Page:The International - Volume 3.djvu/282

 windows in all the other dwellings were dark.

"When does the poor man sleep?" the woman wondered in deep sympathy, as she gazed at the lighted window. "My darling, you shall never be a government official," she whispered to her little son, who was sleeping quietly once more.

The adjutant's lamp, burning thus night after night, served as a sort of clock to the people across the street.

The Sadovskys were regarded as objects of pity by all their neighbors, but especially by their fellow tenants, who, although poor like themselves, were still much happier in their lot. For one thing, not one of the other heads of the families had death stamped in his face like Sadovsky, and there were many older men among them. Of the women in that quarter Madam Sadovsky was the most faded and worn, and the other children, even those that lived in the basement, were healthier looking and happier than were Ruzena and Karel Sadovsky. Ruzena had a small room opening into the court, where she sewed from morning till night. Karel never joined the other boys in any of their games; alone he went to school and alone he returned. No one in the house ever heard him laugh.

In the Sadovskys' apartments it was usually as quiet as in a churchyard. From one year's end to another no company ever crossed the threshold; and the family never went out on pleasure trips together. Indeed Sadovsky was not off duty entirely even on Sundays and holidays, being obliged to spend the forenoon at least in his office, while in the afternoon he tried to make up for some of the sleep he lost during the week.

The only luxury that they indulged in was a maid. Madam Sadovsky would gladly have dispensed with her services, but it would have detracted from the dignity of her husband's position. As a government officer he might not have a household without a servant. The five florins a month that constituted the girl's wages Madam Sadovsky saved by denying herself the very necessities of life. And thus, at the age when most women are at their prime, she was broken in health and prematurely old.

Her life had been a hard one from the start. Before she was fifteen years old she became the wife of Jeromir Sadovsky, who then held the humble position of clerk of the court in a small country town. He married her out of gratitude to her parents, who when they were living had befriended him when he was a poor student in the gymnasium. He knew well enough that Hedwiga was too young to assume the duties and responsibilities of married life, and that his small salary did not justify him in taking the step, but he saw no other way out of the difficulty. She was too young and helpless to be cast upon the world alone; and if he had befriended her, contributed something to her support, he feared that evil minded people might talk. He hoped, too, that, with his ability and his devotion to his work, he would soon be promoted and his salary increased.

In this he was disappointed. Heaven only knows why it is that married officials are promoted much more slowly than single men. For eight long years after his son was born he remained clerk of the court. Only three years back he had became an adjutant, and was sent to Prague.

Hedwiga, although very young, had been a good wife. It was only her economy and good management that enabled them to get along at all.

Although the transfer to Prague did not bring any material improvement in their affairs, the increase in salary being counteracted by the increased cost of living, nevertheless, the family rejoiced at the prospect of living in the capital. The children could now receive a better education than in the schools of a small town. In this case Sadovsky was guilty of the same sin that had been committed against him. In spite of his son's delicate health he planned for him a student's life. Karel therefore attended the gymnasium, while Ruzena learned to sew. In less than a year she was able to do dress making; and as she sewed well and cheaply, she always had plenty to do. Her earnings were deposited in the savings