The Falls City tribune., 1910-06-10
A Profession
For a Lady
BY ALICE DUER MILLER
Copyrighted by Short Stories &c

Copyrighted by Short Stories Co, Ltd
The question is" said Aunt Julia,
how my brother ever came TO lose
so much money"
The question is" said Aunt Hen
rietta. how Jane is to support her
self"
The question is" said Aunt Lily,
what are we going to do for her?'
And to Judge by the ladies' express
sion this was the most pertinent of
the three.
Really, Lily" said Aunt Henrietta.
who was the only n of the three
sisters who had married, and was re-
spected accordingly, II do not feel
under further obligations toward Jane.
She has been, we'll. let us say unfor-
tunate in some of her speeches to me"
What n pity 1t is that Jane has no
taste for needlework. Some of those
skate-bags at the fair brought very
good prices and were not hard to do
said Aunt Lily.
"Neodlework!" said Aunt Henrietta,
with "A sniff. DO you know that one
of her ideas was to become a dress
maker?"
HOh, dear" said Miss Lily, 81 should
not like to see the name of Woodman
on n sign in the Window"
IF" Aunt Henrietta remarked, she
had an ounce of energy or executive
ability she might attempt something
like this. She fumbled in her reticule
and produced an oblong envelope. Il
received this circular this morning.
1t struck me at once as an excellent
idea" She put on her glasses and
read:
MISS GATES,
Room SOB, Goliath Building. New York
city.
Ladies' unwilling to undertake the physi-
cal eXertion and mental anxiety of Christ
mas shopping may be assured that by
employing Miss Gates their purchases
will be carefully and economically Sc
leeted, attractively tied UP, and promptly
delivered. Miss Gates will buy deslgnat-
ed articles at definite prices, or If II be
desired TO avoid the whole problem Miss
Gates will undertake., on being furnished
with "A list of the names, ages and oceu-
pations of those on whom 1t Is intended
~ 't9ApN III EiIlH - btltAA hiiAh iFi'ht
such suitable objects to each, MS will IN
sure complete satisfaction to all.
Charges Will be five per cent. of amout
of purchase.
out of tow eXpressage extra.
Nov that" said Aunt Henrietta,
laying down her glasses, us what |
call an intelligent idea. 1t will be
we'll worth my while to save myself
the fatigue of elbowing my way about
the crowded shops, to say nothing OF
a trip to New York. Old Mrs. Forbes
Is going to send to her for a case OF
champagne. and knitting needles and
all sorts of things; and Mrs. Herbert,
who | am sure spends thousands at
Christmas time, has turned over
everything to this woman-iust sent
her a descriptive list of all her rela'
tions. She was telling me how anus
ing 1t was to make 1t out"
Several days later the ladies were
again discussing lane VIXEN the foot
man opened the door and announced:
Mrs. Herbert"
Mrs. Herbert ran in all sables and
pearls, and in evident distress. She
hlSStu ali llItt VI tue ldulebb vi ldlI
n flung herself from the arms oi
n to the other, while she gasped:
20, dear, Mrs. Boggs, forgive my
coming In like this, but | know Sc
few people here, and you have beer
SO kind to me, and I'm in such ar
awkward position"
my dear, what is the matter? Fred
ariclx a placc pf chprrv for Mra Her
bert. Sit down, my dear!"
Mrs. Herbert sat down in the cen
ter of the circle, undoing her furs
while the ladies bent forward In at
titudes of sympathetic attention.
well, you know that dreadful
Christmas shopper, Miss Gates?" she
began. The ladies nodded.
We'll, she said she would take
charge of all my Christmas presents,
l wanted to send them to, and so
did" She was approaching tears. Il
sent a description. and little cards
with messages on them to go in each
box, and | pinned the description to
the right card. SO that there should
not be any mistake" Here her hand
kerchief went to her eyes. And
what do you think she did," A pause.
She forgot to unpin one of them
the worst"
How unfortunate! How careless!"
cried Miss Julia.
1T was for my husbands step
mother" continued Mrs. Herbert. "A
dreadful old woman-no, | don't mean
that, but l like her much less than
some of his relations, n it is most
important to keep on good terms with
her, as she owns half the mills.
shall never dare tell himi"
And what had you said of herr"
Il can't remember quite all, but
know | said, The old lady is 65,
though she is always talking about
what she means to do when she is so.
Her tastes are literary, but don't
give her books. She doesn't like them.
1t Is not so important that her pres