The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1901-07-12

she answered, indiAerently.
He was tempted to grow angry. but
checked himself.
"I'll advertise. Pm tired Of send
Ing tosths agsncies."t Bh
His wife did not answer.
We'll do the best we can, Martha.
There must be some competent girl
In this city somewhere"
IF there is, we never found one."
Mrs. Ward answered sharply.
He wisely declined to discuss the
question, and started to go out.
"I'u not be ut home to lunch," he
said, putting his head in at the
door.
There was no answer, and he slow
~ shut the door and started for his
car ut the next corner; and, of the
many burdened, perplexed hearts
carried into the city that morning.
IL 10 doubtful whether any out Of
all the number was more hurdened
than that of Mr.. Richard Ward, Of
the firm Of Mead, Ward and Company.
He sent in to three of the leading
evening papers carefully worded
advertisement asking for q compe-
tent servant, and took up his days
work with its usual routine without
tbs least expectation that any reply
would come from his advertisements.
1t would, therefore, have given him
q peculiar sense Of interest in the fu-
ture, il at about six o'clock that even
ing. as he went out of his Office and
with strange reluctance started for
his home, he could have seen in a
house not two blocks from his own
young woman eagerly reading the
advertisement and talking to an old
err woman in a strangely subdued, but
at the same time positive, manner
concerning it.
Barbara, what you say is impos-
sible! 1t is so strange that no one
but yourself would ever have
thought of it. You must give up any
such plan"
The young woman listened thought
fully, holding a newspaper in her
hand; and as she looked up from it,
the Older woman had finished.
"At the same time, mother, will you
tell me something better to do?"
There are thousand things. Any
thing except this"
"But what, mother? I have tried
for everything. Our friends" Cher lip
curled little as she said the word)
"have all tried. No one seems to
need me unless it is this family. Here
seems to be . real need. It will be
unselfish, mother, don't you think, to
do something to fill a real demand,
instead of always begging for
chance to make a living somewhere"
She took up the paper and read the
advertisement slowly.
"Wanted-A competent girl to do general
Homework. A good cook. able to take
of five. American girl preferred. Good
wages. Apply at once to Richard Ward,
No. 36 Hamilton street."
81 call it a good opening, mother.
And it's only two blocks from here.
And l seem to fill all the require
ments. 1 am competent I am
good cook Pam an American girl
And am able to apply at once be-
cause L have nothing else to do. So
1 do not see why 1 should not walk
right over and secure the place before
some one else gets it,"
She rose from her seat, and the
mother turned an appealing face to-
wards her.
Barbara! you shall do no such
crazy thing. At least, you shall not
with my consent. 1t is madness for
you to throw yourself away To
think of my daughter becoming
hired grill Barbara, it is cruel of
you even to suggest it. 1t is a part
of your college foolishness. You have
been testing with me-"
"No, mother, dear, have not" Bar
bara walked over to where her moth
err had beer sitting, and kneeled
down by her, putting her hands in
her mothers hands, and looking af-
fectionately up to her.
"No, mother, l am not testing. I
am very much in earnest. Look at
me! Barbara Clark, age 81; graduate
Mount Holyoke. Member of church
and Christian Endeavor society. Plen-
ty of good health. No money Edu-
Gated for a teacher. No influence
with the powers that be to secure
q position. AT home, dependent on
and a burden to-" here Mrs. Clark
put a hand on the speakers mouth
and Barbara gently removed the
hand-"a burden TO a good mother
who has no means besides a small
legacy, daily growing smaller, and the
interest on an insurance
fund that is badly invested in west
ern land. There's my biography up
to date. Do you wonder that want
to be doing something to be making
some money, even if it is only, a little,
to be breadwinner, even if"
'But to be hired girl Barbara!
Do you realize what it means? Why,
it means social loss, it means drop
ping out of the circle of good society,
it means daily drudgery of the hard
est kind, it means going to the bot
tom of the ladder, and always staying
there! And you, Barbara, of all
girls, fitted to teach, an exceptionally
good student, bright and capable. o,
how does it happen that girls who
are your interiors have secured good
positions and you have not succeed