Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1902-02-12
PATTY'S
BUSINESS
EXPERIENCE
BY MAUD ~
HUMPHREYS Richardson.
BY MAUD
HUMPHREYS

Constance Wilson in dismay.
Every bit as bad" responded Patty,
with Il brave attempt at cheerfulness.
when it is all over, l will have per-
haps $500 and the furniture"
Dear me-" thought Mrs. Wilson,
"and every one thought Mr.. Norris was
such a fine business man." But she did
not express the thought. She knew the
girls loyalty to her dead father.
Patty" she finally exclaimed in tri-
umph, there are the Van Allen girls
going abroad. Their father is widow
er. lie wants a companion for them.
You know the continent like guide
book, and you'd be useful. They're new
to this sort of thing, you know"
Patricia Norris drew herself up very
straight.
Connie, don't suggest impossible
things. positively refuse to take po-
sition that savors of charity. I'm going
straight into the business world and
work-really work"
Mrs Wilson affected cheerful ac-
quiescence which she did not feel.
I'm going home now, my dear, and
think this over. You'll hear from me
tomorrow. And of course you'll sue
ceed, whatever you undertake"
Mrs. Wilson had been Patty's gov
erness in the days when such thing
as financial uncertainty seemed far re-
moved from the Norris mansion. Now
she was manuscript reader for big
publishing concern. When she reached
her dimly lighted bedroom, third story.
back, in noisy boarding house, she
drew forth small handbook and stud
led it carefully. AS a result of long re-
Election she dispatched the following
note to Patty:
My Dear Girl-Before we do anything
else we must find a home I am sick unto
death of boarding. Shall we have little
fiat together, a cunning apartment. with
what YOU want of your dear old things as
furnishings? Then we'll find you the posi-
ton. But first "A home-for your sake and
mine. Save me from the fate of hall
bedroom, my dear. 1t Is the chance
have dreamed of for years.
Three weeks later Mrs. Wilson
caught Patty frowning at her across a
dinner table that was homelike and
dainty.
Connie there's absolutely nothing
left for me to do. The tins are hung
straight in the kitchen, and I've tried
the bricy-bracy in every conceivable po-
sition. Pm not TO be put off any lon
ger. | want IL job"
There was mrth in the tone, but it
rang false. COB from the lips of Pa
tricia Norris. Nevertheless that same
evening they faced the situation to-
gether. Mrs. Wilson had seen this COM
ing and was prepared.
"Thcre is absolutely nothing open in
our Offices, as ! had hoped, Patty, and
the only schools where | would have
influence are supplied with teachers
that never marry or die" She survey
ed the girl through Il veil of unshed
tears. you've regular Gibson figure,
dear, and such lovely fluffy hair She
broke off disconnectedly. Patty laugh
ed.
Connie, 90 stick to the text Shall l
go forth as an artists model?'
Mrs. Wilson casped her hands tight
ly.
"Not exactly that, but l heard Of
something today, Patty, that you could
| do-so we'll"
"Name It," responded Patty, but with
an odd sinking sensation in her heart.
AT Schermerhorn' they want-a-a
model to show off their imported suits,
and you're the very Oh, Patty, don't
look at me like that-I've tried so hard
to get something better!'
In second the girls soft arms were
round her neck.
Connie, behave yourself! OF course
| full. How much?"
"Only $3.50 week, but you
wouldn't have got that much, only that
| told the head of the department
what "a beauty you were"
"Flatterer" answered Patty, with a
laugh that sounded more like sob.
So did Patricia Norris make her entry
into the business world. 1t was not
| hard work, and she never wearied of
handling the beautiful wraps and
frocks. Her statuesque beauty set
them off to perfection, and the head of
the department approved of her be-
cause she "never got gay" nor wasted
the time of other employees by chat
ting with them, as her predecessor
had done. In fact. she held herself
aloof from the other girls in the shop.
1t was an odd, unreasoning pride that
they could not understand. If the girls
who thought her proud had known how
she envied them, they might have felt
differently. They worked with their
hands, and she-just posed. 1t was not
brain that earned her salary, but a
mere bauble Of physical perfection.
And she resented most of all the
quiet, searching glances of a young fell
low who seemed to be in the cashier S
department. Once when she went to
draw her salary he stood near the win
dow and handed forth the envelope
without even asking her name. She
flushed slightly. and after that his COM
pelling glance called forth stiff little
bow when they came face to face.
One noon when she was threading
her way through stream of cable