The enterprise-recorder., 1908-08-20
By the Lake.
Ey MARGARET CARRUTHERS.

Natalie Livingstone sat gazing out
Of the window across the closely crop
ped lawn, past the tulip beds that were
marvels of the gardeners art, and out
over the lake dotted with many little
pleasure craft. She could hear the
sound Of laughter coming from the
water, and It only made it all the hard
er for her to 90 away.
But there was the singing but polite
little note informing her that her ser
vices were no longer required, and
inclosing the customary weeks wages
and her ticket back to the city.
She knew the reason for her sudden
dismissal, and that made 1t seem all
the more unjust. 1t was not because
Of incompetency, but because OF the
scarcity of eligible young men and the
superabundance Of marriageable young
ladies with overambitious mothers.
She had known there were objec-
tons because Of the attentions paid
her by some of the male guests and
which she had tried hard to avoid.
Her self-possession and refined man
ners had all been discussed and voted
menace by the mothers with the
marriageable but less attractive daugh-
ters, and for once they had united and
sent a committee to the management
and demanded Natalies removal.
The soft, white skin, the large blue
eyes and wavy, faxen hair were all
urged as reasons why she should go.
and were pronounced the cause and
reason why several OF the young men
had suddenly abandoned their pursuit
Of pleasure and plungeu themselves in
TO business at the Lakeside.
The very idea Of her being allowed
70 use the boats on the lake and walk
around on the lawn and veranda like
one Of the guests!" Indignantly re-
marked Miss Allen, conspicuous for
her brick-colored hair and turned-up
nose and an impediment in her speech.
but whose mother occupied one OF the
most expensive suites in the hotel and
entertained largely.
why, at Taber's in the White Noun
taIns last year the typewriter had to
eat with the help and was not allowed
even in the corridors. unless sumsloned
there to do some work for the guests"
broke in Mamie Lacy, whose father
had risen to the dignity Of an alder
man and whose mother had social
ambitions for Mamie which were graft
ned in a measure by her short stay
every year at the Lakeside.
Such impertnencel" chimed in
Miss Clark. school teacher Of uncer-
tain age. why, have been SPEND
ing two whole weeks here every sum
mer for the past four years, and have
never been the subject Of such indig-
mites before. Why, she actually curls
her hair, yet haunts her innocence and
good manners in the eyes Of the men
thinking to dazzle them. Well she
can't fool me, anyway"
And SO IL had been until the note
had been the result Poor little Nata-
lie? All she wanted was to be left
alone 10 earn her living. and she had
been delighted at the prospect OF spend
Ing the hot summer months at the
Lakeside, but row she would have 10
60 back TO the sweltering city and haunt
the employment agencies, and even II
she was successful, as she could scarce
ly hope 10 be at this dun season, she
would be Obliged 10 live in a stuify
furnished room Ia a poor quarter made
ever more miserable BY fits crowded
condition.
She had been happy here at the lake.
the long walks, the boat rides and the
Wild flower pilgrimages. but now she
must give IL all up.
She packed Der simple belongings.
looked around the COSY little room that
had been hers. and where she had
found so much rest and happiness. and
tears came 10 the great blce eyes as
she closed the door and slowly made
her way 90 the managers once to BID
him sood-by.
She az a5l 1nd him in ard as her