The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1908-10-20

toWnSWoman leaves the RANKS
to assume an important position of 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 a cab, but now she felt
that she could not afford the expense.
1t was at the time when toilers were
returning to their homes and the cars
were crowded to the rails, but she
bravely climbed aboard and thankfully
accepted a strap with the feeling that
she was already one of the workers.
The Home For Self Supporting Girls,
to which she had been recommended,
was vastly different from the accom-
modations to which she was accus-
toned. The tiny room with its two
iron cots and its duplication Of bureaus
and rockers sharply marked the line
that separated the two girls domiciled
together.
There was no homelike air about the
place, and the chill atmosphere of the
dining room found responsive chill
In her heart She went to bed early.
feeling that she must stifle her sobs to
avoid annoying her roommate.
She lay in the narrow bed thinking
of the dainty room at home, with its
white dimity hangings and its great
white bed. If she had listened to Joe
Trenton she would be there tonight,
dreaming of the time when she and
Joe would have a home Of their own.
A score of times Joe had proposed
but Elizabeth had made the career of
woman her fetch and she would not
sacrifice her freedom. Joe's last effort
had been Ill timed, for he had spoken
on the night of 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
reer," the girl had promised gently
"but don't you see that to turn back
now upon my own principles would be
false to myself? Others, looking to me
for example. might be tempted to turn
back too
"What if they did?' argued the man.
"Do you have to put happiness from
you just to practice what you preachT
"Of course" she cried. 1--WE who
would lead must be prepared to sacri-
fce."
In the elation of the moment she had
pictured herself leader of 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 and soul to the theory
that woman had right to career,
and she was her own most enthusiast
tic convert.
Now she regretted her stand as she
choked back her sobs, but when morn
ing came she was again strong In her
resolve. She sailed forth with a list
Of addresses. Toward evening she re-
turned. The list had proved unfruit-
full, and the kindly faced woman at
the desk offered words of encourage
ment that fell upon ears too tired to
grasp their meaning.
That day was but the first of many.
YEARLY she tr1udged from place to
place, but the demand was for skilled
workers. Some seemed willing to give
her a trial If she would serve for vary
ing periods without pay, but this was
out of the question. She must have
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 at the
desk, whose big, motherly heart was
great enough to embrace her whole
brood, sighed to see her. With BEAM
ing face she came to 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-
fusal, made. herself tidy and with un-
certain tread hurried to the parlor.
where a half dozen other girls were
entertaining callers. With little gasp
ing cry she stumbled toward Joe Tren-
ton, who sprang forward to greet her.
81 didn't know that you were In
town" she cried when the greeting was
over and they were sitting in the seclu-
sion of a corner. "Why didn't you lei
me know that you were comingT
mo timer exclaimed the man. 81
had a sudden call to town, and I
thought that I'd look you up. Let's go
over 10 the park and get some fresh
air, and I'll tell you all the gossip that
the Century hasn't printed"
Elizabeth hurried for her hat, and
presently they were making for the
tiny park near the home. Elizabeth
had seen it only in passing. for there
was no energy left after her days
search for employment. Now the soft
grasses reminded her of home, and il
was a wistful face that she turned tc
Joe when they had found bench.
"Tell me about Norton" she com
manded, but Joe shook his head.
"All in It's turn. Tell me about your
self first. Got a job"
mot yet" Elizabeth was glad thai
the dark concealed her flaming cheeks
''I think 1 shall have a position in q
day or two, but things are very dull
here just at present"
They're dull everywhere" was The
listless comment Il was looking
around a bit today Don't you think
Bess, that you ought to leave the jobs
to the girls who really need them wher
there are so few"
Elizabeth was startled. Here seemed
to be a chance to get back home with
out appearing to surrender
what do you meanT she asked
tensely.
'sThere are lots more girls than Their
are jobs" he explained. Nov, som'
of them will have to get left If thu
girls who are clever, but who dom
really need to work. get their places.
you'll be tickled to death to lan'
this position you have in mind, Blu
maybe some girl who might have ha'
It If you had not come will be crying
her eyes out because she was not a
clever as you and is still hunting
place. You have a father to supper
you. Maybe the girl who might hav
had the job has others to support"