The Washington herald., 1908-01-19

uH Olt Ailt NtlluUN AfhhNf @'i1 ~ ANNNNN
had stretched herself comfortably on the
lounge. Mary Sands was perched on the
side of a table swinging her feet, while
two or three other girls were comfortably
seated in armchairs. Myrtle Reed was
reading the Goshen Leader, the principal
local paper.
Girls, it ought TO be stopped Here
she Is, advertising for man to fix the
roof of that old stable Yesterday she
wanted a man TO fix the furnace, and
the day before # was a boy she wanted
TO water the mushroom beds. Her fam
/ Ily are poor enough without encouraging
Florence Weiss in any more Of her fool
ish fads Why don't she marry, as the
rest OF us have done?"
That's what I asked Jack the other
night" chimed in Mary Sands. But
she says she hates the men. and wants
TO raise mushrooms and make fortune
of her own. Her grandmother left her
5000. you know and that Is what she in
vested in the mushroom fad.
Let's go down in body and apply
| for the job" suggested Clara. 1t is a
glorious day and the walk will do US
good"
/ In the meantime Florence Weiss was
unlocking the door Of the old stable
/ Dressed in a short walking skirt and
scarlet sweater, with an old Tam o.
shanter on her golden hair, she made a
/ picture most unfamer-liIe. Her blue
eyes sparkled with anticipation as she
entered the cellar of the stable 10 view
/ her precious mushrooms. Florence had
/ ideas and ideals. and she meant 20 live
up TO both. If the family expected her
TO marry just 10 replete their purse. they
would be sadly disappointed. Women
were born for nobler things, she argued,
and she would go forth and make money
with her own hands and brains, and not
tie herself TO any man.
She kuelt down by the side of one OF
the beds and. with q spoon. cut off a
/ tiny mushroom. sprung up over night
| she examined the spawn IN another bed,
/ felt the temperature Of third, and then
went 10 the door to call Malachi. the
/ boy whom she employed 20 do chores.
Malachi! Malachi she called but
Malachi did not appear, so she went out
TO look for him. Behind the stable on
the side hill she found him covered with
tar and beating a fire.
Malachi. what Is all this?' she de
maudcd.
Yes. mG'am-yOU see. ma'am-Oh Lord.
miss, I've set fire 20 the tar he walled
"You see. miss, was gettin ready for
the man TO fix the roof an I opened the
barrel Of tar an # wouldn't run. 50
thought. you see. ma'am. / thought I'd
melt it-yes, ma'am.'
well. Malachi, you're an idiot-that's s
what you are. and never want to see
your face again. You've melted it ali
right. and I'll have 10 buy more tar at
/ S q barrel"
Malachi was discharged. and the man
who applied 90 put on a new roof was
I installed in his place.
Clean up the place" said FIore ace.
when asked what he should Go until more
tar arrived for the roof
Florence started for town, and so
missed the call the girls paid. She was
back the next morning however. 10 see
her new man started on his work.
Get some OF that fertilizer, Joseph,
and bring lt to me. This bed is Ia very
poor condition. and Will never yield any
thing unless We work ON it,
Joseph started IN blank amazement.
Fertilizer. ma'am." he said rs o.
that pile of rotten stuff that was lyin
out yonder what you're sPeakia' of?''
Yes Yes" answered Florence.
Right there at the side door"
We'll. I'm after dumpiu' il in the
brook. ma am he announced. You told
me 90 clean up the place, and ! done it,
Wa'am, % the best OF my ability" and
he Strengthened up his somewhat bent
shoulders, as II TO emphasize his brill
liant stroke of work
1t was toe much, added TO the loss Of
the barrel of tar. and Florence sat down
on the damp cellar floor and cried. But
not for long. She soon dried the tears on
her old apron and vented her bitter an
ser on the head Of Joseph He stood for
"a moment listening, then turned and
went out, murteTing-
Il thought it was q lady, bat 7 might
of knowed diggn' I'm the dirt never made
a lady yet And Joseph was a thing OF
the past
ava '.llAN ealt AA|iA Attg NLalE NdGL 10
think il over. Eight dollars for the tar
Of yesterday. twelve for the fertilizer of
to-day Ideals were not always practical.
and ideals did not materialze as they
might Fight as she would against them,
the tears would come again. The sound
Of wheels on the road near at hand
reused Florence. She turned 10 see the
/ express wagon from the general store
about to deliver the barrel Of tar, She
Jumped down from the fence and hurried
TO the gate which led 10 the old stable.
why. Mr. Rivers. what are you do
ing? Driving the express Wagon?" she
exclaimed as she recognized ia the driver
one Of GOsheu's leading young men.
Hello, Flo" he cried, as he tied the
old horse 10 the gate post. IT'S me all
right, just lOdfing around for a few
days finishing up a business trip. Dad
said you ordered this tar from the store,
and ! said I'd deliver it and kill two
birds with one throw. I was coming up
TO see the wonderful mushrooms anyway
before / left. Call your man to help me
unload the barrel will your
"Oh. Dick-Mr. Rivers, I mean. I
haven't any man, nor any boy, nor any
mushrooms Yes. I've been crying" she
added, as he glanced sharply at the some
what wet cheeks "You see" she went
on. i've had bad lucI, with my farm
ing"
They wandered instinctively toward
the wall Dick took out his pipe and be-
gan 20 light IL.
Didn't your idea work out?'' he said
with fine impersonal interest.
Not very we'll she admitted. THE
idea is all right, but skilled labor is hard
TO get and. after all. I'm only a woman. 3"
What about the ideals?' suggested
Dick, as he puffed away Seems to me
you told me that you had ideals as well
as ideas"
"Oh, I still have them-in my mind
Of course, but they are so hard TO find in
real life -