Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1908-10-10
Glizabetb'S
DcSltlcn.
BY CARL WILLIAMS.
Copyrighted. 1905. by Associated
Literary Press


city With Il party or she had been met
by the people whose guest she was to
be This time she came alone 20 face
the new life which graduation aud
determination 10 make career had
opened up to her.
In her pOeketbook was $50. card
with the home address upon Il in case
~ accident and clipping from the
MoretOn Century These were the
shield and buckler In the light she
was to make for success The money
would keep her going until she OBJ
tanned Il position and the clipping
would cheer her. II was written in
the editors best style and ran
Miss Elizabeth Cady. whose graduation
essay on THE wider Scope OF Woman's
sphere" the sensation OF the high
school exercises. will leave for the city
Monday to become valued recruit In the
great army OF commerce We predict
that II will not be long before our
conplshed townswoman leaves the ranks
10 assume an important position ~ com
mand
With such an augury for her future
Elizabeth could not turn back Her
mother had sent marked copies to all
their relatives and. FOR her mothers
sake as we'll as her own. Elizabeth
felt that she must succeed.
She swallowed the lump that came
into her throat and headed for the
street car In other days she had al
ways taken cab. but now she felt
that she could not afford the expense
1t was ut the time when toilers were
returning TO their homes and the cars
We're crowded To the rails. but she
bravery climbed aboard aud thankfully
accepted strap with the feeling that
she was already one OF the workers.
The Home For Self Supporting Girls
t. which she had been recommended
WAS vastly different from the accom-
modations to which she was accus
toned The tiny room with It's two
iron cots and its duplication Of bureaus
aud rockers sharply marked the line
that separated the two girls domicllcd
together
There was no homellke air about the
place. and the chill atmosphere 81 the
dining room found responsive chill
IN her heart She went TO bed early
feeling that she must stife her sobs 10
avoid annoying her roommate
She lay IN the narrow bed thinking
Of the dainty room at home with itS
white dlmity hangingS and its great
white bed II she had listened to Joe
Trenton she would be there tonight
dreaming Of the time when she and
Joe would have home ~ their own
4 score Of times Joe had proposed
but Elizabeth had made the career ~
woman her fetch and she would not
sacrifice her freedom Joe's last effort
had been i'll timed for he had spoken
on the night 81 her graduation when
the plaudits Of the audience still rang
in her ears and bits Of the essay echoed
loud and clear
Perhaps when have found my ca
rcer." the girl had promised gently.
but don't YOU see that 10 turn bnck
now upon my own principles would be
false To myself: Others. looking 10 me
for example. might be tempted 70 turn
back too.
What II they did, argued the man
DO you have to put happiness from
you just 10 practice what you Preach.
"Of course" she cried We who
would lead must be- prepared to sacrI-
hce." ~
In the citation OF the moment she had
pictured herself leader ~ her sex
She did not hold with the extremists
who argued that woman should vote
and rule the nation, but she had given
herself heart ana soul 10 the theory
that woman had right 10 a career.
and she was her own most enthusias-
tic convert
Now She regretted her stand AZ she
choked back her sobs. but when morn
ing came she was again strong IN her
resolve She sailed forth with list
Of addresses Toward evening she re
turned The list had proved unfruit
FIJI. and the kindly faced woman AZ
the desk offered words OF encourage
ment that fell upon ears too tired 70
grasp their meaning
That day was but the first ~ many
" ftitAA NlAff AAbAA it4Aff W.
place but the demand was for sl.illed
workers Some seemed willing TO give
her trial II she would sew. for vary
ing periods without pay, but this was
ont OF the question. She must have a
position by the time her slender re
sources were exhausted or she must
return home and confess failure
The thought preyed upon her mind,
and daily she grew thinner and more
worried until the little woman AZ the
desk. whose big, motherly heart was
great enough TO embrace her whole
brood. sighed TO see her. With beam
ing face she came 10 Elizabeth'S room
during the sixth week Of her stay and
announced visitor. Elizabeth. think
ing that one of the many men who had
taken her address had come To an
nounce the reconsideration of his re-
flisal. made herself tidy and with un
certain tread hurried 10 the parlor
where n half dozen other girls We're
Ifss