Waterbury evening Democrat., 1905-08-18
Vacation for Two
fsnsasnsususnsueusaen

HE last letter was written and
 with a 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 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 of care and the broad brow cleared of the little pucker which of late has come between the brown eyes.
 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 sue- gestive of spring; the grass was strug. gling up along the edges ofsthe 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 filled her mind. Two months more of the shabby office and the noise of the whirring machinery, and then 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 a 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 1t 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
  ished woman's neck Catherine burst into such a torrent of words and nervous laughter as to almost fright en good Mrs. Sanders. Just think Of 1t. mother, a whole month and my sal ary to go just the same. Oh. it seems too good to be true" am sure Blank & Go. 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 live 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 iI- 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 and said: Ma, why can't, you go with Catherine7 It seems to me you need . vacation about as much as anyone I know" An eager look came into the mothers eyes, she tried to speak. but somehow the words would not come. and arising hurriedly she vent into the house
 For a time brother and sister sat in silence. Blame it all. Catherine mother 5orks like a hors- and never goes anywhere Can't ~e manage it somehow so she can go with you7T Tom spoke excitedly and IL was toe dark for him to see the sudden cloud that came over the face of the girl
 T honestly hadn't thought of it be fore. Tom Mother never seemed to care much about it. but I am afraid 1t isn't pcssiole She would have te have neu clothes. ana she thought with a pang of her mothers shabby Sunday dress and bonnet which were seldom worn Tt has been almost more than vs could do to spare the nouey for ore trip and there pas catch in her voice that did 1ot escape Tom
 -oh. vel perhaps she doesn't care. [ G5dnt mean to hurt yo1r feelirp sAd