Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1903-07-08
WHEN A
MANS LAZY
By SNowDEk KING
C1pprt0hs. 1909, hV 7. C. McClalre
By sNowDEE KING


dP Sue steps u l1tif bEiEut iaGtA young
woman, with an alert air that stamped
her instantly as one Of the worlds
workers.
A aan at one of the amoker windows
threw out a freshly lighted cigar and
| made his way frto the back coach. Il
| wonder" he unused, why If is she al
| ways knows just what to wear and
I how to wear it-black skirt. not too
/ long blue shirt waist, sailor hat?'
Allow me" Before she was aware
of his presence he had raised the win
dow she was Juggling at.
Your she Intercepted
None other" he laughed. "And
what do you mean by stepping into my
car so unceremoniously? | thought
you were in Boston, working as none
| but you can work"
Mother and / have been taking a
| much needed vacation two miles out
| of Providence. with Aunt Ruth Armsly
| mothers sister. You don't know what
| time we have had-fried chicken.
fresh milk and eggs. the finest scenery
| and the dearest aunt in the world"
"Oh, but | do know he interrupted,
for / have been enjoying the same,
minus the aunt. a few miles down the
| bay! l didn't feel like going the regu-
lar rounds this summer. so | took my
vacation late and in my own way"
Your vacation," And Bessie Stuart
laughed soft and low From what.
please? Confess you have never done
a days work in your life"
And you" he answered softly. "have
done TOO many of them"
NO" she said quickly. She was
afraid when this mans voice and eyes
took on their present tone-of herself,
perhaps, more than anything else
Since l have taken up illustrating l
have TO use the minutes as well as the
| hours. so as to keep mp my reporting"
Are you going to do reporting this
winter? 1t is such hard. grinding work
for a woman. Bessie hate to see you
do it, and with all my heart I wish
had the power to say you shall not"
She looked at him steadily. DO you
know that sometimes you are almost
impudentf Yes. ! must do reporting
this winter. 1t will be year at least
before can give it up for more con-
genial employment. Illustrating does
not pay quite well enough yet to take
care Of the Stuarts financially. | sup
pose your work will be the same' and
her lips curled little scornfuIly. "ci-
CARS, club dinners, the theater and the
usual round of social functions?'
He glanced through the window at
the falling leaves, strange look on
his handsome face. Yes, Bessie my
work will be the same, will always be
the same until life is put away"
"Oh, Jack" she exclaimed. you
were made for something better than
an idle, useless lifer'
He laughed and the spell was broken
But Jack Hammond knew by the way
his heart thumped that it was danger
ously sweet TO hear Bessie Stuart say
I Jack" in that soft, appealing way.
, The friends of handsome Jack Ham,
mond would, one and all. have told you
he was an idler, but his father was
one of the wealthiest men in Boston.
From mansion In Beacon street to
little three room house in one of the
busiest portions of the city is quite
. distance, both socially and financially,
but Jack had done away with it easily
| in his acquaintance with Bessie Stuart.
They had met at ball year ago at
1 Mrs. Ostrander's, Ressie's aunt,
! wealthy society woman, who. when
| Mr. Stuart died, opened her doors to
/ his widow and daughter.
| Bessie had stoutly refused. mo.
aunt, l cannot" she had said. even
1 though you are papa's sister. Mamma
I and will live alone. and you will see
( that / shall take care of her beauti-
| fully"
Mrs. Ostrander secretly admired the
1 proud Independence of her favorite
niece and IVES always devising plans to
have her with her as often as possible
There was silence between Jack and
| Bessie for some time. He broke it by
saying:
Are you going to be present at your
aunt's dinner Wednesday EVENING""
Yes; that is what | am going home
for now. Mamma will stay with Aunt
Ruth another week, but ! promised
Aunt Ostrander / would spend the last
days of my vacation with her. | had
letter from her yesterday in regard
TO the dinner. She writes me | am TO
wear an elegant gown and go down
with John Leigh. author. Don't you
think that is glory enough for one
young woman in one EVENING""
Il should think so. And you are TO
meet your idol at last, are you? Bees
sic, has it ever occurred to you that
perhaps you may be disappointed in
himF
Il shall like him." And the girls
voice had a very positive note. II have
read everything he has written for
four years, and since have been work
ing for the G. magazine | have illus
trated several of his stories. | can
even tell you what he looks like, though
! have never seen him. He is dark for