St. Tammany farmer., 1905-09-16
Vacation
for Wo
asnsneponsasnsnsusnspsi

II Will q 1llLlS III GU 0l6A LIE PAIN
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 glancing 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
the little pucker which Of late has
come between the brown eyes.
After a 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 roof
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
filed her mind. Two months more OF
the shabby ohlce and the noise OF the
whirring machinery, and theI q 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, 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
ro. To Vermont, her old home, o.
course. This visit had been the dream
Of years, but her fathers death I'VE
years before had forced upon her
young shoulders the necessity OF keeI-
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 IL
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 anu
said: Ma, why cant you go with
Catherine? 1t seems to me you need
a vacation about as much as anyone
know" An eager look came into the
mothers eyes, she tried to speak, bul
somehow tn. words would not come.
and arising hurrl .dly she went into the
house.
For q time brother and sister sat IN
silence. Blame it all, Catherine
mother works like horse and never
goes anywhere. Can't We manage il
somehow SO she can 60 with your
Tom spoke excitedly and It was toe
dark for him to see the sudden cloud
that came over the face OF the girl.
y honestly hadn't thought OF it be.
fore, Tom Mother never seemed te
care muck about it, but am afraid
it isn't pcssiole. She would have tc
have new clothes,,' and she though,
with pang of her mothers shabby
Sunday dress and bonnet v hich were
seldom worn. ut has been almost
more than we could do to spare the
money for one trip" and there was 9
catch In her voice that did not escape
Tom.
sOh, we'll, perhaps she doesn't care
/ didn't mean to hurt your feelings and
I'm awfully glad you can go. Mex,
year hope to De earning q little
more than my clothes and car fare
and then can help little"
f That night sleep refused to come te
GATHERINGS eyes. and look which wa,
she would her mothers patient facs
and gentle smile seemed to confron,
her through the gloom. Mother needs
vacation" Toms words echoed and
echoed in her ears as she turned frou
side to side in vain effort to forget
What should she do, let Ter mother
Ke ID her stead? But to thai she knew
mother would never consent and Il
vas out Of the question for them botl
10 go. There was but one thing she
could do and that was to remain al
home and try to make the month ont
II pleasure to both Of them. It was
not without struggle and many tears
that the decision was made, for Cath,
.rine was DO heroine, just common.
place. hard working little woman.
The first OF June was but three days
ID and the next morning at breakfast
Mrs. Sanders suggested that she begiI
:Eat day to pack the new trunk fol
:l1s proposed trip. Struggling to main
:a!n 4 calmness she could hardly have
elt Catherine said n . matter of fact
4s5S