Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1909-04-09
:6be ObliGinS
RefOrsTler.
BY STELLA cADr1Us.
/ Copyrighted. 1900. by Associated
Literary Press.
BY STELLA cADN1Us.

wealth. good looks. youth. and was n
society favorite. Now and then he
went hunting or yachting. but most
Of the time he simply dawdled. That
meant his club, the races and society.
He was accounted q catch. but no
one caught him. He didn't really try
to dawdle. but pursued his Emphatic
way simply because there seemed
nothing else TO do.
See here. you good-for-nothing,''
said the widow of the late Hen
Charles Spofford one evening at a re-
ception as she drew him down to n
seat beside her. st have a duty to
perform"
Il wish I he'd" he replied.
"People arc saying you have no
energy. no ambition. no aim In life.
You have too much money-too much
time on your hands. You are throw
ing your years away"
''1ell me what to do" replied sgd
ney, yawning.
Get married."
"'roo much trouble-too many emo.
tions."
Take trip around the world"
''TCo much change of scenery"
"Ah. have it, exclaimed Mrs. Spof-
ford after moments thought "You
are rich. Why not turn philanthro-
pistP Not IN the way of hospitals or
asyiums. but go among the poor and
give few of your dollars to alleviate
distress and misfortune. You don't
know the real people as l do. There
Is no day that I am not feeding the
hungry and giving out aims. Only
this afternoon / gave a one legged man
half dollar. and you ought to have
heard his words Of gratitude"
lust So" replied Sydney Gerald.
with bit of smile as he thought of
the many one legged men he had
tossed quarters to.
TRY 1t for q few weeks-for three
months. 1t may lead to your becom-
ing n reformer. At any rate. It will
rouse you W and give you something
new TO think of. II is positively sin
full for you TO be dnwdling along thu
way"
"Yes, | think So"
eff you should turn out to be re-
former l shall take most of the credit
to myself. Three months. Mr.. Gerald
try II for three months. ard ut the
end of that time I VIII arrange for
little gathering 20 hear your report.
II cannot fill to be interesting. Yol
will have n hundred different incidents
to relate. Don't you feel a new and
strange ambition already?"
Yes. think l do. Yes, | think /
VIII turn reformer. l may not make a
success OF II. but I'll mako q try"
The relict OF the Hon. Charles spread
the news, As sydney Gerald did not
entirely drop society while fitting him
self for rcformer. he was laudel
and qulzzed on numerous occasions by
numerous people.
Only scanty few credited him with
the necessary energy to pursue the
object. and the most that was predict
cd Of his efforts was the depletion of
his purse without corresponding gain.
There was great deal said about the
unthankfulness and ingratitude of the
world In general. but II didn't seem to
affect him much.
You know you must not look for
too much gratitude" cautioned Mrs.
Spofrord.
mo. shan't."
"You Will feel that you have done
your duty, and your conscience will
reward you"
Just So"
Many and many time have given
pennies and got never a word of
thanks. In fact, / have got black
looks as the wheels OF my carriage
happened to throw little mud. but !
drove on feeling that had made the
world trifie better. That feeling
must be your reward"
Eyes, / shall look for It,"
When the three months had exnired
Sydney Gerald announced his readi.
ness to report. A score OF ladies' gath
cred In the drawing room of the Hon
Charies' widow. There We're no men
among them. Charity and reform did.
not touch that sex.
When he was ushered In II was 70.
marked that he seemed to have nc
quired energy and gained ambition
ana there vas great curiosity as to
what he would report.
Ladies, beg to say" began Sydney
that In my ignorance OF how to 90 to
work l began my Investigations I'm the
mousse or n wealthy ladT. 1t came
about almost by accident. founa
that she was In arrears to all her sarv,
anus ana that tradesmen were clamor
ing Tor their bills. l relieved the dis.
tress. i gave each servant two months.
back pay and paid each tradesman
something on account. have mem
orandum of her name"
Here Sydney Gerald paused. Mrs
Sponord turned pale. but her nerve
was with her, and she managed to
force a smile.
by accident again." resumed Syd.
ney, II turned corner one evening
and bumped against a young woman
IN tears. j was stranger, but when |
she understood that / had taken I'M |
the business of reformer she told me
the caase Of her distress. She was n |
"She had worked a week ON a gown |
Tor well known lady and on carry |
Ing 1t TO the house had been told that |
she must wait n couple OF weeks for |
her pay. She was going home penni- |
less. hungry and the rent unpaid. The |
lady In the case bought diamond
tiara next day that was mentioned in
all the papers. She could have paid
the bill thousand times over. but |
she needed the diamonds first. paid
the seamstress."
Ihere was an uneasy movement up
and down the room, and for some rea-
son all eyes were directed on Mrs.
Somerville. She was conscious of the