Coeur d'Alene evening press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1907-1929, 1908-01-22
Her Titan
Rival.
BY MARTHA COBB SANFORD.
1907. by Homer sprague.

WI
abroad. Must have red hair"
"well, of all thingsg' exclaimed
zephlne Holiday. what a funny ad
vertisement, and II 1t doesn't hit me
or to a T."
She read 1t over again. as II to con
vince herself that 1t was really not an
optical Illusion. Then she settled down
to think It over.
A large half packed trunk stood open
before her, and about her on table,
chairs and floor were piled all her
worldly accessories. for Zephine was
10 start the next day for u distant
western city, where she had accepted
the position OF teacher OF everything
from elementary arithmetic, which she
despised, to the history of art, which
she loved, but had no particular desire
TO try to make lot of glggling young
girls love with an equal ardor.
Still there seemed nothing else to do
now that the college course was over,
and there were no surplus funds in the
family exchequer.
"Tll answer that ad. In person."
Zephine announced to the trunk,
whose expansive yawn indicated ex-
presslvely It's amazement. "a kinder
garten of one somehow sounds more
attractive than boarding school full
Of scatter Drained girls, especially
when It has with II trip to Europe
thrown In"
When Zephine rang the Maxwell bell
that afternoon at the address given in
the advertisement, she looked captivat-
ing enough to adorn any European
party, no matter how fastidious Its
constituents. Her smart little autumn
hat and her trig tailor costume both
toned in tremendously with the gold
bronze of her hair that blew about CO.
quettishiy in the stirring breeze.
After sending up her card Zephine,
with half conscious sigh of apprecla-
ton, sank down into the cushioned
depths OF luxurious easy chair to
await the presence Of the mysterious
mother. When the latter entered the
drawing room Zephine gazed upon her
with frank admiration. She was state
~ and beautiful and above all unde-
niably motherly
"You came In answer to my adver-
tisement in the morning paperT she
asked Her sweet naturalness quite
banlshed all zephlne's embarrassment.
'Yes. III thought l would like to
know more about IT," the girl answer
ed cautiously.
"You are fond of art, Miss Holiday
do you palntH"
"Pm not an artist, IL that is what
you mean, but am very fond Of pic
lures and paint little for my own
amusement. DO you wish me to teach
your son how to paint, Mrs. Maxwell?
I'm afraid
"oh, no, indeed; just help him out a
bit now and then with a suggestion.
He likes to have his own way about
doing things, only he needs some one
who Is in sympathy with his little fads
and fancies. You like children, do you
not Miss Holiday OF course that IL
essential"
Il can't live without Them" Zephine
replied with glowing enthusiasm. (And
how could she7 II 1t were not for chill
dren her chances OF earning llvell-
hood would be small indeedD
IF you are vivacious, l do not need |
to ask" commented Mrs Maxwell, |
ut zephine with genuine APP
proval. II like to have Ralph have
lively companionship. He's so stirring
himself, He leads me altogether too |
merry chase"
"But why Is red hair essentialY'
1ephlne finally plucked up sufficient
courage to inquire, at the same time
bewltchingly.
Mrs. Maxwell laughed softly.
"oh. that's just to satisfy one OF
Raiph's whims, He's so cranky since
he got over his long illness. poor boy,
that we do all we can to please him
IN every little way. And he simply
dotes ON red hair. Why, he always
paints women with red hair. and last
Christmas, when we were selecting a
doll for little girl friend of his, he
Insisted on her having red hair"
Iephine Joined In the laugh and al
most forgot her misglvings over the
OF her handling this cranky"
md evidently spoiled son of an over
fond mother, who frankly acknowledg-
ID that she couldn't handle him her
,elf.
When the arrangements were finally
Zephine walked home In a
iaze. She brought herself back to
'eality long enough, however, to send
telegram 10 the distant boarding
'ehool, which she would never enliGht.
N with her funds of knowledge after
II.
We'll, she announced to the nospi.
able trunk, which sim gaped in as
when she returned, Its
lucky my clothes are all IN order.
Think OF II, we start for Europe, old
runk. day after tomorrow. you and l.
md Ralph and Ralph's mother" she
ddsd In a subdued anticlimax. II
wish I'd seen the kid. know he's In
orrigible"