Warren sheaf., 1905-08-24
Vacation
for Two

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5
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HE last letter was written and
with little tired sigh the pack
Ct Of letters. her days work, was
given to the impatient Office boy, and
Catherine. the stenographer. hurriedly
crossed the room to the peg on which
her hat and Jacket were hung. With
eager haste she attired herself for
the street, mechanically g1ancing into
the little mirror which hung over the
wash stand. The face which looked
back at her was an attractive one
could have smiles displaced the look
OF care and the broad brow cleared of
the little pucker which Of late has
come between the brown eyes.
4. After timid good night to. the
bookkeeper Catherine opened the big
door and went out into the sunlight
Never had the out Of doors seemed so
beautiful as now. This was the first
day of April and the air was sug.
gestive OF spring; the grass was strug.
CLING up along the edges Of the side.
walks and the twittering Of the spar.
rows could be heard from every root
and ledge. Quickly boarding car
Catherine started on her ride home.
If the day had been one Of tiresome
business routine, vexatious happen.
ings, hard work. all were forgotten
now In the bright anticipations which
filled her mind. Two months more of
the shabby Office and the noise of the
,whirring machinery, and ther month,
the whole month of June, she was to
have for her very own. To-day the
manager, a good man in his way, in
burst of generosity occasioned by
the satisfactory termination of an i'm
portant business transaction, had told
her the joyful news.
= Upon reaching home she found her
mother standing at the door where
she had been anxiously watching each
car as it unloaded at the corner.
When the dishes were cleared away
and mother and daughter were alone
In the little sitting room, the good
news could be kept no longer and
throwing her arms around the aston
ished woman's neck Catherine burst
into such q torrent Of words and
nervous laughter as to almost fright
en- good Mrs. Sanders. "Just think OF
it, mother, q whole month and my sal
ary to go just the same. Oh, It seems
too good to be true" am sure Blank
& Co. would not have recognized their
prim, quiet stenographer in the little
figure that danced over the floor In an
ecstasy Of Joy.
No need to question where she would
20. To Vermont, her old home, Of
course. This visit had been the dream
of years, but her fathers death five
years before had forced upon her
young shoulders the necessity Of keep
ing up the little home and keeping her
brother in school, and now for the FIRST
time in all these years time OF re-
Taxation seemed possible.
Brother Tom, who had been an in
terested listener to the conversation
between Catherine and her mother as
they sat on the porch. drew his chair
up closer to his mothers side AMI
said: Ma, why can't you go with
Catherine? 1t seems to me you need
4 vacation about as much as anyone
know, An eager look came into the
mothers eyes, sne tried to speak, Dul
somehow thu words would not come,
and arising hurriedly she went into the
house.
For time brother and sister sat in
silence, Blame it all, Catherine,
mother ,7orks like a horse and never
goes anywhere. Can't we manage il,
somehow so she can go with your
Tom spoke excitedly and it was too
dark for him to see the sudden cloud
that came over the face OF the girl.
II honestly hadn't thought of it be.
fore, Tom Mother never seemed tC
care much about it. but am afraid
it isn't pcsslOle. She would have to
have new clothes" and she thought
with pang Of her mothers shabby
Sunday dress and bonnet v Nhich were
seldom worn. 1T has been almost
more than we could do to spare the
money for one trip" and there was
catch in her voice that did not escape
Tom
. .'Oh, well. perhaps she doesn't care
didn't mean to hurt your feelings and
Pm awfully glad you can go. Mex,
year hope to be earning Httl.
more than my clothes and car fare
and then can help little. IF
That night sleep refused to come ID
Catherine's eyes. and look which waJ
she would her mothers pctient fact
and gentle smile seemed to confront
her through the gloom. Mother need,
q vacation Toms words echoed and
echoed In her ears as she turned from
side. 10 side in q vain effort to forget.
What should she do, let Ter mother