Fair play., 1905-08-26
Vacation
for TWO
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r 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 Slancing 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 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.
g2stiye 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 a 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 a 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 ner
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
lshed 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
It. mother, a whole month and my sal
ary to go just the same. oh, 1t 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
60. To Vermont, her old home, OF
course. This visit had been the dream
of years. but her fathers death five
years before had forceu upon her
young shoulders the necessity Of keel
ing up the little home and keeping her
brother in school, and now for the FIRST
time in all these years a time OF re-
Taxation seemed possible.
Brother Tom, who had been an in
terested listener to the conversation
between Catherine and her mo,bar as
they sat on the porch, drew his chair
ID closer to has mothers side ana
said: Ma, why Gau't you 60 with
Catherine? It seems to me you need
q vacation about as much as an! one
| know" An eager look came into the
mothers eyes, she tried TO speak, Jul
somehow tn, words would not come,
and arising hurri IDLY she went into the
house.
For time brother and sister sat in
silence. Blame it all. Catherine.
mother FORKS like u hors and never
goes anywhere. Cant We manage II
somehow So she can go with you?'
Tom spoke eXciJedly and it was TOO
dark for him TO see the sudden cloud
that came over the face OF the girl.
Il honesty hadn't thought ol it be
fore, Tom Mother never seemed ~
care much about il, but | am afraid
II isn't pcssiole, She would have to
have new clothes ana she thought
with pang OF her mothers shabby
Sunday dress and bonnet hich were
seldom worn, 1t has been almost
more than we could do TO spare the
money for one trip" and there was a
catch In her voice that did not escape
Tom.
"Oh, well, perhaps she doesn't care.
| didn't mean 10 hurt your feelings and
I'm awfully glad yUu can 20. Next
year hope to Jc earning little
more than my clothes and car fare
and then ! can help little"
That night sleep refused to come to
GATHERINGS eyes, and look which way
she would her mothers patient face
and gentle smile seemed to confront
ner through the gloom. Mother needs
a vacation" Toms words echoed and
echoed in her ears as she turned from
side 10 side in a vain effort TO forset.
What should she do, let Ter mother
g( In her steady nv; To thn, she knew