Middletown transcript., 1907-06-29
A NEW DEP Arturo
BY ELIZABETH PRICE

gs %AAs 5GAA%sss
nlay we are rich, and rest for an
hour. Even my water colors
are threatening TO melt and run
into each other, said Cora David
SON putting down her brushes,
and reaching for 9 fan.
/ say, let's do, agreed Rosalind
Dixon, throwing pad and pencil
into the farthest corner OF the
room. I've got my heroine into
a tangle from which no human
skin can extricate her, anyway.
| wonder if there is q warmer
place in this city than our sky
parlor.
Iknow of one, declared Allison
Beatty busily scraping the paint.
fromher palette. ] went down to
the kitchen awhile ago to inter-,
view Mrs. OToole and found her
ironing by a red.hot range.
Mrs. OToole, my dear, is q
natural salamander, therefore
not to be judged by other people.
I've suspected it ever since the
morning she invited me down to
breakfast, when you and Cora
were away over night, and I
watched her drink four cups of
boiling coffee without a blink.
Ny suspicious have since been
confirmed on the numerous occas.
ions when / have beheld her hang
ing out her washing with only a
practically brimless and crown
less straw hat to protect her
from sunstroke, and Rosalind
adjusted the blind to shut ont
the glare from the opposite win
dows. Cora yawned. Who cares
for Mrs. O'TooleP She doesn't t
yearn for better things, and we
do. II I had known I'd have had
to sizzle in the city all summer,
I'm afraid I'd never have joined
the noble army of Independent,
Girl Bachelors.
Thought you'd make fortune
at decorative art in three months
didn't you, Cora, and to Europe
to dlsburseP Now I'm more mod
est. If my book comes out in
the fall and makes nae rich and
famous by spring I'll be satisfied.
Allison, if you don't put your
work down and rest awhile, ]
shall be compelled to resort to
severe measures.
Allison laughed and obeyedy
saying: Girls, we are making a
mistake. I've been wondering
about it for several days,and Pm
convinced Of it now. We
are using up our energy faster
than we can spare it this hot
weather, and driving our nerves
to the verge of prostration. We
won't make anything by it, and
If weare wise well take a breath
Ing spell now and then, and re-
cuperate. The success of our
work depends on steady hands
and clear heads. Our decorating
is not at its best to-day and Rosa
lind has acknowledged the plight
she's plunged her poor heroine
into. / move We call a halt. Just
a day at time, now and then, as
we feel the need for it, and then,
as we feel the need for it, and see
if we don't earn enough more to
pay for trifing extra expense.
lisa bright thought; I second
the motion, though / give fair
warning at the same time that
the extra exgense' must be ex-
treme1y trifing;if I am to keep
from bankruptcy. What's your
plan? and Rosalind sat upright,
alert and interested.
I'll tell you first whatmade me
think OF it, and see If you girls
think as I do. Monday when l
took those dinner cards out to
Mrs. Van Alstyn's there was a
sweet.faced elderly lady sitting
next me on the car, and she was
talking to some one on her other
side about the very things I'm
going to tell you. I couldn't
avoid hearing und reallyI I didn't
try, for I knew from her looks
that she'd be glad to help any
body. She talked earnestly, and
every word she said appealed to
me-. So after a while, when the
car had almost emptied itself
You know Mrs. Van lives near
the end of the line-I plucked up
courage and asked some ques.
tions. She was as interested and
motherly as could be, and gave
me lots of good advice. What's
that, RosalindP Oh, the reason
Ididn't tell You about ber sooner
was because I was turning things
over in my mind to see just how
much of what she said could be
applied to Us. Now that I've
roachod q conclusion. am ho.