Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1905-05-26
| NJ
49,

I>rA>y III Is duty owe hcr. /
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
cast up troublesome accounts, an office
which she also undertook for several
Of Mrs. Van Stylerts most intimate
friends.
1t was on that same day that Mrs.
Van Stylert, noticing the neatness 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
B 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
lngly.
"You know enthusiasm has gone
out" he said.
"Along with 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 flouncy-not
bit artistic The low tones in the
furnishings Of some of my friends give
me the blues for a week after | have
encountered them | like brightness.
never will believe in hiding light un-
der bushel of dingy rugs and dra-
peries which began their existence in
wretched oriental huts, half dwellings
and half camel stables"
Eyes" he laughed, 81 have a rug that
was 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 an
example. You come here day after
day looking like a masculine nun in
your severe tailor made black frock.
like fuffiness in the street In day
time as well as under the awful cleo
tries of bathrooms at night Electric
light! No complexion will stand it,
and yet girls today brave it as though
they intend some time to become I'M
Christian martyrs"
The ormolu clock on the lace draped
mantelpiece struck 3. The secretary
closed her desk.
"There's another thing" Mrs. Van
Stylert continued. You engage a per
son for an hours work. On the stroke
Of that hour the person vanishes-no
interest In the work, no appreciatve
gratitude"
The secretarys face flushed.
"Good evening" she said, moving
toward the door.
Tomorrow afternoon" her employer
said crisply, Eat 4, sharp"
The girl left the room.
Don't you think" Harroway re-
marked, "you are trife-ah-severe
with the lady. Mrs. Van S.F'
81 am sick Of the status Of employed
people," retorted Mrs. Van Stylert.
Everything nowadays is respect for
labor none for those who employ ii.
No, Miss Seton is alone In the world.
She has lmbibed too many lofty no
lions. / am treating her as my mother
might have treated secretary, If Sec
Dtaries had been a part Of my moth
ers miseries.'
He shrugged his shoulders.
81 know" she said, "you do not ad-
mire her.
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 quick look.
'Oh, yes" she pursued; IL have told
her that IL has been a year since you
left college and that now you are a
full fledged idle man OF fashion. She
curled her lip-they used to curl their
lips in the stories | read when I 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. / went to school with her
mother, and l feel a sort OF RESPONSE
bility for her That is why | am try
ing to make her realize her true posi-
ton. She can't afford TO give me up.
have had her employed by my friends
and could easily take that employment
from her. She was quite helpless when
she came to me. She had nursed her
mother for years, and her income died
with her mother. I advised her TO be-
come a secretary. Hand me that fan.
please; this heat is unbearable," though
the room was certainly not warm.
She continued to fan herself after
Harroway had betaken himself TO
other scenes. mo wonder | am hot"
she told herself. IL am an advanced
woman, too, though | never discovered
that TIL recently. However, | intend