Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1908-11-20

and step, and he looked older. He, too
remained silent. George Seabright
when his pleading proved vain, merely
said, IF you find the world too much
for you. let me know"
Perhaps" replied the young girl,
while her pretty lips took a hard out
line new to them. She had $3.50 and
thought that more than enough to last
until fame and riches came. When she
was gone the whole farm seemed emp
~. Her brave, bright letters told how
she and three other girls had rented a
photograph loft for only $40 a month.
They had made it very artistic, had
built wardrobes of packing boxes and
made divans of cots covered with
denim, which served as o 2 beds at
night. She told of the screen = made
of a clotheshorse, covered also with
denim, which served to hide their bach
elor girl kitchen with its coal oil stove
and packing box closets for dishes.
Her father made no comment on these
efitifHl Ralkeshifts. but he and George
read between the lines. They knew
there was something wrong. There
was a forced b~reeziness in the letters.
George had loved Jimmy since she was
a baby. and he decided as Thanksgiv-
ing drew near that he could stand the
strain no longer.
In the meantime the four girls in
the great, bleak, ancient photographers
gallery were finding it very hard to
win fame. The rent. though divided
among four, was high when nothing
was coming in. They could not af-
ford a stove, and tea and dry bread
were their food. Finally one girl sat
down on the floor and began to wall.
She was cold and hungry and miser-
able. She was going home. land art
could go to grass
This voiced the general sentiment.
but Jimmy had come from sterner
stock. and she wouldn't give up. Three
of the four girls wrote to their parents
and in a week had said goodby to Jim
my, who faced the question of rent
alone. She threw herself on the cot
and cried all night with hunger, cold
and the knowledge that she was beat
en-. From talent to genius was a far
cry. and she was no genius.
"But | wouldn't care" she sobbed
'if 1t were not so neal THANKSGIVING.
At home therell be turkey and pies
and cake and jellies and-I just can't
stand itl'
But she never once thought of writ
ing home for help. The mex morning
she lay unconscious in her lonely place
tossing in fever. while her grieving ia
Their and mother were going around
heavy footed making preparations for
the coming feast.
Jimmy lay two nights and a day III
and alone. when a lady who had an
office in the same building had a feel
ing that something was wrong up
stairs and went up to find the poor de-
serted child. The doctor said she should
go to a hospital and that he would send
for her. There was a hurried step on
the stairs, and in a minute George was
on his kness beside the cot.
"Oh, Jimmy. little Jimmy. | knew
something was wrong. and I've come
to take you home if you'll CO."
"Nul l! On, George, III be so thank
full! I'm a failure. George-I'm a fail
ure!'
81 don't think so. Can she travel.
doctor? I'll get a carriage. She'll be
home just in time for THANKSGIVING"
ut will be that for me-" said Jimmy
weakly, while two tears jumped from
her eyes, and big George Seabright put
his arms around her and pressed his
first kiss OF her %quivering lips regard
less of the doctor and the lady.
1T will be an eternal Thanksgiving,
Jimmy!r