The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-10-14

1 ing, from the one I was pursuing in the even tenor of my way, and had to jump ! into this new one, without ap iota of ex- perience, with double the responsibility and twice as much work"
 But 1t had it's compensations of course in the way of monetary gain?" I ob- l served
 "Yes, but think I'd rather have earned | less and gotten away for awhile; or why couldn't the change have taken place later or anything, except what really did occur?"
 And I suppose everybody thinks from your looks, just as I do, that you spent a dandy time at the seashore or in the mountains" l suggested.
 Exactly" she replied. ''One of the hottest days in August I met friend of mine, who accosted me in the public highway, and said:
 Come In and have a lemonade with me and tell me all about your vacation. Husband and I are going to take our trip before very long, and I want to get some of the roses in my cheeks and the elas- ticity in my walk that you have; so out with it.
 "SVhen I had chance to put in word i edgewise I promptly told her that I had never been outside of town this summer, and that I certainly didn't know I had roses in my cheeks or elasticity in my gait, but that had been hard at work all summer Then she quietly replied:
 Well, you always were a remarkable girl-at school and everywhere else.'
 And, of course, you felt like killing her.. I observed.
 Indeed, I did, and just thought to my self, that's the way with people who can do things-they always have to do them and in my next incarnation l hope I'll be a silly little fool that can't even add two columns of figures. but just sit and have to be waited on and cared for"
 "Well, you'd be very unlike your fine, l capable self, and I am afraid very few of your friends would recognize you," said.
 Again, that's what they all say. said the girl, but let me finish about my summer After I had gotten my new work pretty well under headway, I was just about to get ready to ask for my va- cation, when there was illness in the family and I had to play nurse. For four long weary weeks I struggled with sick ness and had to do my work just the l same, until I felt like the bottom had dropped out of the earth for me. I just hated people who were at Atlantic City and Newport, and the Alaska Yukon ex- position, and abroad, and couldn't quite see the justice in 1t until I'd meet another friend, who would tell me that looked perfectly fine and not day older than looked 10 years ago, and then I'd take g new lease on life, even though I was still bit angry with fate"
 "Id call your story a hard luck one, if i you didn't look so fine and really happy,' { l said laughingly
 Tt does savor of that variety somewhat, doesn't t?'' said she. But you needn't, because my inning has come at least and I am off tomorrow for trip of q month to New York. where I am going to make up for all the drudgery and disappoint- ment I've had this summer. My family laughed very much today, when just as l was putting the last article in my big Saratoga, an old maid aunt appeared 1 upon the scene, and when she found me getting ready to go away was greatly disappointed. as she said she wanted me 1 to copy on the typewriter a story she had just finished for the Ladies' Home Journal. and when I kicked at this last outrage she couldn't understand it. and said she didn't think 1 needed a vacation at all, because I looked so well and healthy'
 That was the straw that broke the camels back" laughingly remarked as heard her story.
 Precisely, and that's why I argue that 1t is far better to look tired and worn out, and sickly," said the girl, flor if you don't people wil lthink that you are a perfect horse or some sort of beast in jungIe-land that Teddy has missed kill ing, and that you can stand anything and never need an ounce of sympathy" |