Waterbury evening Democrat., 1907-12-31
Her Titan <. Rival. :. By MARTHA COBB SANFORD.
Copyrighted. 1907, by Homer sprague.

young woman IOnQ or cnllQren duu Ol
 art to accompany mother and son
 abroad. Must have red hair"
 "Well, of all things!' exclaimed
 Zephine Holiday. "What funny ad
 vertisement, and if it doesn't hit me
 off to T."
 She read it over again. as if to con.
 vince herself that it was really not an
 optical illusion. Then she settled down
 to think it over. 7"
 A large half packed trunk stood open
 before her, and abou ut her on table, chairs and floor we're piled all her
 worldly accessorias for Zephine was
 to start the next day for distant
 western city, where she had accepted the position of teacher of everything from elementary arithmetic, which she despised, to the history of art, which she loved, but had no particular desire to try to make lot of giggling young | girls love with an equal ardor. Still there seemed nothing else to do ] now that the college course was over, and there were no surplus funds in the family exchequer.
 "I'll answer that ad. in person." :" Zephine announced to the trunk, whose expansive yawn indicated ex- pressively its amazement "A kinder garten of one somehow sounds more attractive than a boarding school full of scatter brained girls, especially when 1t has with 1t a trip to Europe thrown in."
 When Zephine rang the Maxwell bell that afternoon at the address give@ in the advertisement, she looked captivat- ing enough to adorn any European party, no matter how fastidious its constituents. Her smart little autumn hat and her trig tailor costume both toned in harmoniously with the gold bronze of her hair that blew about CO., quettishly in the stirring breeze.
 After sending up her card Zephine, with half conscious sigh of apprecia- tion, sank down into the cushioned depths of a luxurious easy chair to await the presence of the mysterious mother. When the latter entered the drawing room Zephine gazed upon her with frank admiration. She was state ly and beautiful and above all unde- niably motherly.
 "You came in answer to my adver- fr, thn asked Her sweet naturalness quite banished all Zephine's embarrassment.
 "Yes. IT thought I would like to know more about it," the girl answer ed cautiously.
 "You are fond of art, Miss Holiday do you paint?"
 "I'm not an artist, if that is what you mean, but am very fond of pic lures and paint little for my own amusement. Do you wish me to teach your son how to paint, Mrs. Maxwell? I'm afraid'-
 "Oh, no. indeed; just help him out bit now and then with suggestion. He likes to have his own way about doing things, only he needs some one who is in sympathy with his little fads and fancies. You like children, do you not, Miss Holiday? Of course that is essential" s,.
 q can't live without them," Zephine replied with glowing enthusiasm. (And how could she? If it were not for chill dren her chances of earning a liveli- hood would be small indeedD
 "If you are vivacious, do not need to ask,' commented Mrs. Maxwell, glancing at Zephine with genuine apS proval. q like to have Ralph have lively companionship. He's so stirring himself. He leads me altogether too merry a chase"
 But why is red hair essential" Zephine finally plucked up sufficient courage to inquire, at the same time blushing bewitchingly.
 Mrs. Maxwell laughed softly.
 "Oh. that's just to satisfy one of Ralph's whims. He's so cranky since he got over his long illness, poor boy, that we do all we can to please him in every little way. And he simply dotes on red hair. Why, he always paints women with red hair, and last Christmas, when We were selecting a doll for a little girl friend of his, he insisted on her having red hair"
 Zephihe joined In the laugh and al- most forgot her misgivings over the prospect of her handling this cranky" and evidently spoiled son of an over fond mother, who frankly acknowledg- cd that she couldn't handle him her self
 When the arrangements were finally concluded Zephile walked home in a daze. She brought herself back to reality long enough. however. to send a telegram 10 the distant boarding school. which she would never enlight- en with her funds of knowledge after all.
 Well" she announced to the hospi- table trunk, which still gaped in as- tonlshment when she returned, tits lucky my clothes are all in order. Think of 1t. we start for Europe. old trunk, day after tomorrow, you and T. and Ralph and Rslph's mother she added in a suldued anticlimax. "I wish I'd seen the kid. I know he's in- corrigible"
 The day for sailing was ideally fair. Mrs. Maxwell met Zephine at the steamer and accompanied her to her staterOom. establishing herself con- fortably there with much motheriy kindness.
 After the fareweIIs are over you and Ralph must get acquainted she . said. hssteaing back to the deck
 Zanhfna hnrraIf hnd q fau c.,o1hrs .