The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1909-03-19
How She Earned
Her Living.
Observation-Disclosures

tCopyrIght, 1909 by American Press Asso-
ciation.l
/ am not well satisfied with myself
for my interest In Mollie Jenkins. In
the first place, she is but seventeen;
l am thirty. IN the second place, she
hadn't cent in the world being de
pendent upon her aunt, Miss Amelia
Southworth. In the third place, cave
notion that she is a trlne too smart.
Miss Southworth has little income
which will die with her. ! wonder II
Mollle isn't trying to get all she can
OF it into her own possession against
the day of her auht's demise. Lastly,
1t Is to my interest as a clergyman
that l shall marry, and my coDgrega-
tion are looking for me to take suit.
able helpmeet. shudder at the
thought OF announcing an engagement
to them to little chit like Mollle
Miss Southworth is a maiden of sew
enty. Mollie lives with her, and Mol
lies method OF earning her living is
to amuse her aunt. The aunt is only
to be amused evenings by playing
bridge, of which she Is very fond.
She was In her younger days an inhu-
ential member of my congregation and
is still an important member from the
fact OF her age and long connection
with the church. Since II Is neces-
sary that show her due attention |
show 1t in playing bridge with her.
II Is In this way that | have become
Interested In Mollie. who always has
a hand and sometimes plays dummy.
Miss Southworth Is a native OF Eng
land. where old ladies' don't think it n
sin to play cards for money. She in.
slsts that bridge is but a poor game
without a small stake, and on sitting
down 10 the game | found myself In Il
position either to offend her or do what
is with us in America an unelerical
act--play for tenth of cent n point
Being expected TO play with one of the
oldest and most respected members OF
my congregation, yielded.
One evening Miss Southworth, Mol
lie and were playing bridge Mollic
held a succession OF good hands and
was scoring points. Indeed, her luck
ran so steadily that If the circum-
stances were otherwise l should have
looked for trlckery Miss Southworth
was beginning to get irritable. She
had lost o. cents, and there was no
change OF luck m sight. Mollle said n
good deal about there being no fun in
one sided game. but went on win
ming Presently Miss Southworth.
while Molle was dealing, said TO her
hercely:
"Go upstairs"
Mollie turned red as beet. rose
from the table and without word
left the room. Her aunt sat tanning
herself angrlly. waited develop
ments. They came in time.
"Did you see what she was dolng?"
she asked me.
mo"
Cheating"
Good graciousw
"Only seventeen, and she can deal
pack of cards to put good hand
wherever she likes"
but what was her object? She was
having splendid hands"
"H'm! She dealt them to herself"
settled up my score, paying "a
cents, and bade my hostess good even
ing
"You won't say anything about this ?"
she said
Certainly not"
Nor was likely to tell that / had
been playing cards for money and one
of the players had cheated. For the
next week or two l lived IN dread lest
the matter should leak out suffered
In another way. Somewhere down In
my heart there was disappointment
One day l met Noble on the street
If the act wouldn't have been notice
able should have crossed before
meeting her. She spoke to me smiI-
ingly and said:
"Auntle is waiting for you to come
in again and play bridge"
"H'mp stammered. "Who is to take
the other handsT
II am the only one unless some one
happens in"
"Have you and your aunt made up
that"-
"Oh. yes. She has forgiven me-"
"Hml Have you forgiven your
seiffv
She looked up at me with an limo
cent expression that would have gone
TO my heart except for the sin.
"rhere's nothing to forgive"
Didn't you deal yourself good
handsY'
mot Intentionally. They came to me
by luck But you know auntle can't
stand TO lose, When she does she gets
ruftied and can't sleep. When she
caught me was dealing her splen-
had everything her own way"