The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1908-07-24
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 1t only made 1t all the hard
er for her TO go away.
But there was the singing but polite
little note informing her that her SER
vices were no longer required, and
Enclosing 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 Lad all been discussed and voted
q niece by the mothers with the
marriag eable but less attractive daugh-
tiers, sGd for once they had united and
sent a committee 70 the management
ard demanded Nataiie's gemo;sal
9 The soft, white skin, the large blue
eyes and wavy, flaxen 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 plunged themselves in
to business at the Lakeside.
The very idea of her being allowed
TO 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 impeachment 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 Summoned
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
fed in measure by her short stay
every year at the Lakeside.
Such impertinence!" chimed in
Miss Clark, a 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 fiaunts her innocence and
good manners in the eyes of the men
thinking to dazzle them. Well, she
can't fool me. anyway"
And SO it had been until the note
had been the result Poor little Nata-
lie? All she wanted was to be left
alone TO 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
go back 10 the sweltering city and haunt
the employment agencies, and even il
she was successful, as she could scarce
ly hope to be at this dull season, she
would be obliged TO live in stuffy
furnished room i'll a poor quarter made
ever more miserable by its 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 1t all up
She packed her 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 blue eyes as
she closed the dopfs and slowly made
her way to the .nialager's Office to bid
him good-by ~ y
she did n9t Nngd ht& in. and as her
so - Is