Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1902-01-03

oil the number was more burdened
than. that. of Mr.. Richard Ward, of
the firm of Mead, Ward and Company:
He sent in to three OF the leading
evening papers a. carefully worded
advertisement asking for compe-
tent servant, and took up his days
work with it's usual routine without
the least expectation that any reply
would come from his advertisements.
It would, therefore,. have given him
a peculiar sense Of interest in the fu-
ture, if 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
a young woman eagerly reading the
advertisement and talking to an old
er woman in strangely subdued, but
at the same time positive, manner
concerning it.
Barbara, what you say is impos-
sible! It 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.
cat 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 a 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. 1t will be
unselfish, mother, don't you think, to
do something to fill real demand,
instead of always begging for a
chance to make 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
charge Of the housekeeping for family
of five. American girl preferred Good
wages. Apply at once to Richard Ward.
No. SO Hamilton street."
81 call it good opening, mother.
And it's only two blocks from here.
And I seem to fill all the require
ments. L am competent I am a
good cook I am an American girl
cause I have nothing else to do. So
do not see why I 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
you to throw yourself away! To
think of my daughter becoming a
hired girl!' Barbara, it is cruel of
you even to suggest it. It is a part
of your college foohshness. You have
been testing with me-
mo, mother, dear, I have not" Bar
bara walked over to where her moth
er had beer sitting, and kneeled
down by. her, putting her hands in
her mothers hands, and looking af-
fectionately up to her.
"No, mother, I am not jes ting. 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
a position. At home, dependent on
and a burden to-" here Mrs. Clark
put 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
! diminutive interest on an insurance
fund that is badly invested in west
ern land. There's my biography VI
to date. Do you wonder that I want
to be doing something to be making
some money, even if it is only little
| to be a 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 al
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
ed?"
"sPulls,'" said Barbara, briefly
Mrs. Clark looked. troubled. @:.Ii
that college. slang?"
mo, mother. Political. mean tina
the other girls have had influence. L
father were alive"
"Ah, Barbara, if your father wer,
living, there would be no talk O.
your going to work in a kitchen. Ant
you shall not go. either It is tn.
height of absurdity to think of it
"But, mother" Barbara began. afte
a moments silence, do you resliz
the facts, the plain, homely facts, o