The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-02-16

M No more firmly upon her. for what
vho had al strenuously opposed during
! bc- ,ifo vfs not likely to be changed now
, bv her dutiful son. lie had yielded NenA-
| ~ IN the case Of his eldest dauEht'l,
! who, her mother had named Louise pue
| this one concession only mace MN n'o'
! i'm, in tho matter OF Mary Eliza, ana All
omen rebellion was promptly r epless','
! ~ laet attempt had been made over n
,-ear 400 when her latest school ffiend-
| sbin bad for it's object a certain Marie,
! a~t No., Eliza had mcekly suggested AT
/ e. l,rcoixfasf table one morning that she
| eho,,id ha called Elise, but the family,
/ to n man fatty refused 10 even consider
! the proposal. and her father had waxed
/ so eloquent over the ifivohty and general
! Stiffness of the present generation OF girls
/ that Mary Eliza had retired TO the phi
/ vacy Of her own apartment ana enJoye"
a good cry over the bowman OF heI noie''
since then she had made 30 further at
| tennis TO change the DEGREES OF fate, but
! al fbis time was born the ambition wAich
| forms the occasion for the writing OF this
/ story. bur which she concealed from even
the dear mother. 10 whom she coniided
all her lows and sorrows, after another
| old-fashioned idea in the DeDplsh family.
| that ones mother was q tar better con-
! ndant than even ones dearest friend.
|
one day rejoiced 10 find her mother en-
firelv alone. a rather unusual circum-
! stance in this overlooking household.
! g.nroVins. OF her hat and coat she took
a stool i'm front OF the fire. and after 2
fashion she had when her mind was fun
OF any subject. began punching II UNI
merciiully. Mrs. Dcppish looked UP rom
her darning and smiled ar her daughters
| abstraction. Mary Eliza had her mothers
| CHEEKY smile. honest brown eyes and
sunny hair. but the hrm. slightly obsti-
nate mouth had descended straight from
the paternal Deppish.
MY poor FIRE" Mrs. Doppish said at
last and her daughter. recalled from her
visions. laid down the poker Mother.
don't you think IL is right 20 educate girls
10 make their own living as well as
boys?" she asked. abruptly.
Il have not given much thought TO the
| subject" her mother answered. slowly.
putting down the stocking she was darn
| ing ana waiting for further developments.
"Thero r. Harry studying electricity
and William at work down town. while
even the little boys talk about what they
Will Doe when they are grown up---'
she paused. "Weil?" els it right to raise
Louise and myself with the IDEAS that we
| alone are 10 be drones ia the family
| hife?"
Louise helps me already with tho
| household cares, lifting many a heavy
weight from my shoulders and you are
| studying hard T know. L can't have my
! girls called drones'
"Weu. then. say that Louise has found
| hor w0-k n helping you. what viii their
be- for me % do when school Is overt'
Occasionally" her mother said. quiet
| ly girls have been known 90 marry"
| intolerance Of sentiment rather unusual
at her advanced age, "y0u are the last
one TO want mo TO take that into my
calculations. mother dear. besides. who
I'm the world would want 90 marry any
girl with such name as mine?" A. this
temperance of the grievance, her moth
er maintained Judici0us silence
"Is father "a rich man?'
"My dear You know he ie not" with a
| Sigh. as she remembered the needs Of the
| household. and the difficulty she had each
year in meeting them. You know he has
TO work early and late for us 10 get
| along. and even then there is cause for
| anxiety
And II he should die?'
| Slrs. Deppish shudlered. the thought
| was 50 often in her own mind. bur know
| ing the question was not asked from idle
| curiosity. answered "fafher has a small
| life insurance which W0uh keep us from
| actual starvation"
Then, don't you See how that answers
| my question, and that too should be
! educated TO make M own living?"
what profession were YOU thinking OF.
! Miss DeDriel ?" her ti1lhIf inquired. with
! good-natured railiery; law, medicine or
| theology? u Is quite as likely your IA
| Their would give his consent 10 all as TO
any"
THAT Is just what 7 am afraid Of"
was me respondent answer, land do
| not care 20 ask him."
surely you are not afraid OF your IA
| ther2"
| Not generally" leaving her seat by the
fire and coming to her mothers side, Tor
| in most things ne is the dearest OF men.
but when one happens 10 run across any
| OF his old-fashioned ideas he can De a
| terror" Mrs. Deppish smiled I'm spite Of
| herself And 80 ! -wheedling-
| ly-' you might just sound him for me
and II De takes il quietly, / viii speak
| for myself"
| And what profession am I 10 tell him
YOU have selected 1 think you wol>I
make good special pIeader. so why not
choose the lawy' But the earnestness OF
| Mary ELIAS reply convinced her mother
| that her choice was no mere girlish
Whim. Don't laugh at me. mother dear.
| but ! would like above everything else 10
DE q trained nurse"
Her mother drew a long breath Of re-
| lief. "It might have been worse. but all
| the same / cannot give you much hope
| Ny child" laying her hand upon tho
| bright head now resting on her shoG'aef'
your choice is q noble one, but j doubt
| Of you are old enough 20 realize all II
| means. And with "a tender smile play
| ing about her lips, was this the myster-
| ious ambition AT which YOU so darkly
| hintedy" Mary Eliza biushod az she
| answered: 1T is All connected. mother
| dear, and one hinges upon the other, but
| to be trained nurse is only the first
| part OF my ambition"
About Il week after this conversation
| Mrs. Deppish's report Was received by
! her follOW-cons pirator with the deepest
! detection. And so il is all over she
cried. tragically, "and / am condemned
| by fathers cruelty TO depend all my life
/ upon the cold charity OF others"
Don't De theatrical" said her mother
/ and Mary Eliza, laughing. felt slightly
| better. "lf there was the least spark
of hope J could live on that" she said,
win a vicious poke az the inOfensiye
| fire.
II think You are rather weak 10 give
up life-work after but one trial"
'Ah. YOU don't know father"
Mrs DeDpish laughed outright. IT might
De supposed 10 know him a little better
! than you do. our acquaintance having
the advantage of some years. and from
the heights Of my superior knowledge /