, 1904-10-05

S II 10 hhtJ
went to school with her mother"
That day she was specially hard with
the young lady, who for nearly three
months now had been coming an hour
each afternoon to write little notes and
east up troublesome accounts, an office
which she also undertook for several
of Mrs. Van Stylert's most intimate
friends.
1t was on that same day that Mrs.
Van Stylert, noticing the n%eatness of
the girls prim collar and cuffs, accused
her of being cut out for an old maid.
The secretary smiled, as cheerfully adj
hitting the impeachment. Also that
afternoon Tom Harroway stopped for
5 o'clock tea, as had been the case
many days of late. AS he slipped the
cup that cheers, but not inebriates, his
hostess expanded upon the charms of
Charlotte Templeton.
Harroway put his cup down laugh
ingly.
you know enthusiasm has gone
out" he said.
along with a good many other hon
est things" she grumbled, "girlishness
and all that sort Of thing. Everybody
is too sophisticated nowadays; pretti-
ness is swamped by so called artistic
ideas, and so on. Look at this room.
Everything is pink that can be made
pink, and furbelowed and founcy-not
q bit artistic. The low tones in the
f,.n;cbinOc Of car,a of INV friends OiVn
me the blues for a week after | have
encountered them. | like brightness
| never will believe in hiding light I'M
der a bushel of dingy rugs and dra-
peries which began their existence in
wretched oriental huts, half dwellings
and half camel stables"
"Yes," he laughed, 81 have a rug that
was a prayer carpet, covered all over
with Syrian remarks in worsted that
/ am positive are wriggling expostula-
tons against the dull reds and blues.
1t is delicious"
"And look how young women dress"
she went on, ignoring him. THAT Is,
young women with ideas. For in
stance, Miss Seton. Pardon the per-
sonality. Amy, but you are such al
example. You come here day after
day looking like a masculine nun in
your severe tailor made black frock.
l like fiuffiness in the street in day
time as well as under the awful cleo
tries of bathrooms at night. Electric
light No complexion will stand 1t.
and yet girls today brave it as though
they intend some time to become I'M
Christian martyrs"
The ormolu clock on the lace drapeG
mantelpiece struck s.. The secretary
closed her desk.
'"rhere's another thing" Mrs. Van
Stylert continued. You engage a per-
son for an hours work. On the stroke
of that hour the person v~anishes-no
interest in the work, 10 appreciative
gratitude"
The secretary's face flushed.
Good EVENING"" she said. moving
toward the door.
Tomorrow afternoon" her employer
said crisply, lat A.. sharp"
The girl left the room.
Don't you think" Harroway re-
marked. you are a trife-ah-seyere
with the lady, Mrs. Van 81"
II am sick of the status of employed
people," retorted Mrs. Van Stylert.
Everything nowadays is respect for
labor none for those who employ it.
No. Miss Seton is alone in the world.
She has imbibed too many lofty 40
lions. am treating her as my mother
might have treated a secretary, if sec
retaries had been a part of my moth.
er's miseries."
He shrugged his shoulders.
II know she said. you do not adj
mire hep
Rather say he interposed. II have
scarcely noticed her till the last month
or So"
"When my severity as you call it,
attracted your attention to her." she
responded. And she admitted only
yesterday that she had not noticed you
either"
He gave her a quick look.
"Oh, yes" she pursued; II have told
her that it has been a year since you
left college and that now you are a
full fledged idle a of fashion. She
curled Der lip-they used to 'curp their
lips in the stories l read when l was
young-and said the world is no place
for idlers; that a man should do his
best to achieve a position not already
established for him by his father. Still,
/ like her. l went to school with her
mother, and 1 feel a sort of RESPONSE
bility for her. That is why I an try.
ing to make her realize her true posi-
ton. She can't afford to give me up.
I ha Ave had her emnlnvad hv my friends