Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-07-18

anxiety and nervousness. about her
mouth disappeared in assmile and her
wan, white cheeks flushed to q rosy
glow.
Meredith looked curious1y about the
room. The once and the duties OF the
advice editor OF q newspaper seemed
always to have for him strangeness
and reluctantly acknowledged In
terest.
"Busy?" he inquired. ANY time for
intruders?"
"There is no intruder present. see
a welcome guest"
Meredith picked up q pile OF type
written sheets. what lot OF stun
YOU write every day he commented
and what q waste OF talent fou
ought to do better work than THIS.
A little OF the new brightness faded
from her eyes, but her lips smiled
"The managing editor is satisfied. He
thinks I earn my salary.
".Advice to maidens. Love. dress,
business, social misunderstanding
that concerns damsels. Here Is one
paragraph.
".Poor little girl. you have a real
heartache. The cure rests with your
self. Resolve that this sorrow was
sent as a means OF mental and moral
development. It is In your power to
turn YOUR misfortune into a blessing.
Learn that by pain is character made
fine and true. Regard this unhappi-
ness as IA stepping stone to greater
self. Let 1t make you new girl, one
of nobler purposes, wider sympatnies
and higher ideals and standards.
WHY do you write such things?"
Because there are girls and women
who tell their troubles to me. They
find comfort in doing 1t and they want
my advice"
What sympathy can you have with
the woes of ''Perplexed Polly" 'Mignon-
cite Marie and Little Bright Eyes? ?
What do you know of sorrow that you
can give help to an aching hearth
"Of course know nothing of sor-
row. A woman who is compelled to
work for her living in large city
never comes in contact with the cruel
things Of life She has no discourage
ments. no disillusions no heart-aches.
She has no experiences that give her
the desire and the ability to help other
women.
The bitterness of her voice did not
reach the Sectors consciousness.
81 hate to think, Helen, that you are
satisfied to do this insincere and vapil
work. You do no one any real good.
You will become in time writer OF
silly drivel, unable to do better things.
A woman can not do any work long
without receiving from it an ineradica-
BILE stamp. You will become"
The pain in her eyes stopped him.
~ mean" he went on, that I wish
you would devote your time to real
literature, to hard study, to the lines OF
work that will tend to deepen your
character"
A smile OF satirical amusement
twitched her lips. She looked at
Meredith meditatively. He was SIX
feet Of health, strength and good looks,
perfectly groomed and extensively
tailored. He had the care free look
of the man whom wealth has protected
from anxiety.
II have to earn my living" she re
minded him.
|, "Marry me and you will have every
thing YOU want. You will have time
then to do things that are worth
while
81 can not marry you" she said
quietly. The tired lines had come
back to her face and the bright Color
was gone. II can not
That afternoon Meredith, coming
from a building in the poorest section
of the city, saw Helen Hayne enter
house a block away. The neighborhooo
was one which he visited only 70
verify his agents reports OF needeo
repairs on his property.
He hurried to the tenement Helen
had entered. In the hall weary look
ing woman motioned him upstairs.
On the second floor he stopped. The
partitions were thin and the doors
hung loosely on their hinges. He could
hear a harsh, sobbing voice inter
rupted occasionally by Helen's clear
soft words.
Il can't stand things any longer
girl was CRYING. "I'ye tried, Miss
Rayne. to be brave and good and
work hard as you said / must But I'm
worn out What's the use OF living
when there is never bit or fun, no
body to care about you and you've lost
your lob and are too sick to get an
other? You've given me so much good
kind service through the paper. But
! never thought of your coming down
here to talk to me-"
He caught fragments OF what Helen
was saying. II can find you place to
work-in the country where there Is
pure air. fresh milk and fruit and
where the people are very kind. You
will be paid for all you do and you
will get we'll and strong.
When Helen came out Meredith was
waiting for her.
as it your habit" he asked, ito visit
every girl who writes her woes tc
your paper?"
ut is not. But sometimes there
comes to me letter Of discourage
ment and unhappiness so real that il
strikes a responsive chord. /, too, am
struggler for my daily bread. II
can find the girl, and her case Is as
sad as she thinks it is. I try to help
her. | can not do great deal. But
sometimes I send broken hearted
girl to a new environment In which
she can forget her trouble. Sometimes
I find for sick girl a place IN the