The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1908-08-29
THE ODD ONE.

cance of this fact Not .nein she re,eated m
pressively. f~''''N' III
Mrs. Campbell did not seem as overwhelmed a.
- . hao expected Indeed, DEAR" she said quiet
1iid' IL, 10 unfortunate But does that necessarily
make difference to your plans 2"
NO difference, mother?" Lucie cried "Whv 7
uont want to be the odd one! Grace and Elise are
gong 10 hnlsh at Miss Partridge's school," she
added, suggestively
Yes, dear But the yearly tuition of that
sehool amounts to twothirds of your fathers sal
ary 1t would be out of the question. even if we
fet certain that the influences there would be best
for YOU" ~
And the others are going to drop school," con-
unueq Lucle. Carollnes father saws that there
are plenty of things girl can learn right at
home" ~
That Is true, Luce. But at the same time the
demand Tor trained brains is constantly increasing
a girl can learn the arts of homemaking without
heglectlng her education, and that is something [
am not willing you should do"
That should have settled the question But as
matter OF TACT, it did not. When the school year
opened and Lucie was the only representative of
little circle of girls who had been fast friends since
their kindergarten DAYS, her interest in her work
seemed to vanish She had not learned that num-
bers do not decide questions of right or even of ex
pedlency- And she foolishy ambitious to be
on the side OF the majority Her listlessness and
indifference showed in her class standings She
welcomed every excuse for absenting herself from
gan to realize that the situation was more serious
than they had supposed.
It isn't merely that she is missing her chance for
an education" Mr.. Campbell said to his wife "but
she Is getting the wrong education. She is learn
ing f-hearted methods. She is becoming shrk."
But his eXpostulations and her mothers remon-
strances had strangely little effect on Lucie She
wanted to do the other girls had done, and felt
ll-used and unhappy when the opportunity was
denied her
Discomfort has an unfortunate effect on the
health Lucie was taken sick and the doctor adj
vised her parents not to send her back to school
that year. When the question was preached the
following fall, she pleaded piteously to stay at
home that, almost against their better judgment,
the perplexed parents yielded At Is Luce's school
life had to end, and she was perfectly sat
isfed. because she was no longer "the odd one" of
her little circle.
Three years passed before anything happened
to make her doubt the wisdom of her choice. Then
came the financial panic, which affected the bust
ness of the entire country and worked havoc in the
little city of Bruxton. Failure followed failure.
One afternoon Lucie in from walk to find
her father at home He leaning back in the
big chair looking very white, and his eyes were
closed. His wife sat beside him, passing her hand
gently over his contracted brows Lucie uttered
startled exclamation. us father sickF
"Not sick, only tired" Mrs. Campbell answered,
and she made gesture which Lucie understood to
mean that no more questions to be asked. 1t
was full hour before she found chance to give
Lucie the explanation she wanted. "Westeott &
Clark have failed. Your father is without posi-
ton"
"But of course he can get anotherw Lucie cried
with the buoyant optimism of ineXperience.
Her mother checked a sigh. Owe will hope So"
she said. "But it is bad time for that just now.
Firms are discharging their men instead of tax
ing on ones" For moment her anxiety be-
trayed itself in her face. Then, NJ resolute eff
fort she reraned control of herself and went smil
inolv back to her husband, as if her heart
light.
But Lucie who had seen the momentary be-
travail thrilled with sudden womanllness. She
would help. She was young and strong, and there
must be chance for her. An unspeakabe tender
ness for the father who had worked for his home
On ,,nrernittingy since her first recollectons weed
1,n In her heart. Now it was her time to work for
him.
70 anyone. she went to the Office of the chairman
If the school board. He friend of her faith
er,s and had known her since her babyhood, and
Che felt sure of his sympathetic interest Yes,
that's right" he said when she had told her er-
rand s.You feel as if you wanted to be help In
+b;e crisis think perhaps we can do something
e-o LET me see. what year did you graduate"
aI-T didn't graduate" explained Luce l lett
AZ b;ob school the first term of the second year..
4Tndeedp The hope in Lucies heart dropped
Ike the mercury in thermometer at blast OF
chilling north wind. "Fm sorry to hear mat sad
the gentleman grPvs That makes o.d der9 ns.
w. - Pbi high school course is the least we can
possibly accept" .,uoo+ odo = -,
q lh Iuu for her to reply She pushed back her
e eSair and made an effort to rise But the chair
Of the board vas W1 Pttn mom hs 9F9T he over es
some lle"s a know of position of bookkeeper
IL Viii he vacant in about two weeks Possibly
e9 Tba GIRL i moistened her dry lips and answered
with n an effort But don't know E anything doEd about
bookkeepiss. ID the chairman of the school board
~ see regret. well my dear young. lady,
this Is 0 are likely to be without positions And
WORKERS ia q" teII YOU that one who had no definite