Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-03-03

use for old men. Banks are rapidly
deposing hoary heads. Commercial
houses are looping off the gray-haired en-
pioyes. Railroads are discnarging
all men over fifty. Even churches
are showing their preferences in no uncer-
tain way. Everywhere young blood
is to the fore
1t was that afternoon that little Mar
Jorie found in an old desk drawer the sheet
of blue note paper with the bold hand
writing on one side. There was no one else
in the house but Grandfather Gregory so
II was to him she went with her ques-
lions.
What is it?" she asked. May 1 cut It
up? It's such a pretty co!or!"
Let's see, ladybird.' he said gently.
Then his face changed. 1T is nothing
nothing you want. Take it back, dear"
But, grandpa, what is 1t? l can read
1t, but-what does It mean?"
Merely an application for a job that
some young man has written to your father,
child. Put it back where you found it
Marjorie turned slowly and walked to-
ward the door. Her mind was cropping
helplessly in a tangle of ideas where were
Jobs, applications" and a grandfather
who did not frolc any more. Little by
little curing the past few weeks Marjorie
had come TO a pretty accurate understand
ing Of this thing that had happened to
them, and with all the strength of her ach-
ing little heart she longed to set matters
right She had almost reached the door
turned resolutely and drew a long breath.
Grandpa, what is it to application for
a job?' she asked.
The mans eyes were moodily fixed on a
bare tree branch outside the window.
ITS to ask for work ladybird," he said
without turning his head.
And does it make you get it?''
"Well-no-not always
Marjorie's face fell. For some time she
studied the letter in silence. 1t was not
mt oh rpa oh fhn ell f,,ra hot cJ,A
gave a joyous cry.
oh grandpa-but this one did. It's Tom
Donovan. Why, / know Tom; he's been
in papa's store ever so long. He got a
jobn
There was no answer
Marjorie's eyes fell again to the paper.
II am young man twenty years old"
she picked out slowly; then she raised her
head with a jerk. GRANDPA, If you was
going to application for a job" she began
eagerly, what would you say?-you aren't
a young man. you see
"Say-what would l say?" Numbered
Grandpa Gregory, suddenly. He was not
looking at the bare tree branch now, but
straight at rjorie-Marjorie, who was
backed close against the door, shivering
half with fear, half with delight; fear be-
cause she had never before seen her grand
father like this; delight because he was
telling her exactly what she most wished
to know. Young? No, I'm not young.
wood you understand. l should put that
in-I shouldn't wish to deceive them. l
should say l was piece of deadwool which
had had fifty years experience lying in
one place. l should say 1 had no bad
habits except that I didn't mind any one s
business but my own. / should say my
qualifications were an ability to put money
into other peoples pockets, and a capacity
for being an excellent cog in a machine.
good until l rusted, when l could easily
be removed 1 should say-good heavensi
Marjorie what am l saying? Come here,
dear. and forget all this crazy business
from the beginning!"
And Marjorie went-but not to forget
She curled herself in her grandfather's
lap and tried very hard to remember.
Marjorie with an idea always a very
restless Marjorie until the idea was car
ried out. BY a course of reasoning all her
own she had arrived at the conclusion
that the cause of her grandfathers spend
ing these silent unhappy hours at home
was solely because his application for en-
ployment had been in some point amiss
To remedy this she had determined 10