The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1910-07-16
DoRoTHY's VACATION.

II feel as if / had lost my opportunity in life y
wrote Dorothy Dane to her college chum, Marcia
Potter, during the first week of vacation. Every
body does not fully appreciate the sense of letting
down which comes to a student, when after year
Of Intellectual work and hard routine over, she
simply sinks into position of one of quiet-going
family. Dorothy loved books, loved hard and eager
study and was noted for the intensity of her appi-
cation. In her classes she stood very high, and
at the commencement exercises she carried off nu-
merous prizes and received honorable mention
where somebody else first. The professors were
very proud of Miss Dane. She would go out as
credit to the college, and they the inter
ested that she expected to become teacher and to
carry their methods and ways of getting at things
into other schools and places
Commencement had been over with its joys and
exctements for several weeks. Dorothy had be-
come used to waking when she pleased in the morn
ing to regulating her day, by BELLS but to suit
herself. She had valiantly laid out course of
study Of reading when she first came hore, but SO
many Interruptions broke In upon her plans that
she had not been able to adhere to her prescribed
systems, and as she finished and sealed her little
note to Marcia she sighed YEARLY. Dorothy was
experiencing the subtle but sharp pain which be
falls those who disappoint themselves. She was not
fulfilling her own ideal, and she conscious of
an acute pang because of it.
Dolly" Her father was calling her from the
foot of the stairs. He used the pet name of Her
childhood.
YES father"
Your mother needs you, my girl. Eliza has
taken herself off In a tiff and Aunt James folks
are coming to dinner, and the mother has a sick
headache. You'll have to step into the kitchen and
fly around"
To some girls this necessity would have present
ed no alarms but Dorothy's Latin and rhetoric and
algebra had neither given her training In house
wfery nor developed in her the least inclination to
what she called domestic drudgery. If the truth
must be told, it was to her thoughtessness that
ELIAS departure In the middle of summers morn
ing without adequate warning sufficient occa-
son. was due
Dorothys return to her home had made the
weekly wash" much larger than usual and the
ironing Of pretty puffed waists, ruffed and tucked
shirts and elaborate Lingerie" of every description
made a marked inroad on the time and strength
and also on the temper of Eliza, the single maid
called by courtesy, the help. 1t community
in which help was not readily obtained.
While Dorothy in a cool, white muslin dress
ing sacque beside vine-shaded window, in an easy
chair was writing to her school friend, Eliza was
mgrily contemplating the third tucked skirt she
had iron that day. She demonstrated volubly.
If Miss Dane wants to white pettlcoats,
she's got to iron them; that's all I've got to say"
and she set her flatiron down with thump.
Mrs. Dane, fragile woman with weary face,
was shellng peas In a large tin pan. 1t was not
like her to give hasty answer, but she had company
coming, and the dread of her life sick-headache,
was announcing its advent In creeping chlls down
her spine, dull, throbbing aches back of her eyes,
screwing, boring sensation in her temples, and a
wave of nausea at the pit Of her stomach. OF all
intolerable miseries sicheadache is the worst, the
most relentless, nightmare of wretchedness to her
who suffers from It's attacks Mrs. Dane always
1elt cross when a headache came. For the life of
her, she could not repress irritation, when people
1retted at her in these circumstances.
Eliza she said where's the difference! 1t
YOU doing that you haven't anything else to do.
! am sure you have had it easy for long time,
and | can't understand you. You've done nothing
b1t find fault eEer since my daughter came from
college"
Well" said the outspoken Eliza, 'swhy doesn't
She take hold and help!"
She's tired and needs the rest, Eliza" said the
mother.
80 do l." said Eliza, "and what's more, | mean
% have it. I'm going straight out to my sisters,
and iii not come back till I'm sent for, and then
I'm not going to iron three white skirts with seven
tueas apiece in 'em in any week"
This was certainly very sensible resolution for
anyone to make.
Before there was time to realize the state of
affairs Eliza majestically walked out, and Mrs
Dane, by this time in a fainting condition from
pam and worry dragged herself to her bed room
and laid her throbbing head her pillow. On her
way to that refuge she called her husband, busy !
his laboratory over a difficult solution, and he
~ turn called Dorothy.
If YOU fancy that our college girl was to be |
daunted by the difficulties before her, you do not
know either the twentieth century young woman or
The real good gained by diligent study and disci-
pine Of trained. faculties, A girl may not learn
how to make pie by understanding an equation,
Or acquiring the ability to conjugate the verb Ito
be- in four languages, but without doubt the facle
mind educated in one direction, turns easily to an
other field Of action Dorothy had found her OPP |
portunity. Before going down stairs the words OF |
the text Of the sermon she had heard the previous
Nunna,- flnchnd irntn hnr Ii Wear