The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1905-08-06

useless they were She made several at
| tempts to be a teacher. but ii was soon
| found that her high school diploma COW
cred a world of ignorance. and no board
! however indulgent, would accept her
services. She got box OF. colors. and
spoiled many fans and disfigured many
pots by 1ecOra tions which made the eyes
of the beholder ache; nobody would buy
them. and poor Maud had no acQuain-
! tances to whom she might give them
away. So they encountered the manteIs
and tables Of her homo. adding q new
tedium 20 the unhappy household. She
answered the advertisements Of several
publishing companies and obtained
! agencies for the sale of subscription
! books. But her face was not hard
enough for this work. She was not
| fluent enough to persuade the undecided.
and she was too proud to sue in forma
| PaUperis; she had not the precious gift
| of tears, by which the travelling she
merchant sells so many worthless wares.
/ The few commissions she gained hardly
paid for the wear and tear of her high
heeled boots.
- ~
One Gay at the public library she was
returning a novel she had read when
gentleman came out of an inner
room and paused 10 speak TO the libra
! rams assistant, with whom Maud vas
! at the moment occupied-a girl whom
! she had known at school, and with
/ whom she had renewed acquaintance in
| this way. 1t was about q matter OF the
administration of the library and only
few words were exchanged. He then
! bowed to both the ladies and went out.
| Who was that?" Maud asked
/ HTon't xY6fs kuaur3'' YafofDpd tho other
| II thought everybody knew the elegant
| Captain Farnham. He is president III
our board. you know, and he is just
| lovely I always manage to stop him
as he leaves a board meeting and get
a word or two out of him. Its worth the
trouble if I only get bow
4 should think so" assented Maud
| He IS sweet as a peach. Is there
any chance Of getting one Of those
/ places? 1 should like 10 divide those
bows with you
That would be perfectly splendid. .
said her friend who was a good-natured
girl. Come. I VIII introduce you 10 the
/ old doctor now"
| And IN a moment Maud was in the
| presence of the librarian.
She entered at a fortunate moment.
! III OuCIlLSUSI " As II near EIliGu O2U
| gentleman who read without glasses.
but could see nothing six feet away. He
usually received and dismissed his visit
! tors without bothering himself to dis
| cover or imagine what manner of peo-
pie they were. ~ DO not care how they
| look" he would say. They probably
look as they talk without form and
void" But at the moment when Maud
! entered his little room, he had put on
his lenses to lock out of the window, and
| he turned 10 see a perfect form in a
| closely fitting dress and a face pretty
enough to look on with critical pless-
ure. He received her kindly. and en-
couraged her to hope for an appoint
ment, and it was in accordance with hts
suggestion that she called upon Farm
ham. as we have related.
" Y
| She did not go Immediately. She took
| several days TO prepare what she called
"a harness Of sufficient splendor. and
while she was at work upon it she
| thought of many things. She was not
! even yet quite sure that she wanted 3
place in the library. The doctor had
been very kind. but he had given her
clearly 10 understand that the work re-
CURED of her would be severe, and the
/
thought of trying to Obtain a cIerkship
at Washington-perhap Farnham would
| help her TO that-and her mind wandered
off among the possibilities of chance ac-
duaintance with bachelor senator's ard
diplomats But the more she thought
Of the coming interview, the more her
mind dwelt upon the man himself whom
| she was going to see-his bow and his
/ smile. his teeth. and his mustacl3e
and the perfect fit Of his clothes One
| point in regard to him was still vague
| in her mind, and as 10 that her doubts
We're soon resolved. One evening she
said to her father:
Did you ever see Captain Farnham ~
Now. what a foolish question that is!
| Ia like to know who built his green
houses. eff didn't?"
x y
| He is pretty well off. amt her"