A Desert Between Paul and Clara
Paul had long promised to marry Clara.But at thirty-three he met and married Alice.Clara was driven mad.
Paul was taken to court.The judge ordered him to pay Clara$600 because of the broken promise.Paul had to borrow the money from a moneylender.He agreed to pay back$5 a month—for twenty years.His wages at the time were$16 a month.
Paul and Alice were poor but not unhappy.They had little enough food，certainly，even before the children began to arrive.Each month Paul paid$5 to the moneylender.He worked hard, never taking a holiday.In time，there were seven mouths to feed.
Illness was always with them.It grew serious when the oldest child was eight.The years of hunger weakened the family, because each month Paul paid$5.The details of the sickness were ugly, but the result was this：after twelve years of family life，Paul was alone in the world.
He lived alone.except for memories.Work was not now a god for him：it was a pain-killer.Each month he paid，and in time the twenty years ended.From that moment his wages were his own.
One day, It was a holiday went to the seaside.He sat down on a seat by the sea.A middle.aged woman came and sat down near him.They recognized each other at once.
The woman said.“The$600 has been in the bank since the day it was paid to me.It is now $6，000，and I have kept it for you.Will you let me share it with you?”
“No，”said Paul，gently.“Each thousand is a lost life in a desert between us. It can never bring any happiness.”