The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1907-02-07
HER DAY OF
FREEDOM.
BY ROSALIE DAVIS.

| Grace Cramer received the news Of
her aunt's triling illness with outward
manifestations of regret and sympa
thy, but an inward feeling of exulta
ton which she realized was. to say the
least, ungrateful Aunt Felice had been
a patient, untirng, accomplishing
chaperon for one long week
Tell Mrs. Cramer hope she will be
feeling very much better when come
back from drive. Is there anything
could bring her-violets or perhaps
| rosesF'
Madam cannot endure perfume of
any sort when she has one of these at
lacks. but shall tell her of your kind
thoughtfulness. said the precise, black
gowncd maid who had been in Mrs
Cramer's service for fifteen years.
Well trained and capable WAS this
maid, but it never dawned upon her
that she should personally see that
Mrs Cramer's order for the carriage
was executed Certainly this sturdy
young woman from the west only
daughter of Mrs Cramer's only broth
er, looked as if she were quite capable
of giving her own orders.
And so it happened that the butler
not without some misgivngs. held open
the big walnut and bronze doors for
Grace to pass out half an hour later
and watched her walk briskly down
the avenue.
At Thirty fourth street she paused
uncertainty. There We're several points
Of interest she really wanted to see be
fore returning hone-the statue of Lib
erty, the Metropolitan Museum Of Art
and Grants tomb OF course New
Workers. were always bored with such
things, but Grace was from the west
and frankly interested in sightseeing.
And ssuch morning as ii was for
sightseeing.
In front Of the Waldorf Astoria stood
line of hansoms. With deliberate
steps and keen glanees she turned her
feet in their direction. The cabbies
looked at her expcctantly sharp fea-
tured English drivers, heavy iowled
and red eyed Irish drivers. couple
| who looked as if they had sprung
from the ghetto and one who caught
and held her glance. smooth and boy
ish of face smart and we'll groomed
of coat and hat. She stopped and look
ed up into his face, shielding her eyes
| with her long flat purse.
How muchf'
"Where MISS said the driver cour-
teously.
ooh don't know Just whereby
the hour, | guess.
"Onc-tifty for the first hour, dollar
an hour after that
"All right And first we'll 90 to the
museum in the park.
He touched the front of his hat with
his glovcd fingers, and some rude YounG
men lounging near the carriage start
er's booth laughed. Grace started.
Perhaps she had better not Then sh0
glanced UP ut the young man on the
box His gloved fingers were still
against his hat, the doors We're inyt.
ingly open. and, though his face was
quite grave, his eyes danced in II fash
ion very much in accordance with her
own joy in being free from snryeil
lance for n whole day.
She sprang into the hanson, and tho
doors clattered shut
How silly TO be afraid" she mur
INJURED why, at home | 90 every
where alone-and he is such nice
looking irish boy
THE nice looking Irish boy" gath
ering up his reins turned his eyes on
the group of rude laughing youths near
i the starters booth, and in that look
was a curious mingling Of triumph and
! reproaeh.
! They bowled through the park and
drew up with flourish in front of tho
museum Grace sprang out.
"Oh. it is so much larger than ex.
pected" she said turning to the driver
! in frank surprise, not untinged with
appeal Il had no idea there was so
much of IT, You don't suppose | can
begin to see it in half an hour or even
i an hour
The young man leaned respectfully
! from the box.
Indeed you can't, miss. I've been
here nearly every Sunday for the past
! three months, and | don't feel as If I'd
seen the half of it yet
"Oh. then you don't work on Sun
days?'
The cabby flushed
AFTER G. miss. There's not much do
| ing here on Sundays till dinner time"
"Do they have gudes?" she said,
waving her hand toward the museum.
mo, miss. But you can buy a cata
logue"-
And spend all my time trying to fig
ure out the catalogue. Goodness. ev
erything is so big in New York. 1t
appals me-" She took a step forward,
then turned
II don't would you mlnd-if
| you could get some one to hold the
horse-could you take me through? 1t
would save so much time If you know
the building and then maybe | could
see Grants tomb too"
The young Irishman swung around