Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1908-11-05
Glizabetb'S
DoSitlon.
By CARL WILLIAMS.
Copyrighted. 1905. by Associated
Literary Press.
By CARL WILLIAMS

nee tue HOrue Vi suoutiuS udchinci.
At other times she had come to the
ity with party or she had been met
~ the people whose guest she was to
)e. This time she came alone TO face
the new life which graduation and a
determination To make Il career had
opened up 10 her
In her pocketbook was so. card
with the home address upon il in case
OF accident and clipping from the
Moreton Century. These were the
was to make for success. The money
would keep her going until she OBJ
tanned position and the clipping
would cheer her. 1t was written In
the editors best style and ran:
Miss Elizabeth Cady. whose graduation
essay on 1.-The Wider Scope of Woman $
Sphere" was the sensation of the high
school exercises. will leave for the city
Monday TO become a valued recruit In the
great army OF commerce. We predict
that IL will not be long before our ac-
complished 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 well 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 n responsive chill
In her heart. She went to bed early,
feeling that she must stifie her sobs 10
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 III timed, for he had spoken
on the night of her graduation. when
the plaudlts 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 IL 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-
fee
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 a woman had right to a 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 n list
Of addresses Toward evening she re
turned. The list had proved unfruit-
ful, 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 trudged from place to
place. but the demand was for skilled
workers. Some seemed willing to give
her a trial II she would serve for vary
ing periods without pay, but this was
out of the question. she must have n
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 a beam
Ing face she came to Elizabeth's room
during the sixth week OF her stay and
announced a 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 I'M
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 I'm
town." she cried when the greeting was
over and they were sitting In the seclu-
sion of corner "Why didn't you let
me know that you were comingT
mo timer exclaimed the man. II
had sudden call TO town, and
thought that I'd look you up. Let's 20