed at the particular kind of consolation which she dealt out, but my spirit was subdued to some extent and my anger of the early morning somewhat mollified. I was curious to know in just what position I was. “My second caller soon made me acquainted with facts that surprised me. She told me that the uncouth old lady who had called first was the mother of a poor unfortunate, who had at one time possessed a charming figure and a pretty face; their former residence had been in the slums of the city. One day our friend saw her and took a fancy to her, induced her to accompany him in a round of debauchery, and while yet under the influence of the drunken infatuation, he had purchased the beautiful home near by and moved the girl and her mother into it; but the flower soon faded and the attraction which the poor young thing had held for him was soon gone. He settled with them in a financial way that afforded the means to maintain the well located home. The fact that he paid no further attention to them angered the old lady and she made use of every opportunity to abuse and decry him. “That same evening I was favored with another call from the gentleman himself; he had heard nothing from Harry, and could give me no information as to his whereabouts. I asked him for advice and he suggested that I wait a reasonable time for news from Harry, and if I did not hear from him, he thought it would be well for me to start out to find him. Next day the agent who had charge of the house in which we lived, called. “‘I came,’ he said, ‘to collect the rent.’ “‘I was not aware that we owed any rent,’ was my response. “‘Oh, yes, two months.’ “‘But I was under the impression that my husband leased the premises for a year.’ “‘So he did, but did not pay the rent for a year.’ “In my ignorance of city affairs I never dreamed but that city homes were rented the same as farms. Then, with a happy thought, I said, ‘I will pay you, how much is it?’ “‘Well, the fact is, if you want the house it will be $150 per month.’ “‘But that is more than we were to pay.’ “‘Yes, I know, but I have been compelled to raise the rent.’ “‘Why?’ then thinking of the lease I said, ‘does not the contract hold good?’ “‘No, you see you have forfeited your rights in the lease by a failure to pay according to the terms stipulated in it.’ “‘But why do you ask double?’ “‘I have reasons which I would rather not make known to you.’ “‘I suppose it is because my husband is away, and you think you are in a position to take advantage of me,’ I said warmly.