West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1889-02-28
LIBBY'S AMBITIONS
BY HELEN FORREST GRAVES.


why, Libby, is that you7 Stop a
minute; I'm going your way, aud I'll
walk home with you"
Pm ina hurry, Job" stammered the
tai young girl whom Job Lindley had
"But l won't detain you q second %
catching up the change and the parcel
from the counter OF the little general
shop which served for grocery, dry
goods emporium. flour-mill and postof-
ice for the dwelers in Succothyille.
'I'm ready now"
Libby Morse was a slender, BRIGHT
eyed girl OF eighteen. Job Lindley was
the village druggist, quick, keen faced
young fellow, with healthy glow on
his cheeks.
They walked briskly along over the
hard frozen winter roads, in the gray
twilight.
Were you getting anything at the
sstorep Job asked. ''Have you any
bundles for me to carry7"
Libby laughed bitterly.
II was asking for letters,~ said she.
'There were none forme Ididn't much
expect there would be. Luck don't
come to mep
'Lncki" Job looked at her in DER.
picked way. II hope, Libby-I do
hope you haven't been persuaded into
buying tickets in the Breezetown Lot
terry" O'
Nonsense !" retorted Libby.
your uncle gives you all the spend
ing money you want, don't he9"
"He gives me all | ask for" Libby
answered-adding, within herself !:
And little eaough that isl"
."You're not discontented at living
with him4'
mot especially
because, Libby, If you don't like it
where you are -"
"oh, Job, there comes Alice Mark
ham r' hastily interrupted the girl. "Pve
got message for Alice. You'll excuse
me, won't your GoOd-byp
Job Lindley stood puzzled. in the
middle Of the road, Watching Libbv's
figure vanish against the yellow bar that
still marked the spot where the sun
had gone down, half an hour ago.
'Tt's queer" said he. 'Tm hanged if
understand it Every time get anv-
where near that subject she slips away
from me, exactly as IL she understood
what was going to Say. It's like try.
ing TO catch the waters Of running
orook In cne's hand. To me there's no
girl In all Succothville like Libby Morse,
ana yet can't for the life of me tell
whether she cares for me or mott"
In the meanwhile Libbie had Joined
Alice Markham, the young district school
teacher whose week 1t was in ''boarding
around" to go TO Mr.. Morse's.
"Oh, Alice, said she, breathIess with
the haste she had made, "Tye had such
an escapew
''Child, what on earth do you mean 20
said Miss Markham, who, though she
was scarcely month older than Libby
IN actual time, had the dignity of at
least thirty summers.
Perhaps 1t was as much owing to the
responsibilities of her position as 10
natural temperament, but still il was
there-the sober, charming sedateness Of
. young queen.
81 think, Alice" said Libby, in a
mysterious whisper, that Job Iindlev
wants to ask me TO marry him. I've Just
been walking with him"
"Well-and IL he does7y
ITS such nonsense" said Libby.
slightly accelerating her swift, elastic
pace.
81 don't zee that at ali, said composed
Alice. Every girl is the better for a
good, sensible husband
'Fiddlesticks !" cried Libby. 6As II
q girl with an ambition like me wanted
TO be tied down to life in the back par
Tor behind a druggists counterr
IAN ambitioni" repeated Miss Mark
ham.
"Ah, ] haven't told you - cried exult-
ant Libby, dancing up and down until
her feet sounded like tiny castanets
against the frozen ground. 'But have
An ambitiOn-twO or three Of them
Shall / tell you what they are, Alicep
IF you can leave of fitting along
ike q will.o'-the-w wisp certainly" said
Alice, twining one arm around libbyis
slender young waist.
well, you see, explained Libby, low
ering her voice 70 a confidential mystery
although there were only the frost.
frightened stars and the yellow rim Of
light above the western woods to over.
hear her communication, fIJncle
Thomas hasn't been very successful with
his farm, Of late, and as he has nine
children Of his own, he naturally feels
as II i were q burden 20 him And he
hints that I ought to be doing something
for myself. Now what can girl do for
herself Ia Succothvile but 70 out to
service, or enter the factory, or take iu
plain sewingp
''Not much else, must confess said
Miss Markham.
well, pursued Libby, 81 don't fancy
any Of these three roads 70 a livelihood
30 I've picked out three other paths for
myself. I've been studying up the
papers, Alice and I've written a love
story, IN competition for the hundred.
dollar prize offered by the Titusfeld
LitTarg Clarion"
"Child, ohildw cried Alice. scWbat
do you know about l0vew
"As much as other girls. I fancy -
said giddy Alice eve read about
Ophela and Desdemona, and lucia de
Lammermoor, and all those classic hero.
ines, and Of course one depends a good
deal on ones imagination. 10 wasn't
bad story, ! know. Well, that's one
road. And I read The statement of tho
Woman's Barter Establishment, In New
York how they'll pay you for good