The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1907-09-20
THE PARTING OF THE WAYS
BY ITALY HEMPERLY.

soft lights and shadows, but just now they
were dim with longing.
Three months before she had come to
Atlanta to enter on business career.
Her parents had been loath to let her leave
the modest home nest, but at last had given
their consent.
"Amy always succeeds at anything she
undertakes her mother had said with
pardonable pride. But the father had
shook his head half-sadly.
'sPerhaps she will make more money
there, but 1 can't get over the notion that
girl is always better in the shelter of
home. A real woman always longs for
love and protection, and it always hurts her
to crush this longing"
Amy had dimly felt the truth OF his
words in her young heart, but her mind
was made up.
"Perhaps papa knows I've just as good
as said mo to Fred, and he feels sorry him.
Of course, 1 like" (she tried to say the
word "like," lightly Erred, but I just
couldn't think of tying myself down to a
man who teaches winter schools and runs
summer FARMS
Then, too, she felt hurt because he had
gently but firmly refused to give up his
school and his farm to accept clerk S
position in one of the big dry goods stores.
II can work out my destiny here.
And I am SO much happier here than l
would be up there. am of some use here,
and am not sure that l would be up
there
Thus the two life. long friends and lovers
had come to the parting of the ways.
1t was a thought of this parting that
had brought look of longing to the girl s
eyes.
Every week brought her letters from
home, but from Fred no line came to break
the silence. Several times she had felt
strongly tempted to write to him, but her
pride always conquered the temptation.
Perhaps she could have endured it all better
if the other things had gone right. But
the other things had not gone right. In
the first place, she had not succeeded in
getting such a place as she expected and
desired
For three days after coming to the city
she had gone from place to place where
she thought astenographer might beneeded.
Her reception at these places had been
revelation to her.
At one place she was made to feel that
she was an object of pity; at another she
felt that she must be the greatest nuisance
on the earth. Then at another place she
was addressed by the man to whom she
had applied in a voice so void of any
emotion whatever that she felt like use
less machine. But the final blow came
when bald -headed lawyer addressed her
as little grille" Whereupon she stamp
ed her little foot wrathfully and fed down
the steps with burning cheeks and flashing
eyes.
After that she gave up and went to one
of the employment bureaus. She paid the
required fee and, after three weeks Of
waiting, she was given the opportunity OF
accepting a place with wholesale merch-
ant at six dollars a week. She would have
scorned the offer on her arrival, but three
weeks of waiting, with thought of her
slender purse, had forced her to accept the
place. There was little left of her salary
after she paid her board and laundry bills.
Then she had not been able to get such
boarding place as she desired. The noise
and heat Jared on her sensitive nerves;
and she missed the milk and wholesome
fruit that was always so plentiful at home.
Three months of the wear and tear had
told on her sadly and some of her bright
dreams had faded. Today she knew that
she was just WORKOUT, homesick girl.
Her eyes left the clouds and came back
to the notes that lay on the table. She
read them over and began to patiently
transcribe them. Then her eyes filled with
a sudden rush of tears. Just then her
employer came up.
care you about through, Miss Lislie?'
He was bluff kindly man, but at the
his voice grated harshly on her
ears
II will be through in few moments.
She had tried to steady her voice, but
there was very preceptible quaver in it.
Mr.. Adams eyed her keenly, and when he
spoke again it was in lower key.
''This has been trying week on US all,
and when you get through with those let
ters you can 60. 1t is not long until six
anyway"
The city clock was striking four as she
left the Office. She walked slowly, and
as she walked she did some active thinking.
She wondered how she would feel if she
were forced to stay in her present place.
Then she wondered how the people felt
who had to keep on at such work and
wages with nothing better to look forward
too. OF course, she would have better
position some day. Miss Kenneth made
twenty dollars a week. But she was
faded woman and she was only twenty
eight, too. Then she wondered dimly if
Miss Kenneth had quarreled with her lover
before she entered on her business career.
erred was right" she said to herself.
II am living on the husks. Homekeep-
ing hearts are best, when there is any
home to keep"
Just at this moment tall figure in an
gray suit came around the
corner in front of her.
1t was-yes, it was actually Fred A
little joyful cry burst from her lips. He
came up and held out his hand. And for
he first time in her life the girl felt proud
IF her big blue-eyed sweetheart. And
here was no installing the look that fash
I'd into his eyes as he smiled down on the
face before him.
Chow are you, Amy?'
ooh, Fred, I'm miserable, and you
ought to know it without asking me. IF
[ wasn't so happy at the sight of you l