The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-04-07


all of these employments proved delusve
The very society of which she had been
part while it admitted her right to work,
had no hesitation in making distinction
between Laura Everdale rich and In the
current of fashion and Laura Everdale
earning a living
Very little of the noble compassion and
kind intuitionS of the struggles of toilers''
tluttered through the hearts of friends in
her old set. Society simply drew its in
tangible line, and Laura soon discovered in
its waning devotion that the best of its
service had been the interest of self-love.
TO join the great army of practical work.
ers now gave her freedom and relief. She
realized that tranquil and satisfactory life
may be followed almost anywhere where
there are no Fictitious wants and no ex-
aggerated ideas of happiness and unnappi-
ness Plans for the children became plain
and possible, for she had proved, expert
mentally, that so far as utility is concerned
poetry gives way to bread.
A position at Bartholomew's was gained
without difficulty. 1t was an English house,
filled with personal articles of the most lux
urious and costly kinds, and being con-
Quoted with great liberaity, the Bartholo-
NEW stamp had become the seal of fashion.
Hence it was a bit of good fortune at the
outset Laura thought, to be awarded the
umbrella department.
The equinoctial had been severe In the
fall whereof this chronicle is made, and
odlCS Dctu ACTIVE.
On the morning already mentioned the
young attache TO the Daily Argosy had
come hurrying into Bartholomew from
sudden outburst of the clouds, and, while
properly courteous, appeared little over
critical in his choice of an umbrella Laura
opened one after another of the handsome
shields, when, at last becoming nervous,
she hastily closed patent fastening aud
lmpaled one OF her fingers upon a wire.
With all her self-control and resolution the
hara nd 81, ct.
fusion followed. Every one in the estab-
lishment Hooked around her, while the pro-
prletor and the wOuld-b be purchaser extri-
Gated the wire from tue lacerated thumb
When the sufferer recovered sufficiently a
carriage was called and the gray-haired
porter OF the establishment escorted Laura
home.
Several days passed before she returned
to her duties, and meantime Morgan Starr
called daily at Bartholomew to inquire
after the invalid. As if the attention re-
CURED excuse, he never failed, at the pread-
venture OF criticism, to remark to Mr..
bartholomew that "such wound in such a
sensitive place might be serious matter"
at which at last the merchant smiled and
said within himself that il appeared to be
serious matter to Mr.. Starr just as it was.
In due time Laura returned to duty, and
the phllantbroplc qualification evinced by
Morgan Starr when he found her there one
CHEEKY morning was a credit to his kind.
a particularly fine lotion, efficacious to de.
gree in other cases of thumbs impaled ON
wires, and after dreary hiatus of 4 week,
during which he drew heavily on his
Topics for Poems." he sauntered in with a
plaster advised by famous Prussian sur
geen, and just here there came an end to
his visits, for Laura told the young journal
ist that he could not be allowed to make her
conspicuous, and, at the chance of seeming
ungrateful for his kindness, she must re-
quest him not to call again.
Is it necessary" said the gentleman.
that we now go back, and become ut.
ter strangers because of conventional
as / do2'' -'''''
1t is not conventionality that is in ques-
tion, answered Laura; lit Is propriety,
and the correct demands of self for self,
and not society at all. With the latter /
have nothing to do. My days are passed
here, my nights with my family. l read
and study, go occasionally to see a good
play or hear fine music, and above all l am
intensely interested in ="
An interruption here occurred, and then
another, and finally no opportunity came
for renewal of the conversation. The
door soon closed on the young journalist,
whose heart fairly beat the measure of