Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1905-05-15

self indulgent. happy 60 lucky class
mate, Frank Mason, had been cement
ed Is hard to explain, except upon the
theory of an attraction of opposites.
When, few days later, that young
man appeared at the Office just before
closing time and suggested they ''go
out Tor a nights racket" as he phrased
1t. Albert was not inclined to accept.
What are you up tor" he said as
they walked away from the office.
"and what do you mean by a racket?
Ii it's likely to be expensive, count
me out; l can't afford it."
We'll" answered Frank lightly, you
are working too hard and need shak-
Ing up, so | thought I'd drop round
and do it. We will dine at the club,
then go to the opera house, where
there is a burlesque on and no end
of pretty chorus girls | know two
or three of them, and after the show
we will take them out to supper
Its all right except the end-up,"
answered Albert, ''and on that think
you had best skip me. AS 1 said, it's
diversion I can't afford. I've no
money to spare to buy wine for. ballet
girls
"Oh, that's all right" responded
Frank cheerfully. .'I've asked you out,
and it's my treat. I'll pay the shot
this time"
Il shall pay my share if I co." as
serted Albert firmly, 'but would rath-
er omit the after part. We will have the
evening together, and then you can go
and entertain your chorus girls. and I'll
go to my room"
1t was laudable resolution, but it
came hard, for beneath all AIbert's
good resolves was lurking desire for a
little excitement to break the dull mo-
notony of his life He had been to the
theater only twice since he came to
Boston, desiring to save in every way
he could, and only the week before had
sent Alice one-third of his first months
salary. At the club Frank introduced
him to several of his friends, and of
course they were asked to join them in
social glass. which did not tend to
strengthen Alberts resolution. At the
theater the eXhilarating music and the
glitter of a stage full of pretty girls
had their effect, and by the time the
show was over he found it impossible to
resist his friends urging that they go
around to the stage door and meet the
girls he had invited to sup with them
Mind you, let me pay my share"
whispered Page, and then he found
himself being Introduced by his first
name to two highly colored queens of
4 the ballet, and all four proceeded at
once to a private supper room. Albert
found the girls bright, vivacious and
expressive, as far as a superficial use
of slang goes. They ordered the choic-
est and highest priced items on the bill
of fare and talked about their ''mashes"
! in other cities in a way that made AL
! bert grateful that he had been intro
! duced by his first name only.
When in the wee small hours they
. escorted the two girls to their boarding
place, Page was glad to be rid of them,
/ and when he reached his room he did
not feel particularly proud of himself
He felt less SO the next morning
when he received a letter from Alice
which read:
My Darling Brother-I was so pleased
when I received your loving letter and
the money you sent. You do not know
how it hurts me to feel we owe so much,
and have cried over it more than you
Will ever know. Last week / received my
hrst months pay-$30-and l was very
proud of it, for it is the first money L
ever earned. 1 took half and put it with
the twenty-five you sent and gave it to
Mr.. Hobbs. L have only Sc left, for had
TO buy some boots and gloves but that
VIII last me a month, for I've not the
heart to spend a penny / am not obliged
to until the debts are paid. / had to buy
the boots because walking four miles
day wears them out very fast.
And he had spent $50 the night be-
fore to hear couple of ballet girls
talk slang!