The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1912-12-26
GIRLS HELPING HAND
BY AMELIA GRANT.

do you really want to help
began the young woman artist.
"Emphatically no." interrupted the
young woman stenographer. Il don't
care how worthy the object is, III
never again lend a helping hand
only cold cash propositions appeal to
me-"
The artist dried her brushes, folded
her hands and waited. Go ahead and
tell It," she commanded.
you know of Mrs. Vanderskipper?"
asked the stenographer.
President of the Humanity Uplift-
ers' society? Yes, why?"
"She is a friend of a cousin of mine
Il never did like that cousin, either.
One hot evening Mrs. Vanderskipper's
automobile stopped In front of our
boarding house, and I had visions of
a ride in the park. Mrs. Va%nderskip-
per didn't carry the same thought. I
learned that a prize Of 500 had been
offered to the member of the Uplift-
ers' society who would write the best
essay on "A Helping Hand to Self
Supporting Women Mrs. Wander.
skipper wanted to have me help her
write the essay"
The artist grinned.
Il wanted to laugh, too" said the
stenographer, but / left the comfort.
able porch and for three solid hours
we sweltered over the notes she had
written. Then we rearTanged them
for me to copy after Office hours. Mrs.
vanderskipper accepted some of my
suggestions, but refused to cut out
| some sentimental IDEAS"
And your suggestions won her the
prize!" The artist spoke as If she
knew all about winning prizes.
Exactly. But that is only the first
chapter.
ION, the strength Of the 500 check"
went on the stenographer. "Mrs. Van
derskipper wished to give me what
she called a real treat. If she had
paid me at space rates for copying
her essay I would have been satisfied.
but she could not think Of money in
connection with services rendered.
She invited me to a concert TO which
she had free tickets. / alphabetically
refused, as I do not care for music.
Anyway, I wanted the treat to be on
her, not on the management of the
concert. I had seer all the good plays
in town and I refused to waste an
evening on a poor one"
You are rather particular"
ooh, am I? Well, anyway. Mrs.
Nanderskipper invited me to a table
d'hote dinner at the Hotel Caroline.
She had once lived there and she
recommended the dinners as really
better than any SIS banquet she ever
attended. l have never been to a IS
fes3d. and anyway ] was willing to ex-
bariment. She had invited several
other self-supporting women to din.
ner also. She said that some Of the
servants might still be at the hotel
who knew her when she lived there
and they might recognize her. SO it
would be a source Of great mortifica.
ton to her if her guests we're not
properly attired."
The artist grinned.
SoA6Al II AuOo, 81 LAdt u4SAI I
told the boarders that I'd have to buy
a new dress, just because I had been
indiscreet enough to lend a helping
hand to a poor society woman. One
man suggested that I go at once to
Mrs. V%anderskipper and say. Madam,
that dinner will cost you $1-give me
rs cents and I'll stay at home Az
other man advised me to make it 80
cents-said even then she would be
saving money. Miss Bosely said she
would be glad to lend me her evening
1ress for the occasion, but the cousin
Who gave it to her had once lived at
ne Hotel Caroline and the servants
night recognize it.
Every day that week during the
oon hour I bought a dress or took
ne back. The last afternoon ct 4
. clock had a cream wool skirt, two
'"iifon wells, a pair of Turkish slip,
I IS and a linen dress. BY that time
was SO desperate that l didn't care
3ilether | made a good impression on
We servants at the lotel Caroline or
...at. SO I rushed :ato a store and
J, nelt a blouse.
Fiat isn't the worst of it. At the
inner Mrs. V>.dersf.oper told every
-,i:e that it tool her less than an hour
10 write the essay which won the 500
mize. thought Of the hst SUMMER
nights work in nv l>om and the long
after hours that ! devoted to typing
the essay, to say nothing of the time
passed in shopping"
Gust to eat a 81 dinner with q
woman!" finished the artist.
Precisely. It made me so angry
that now l haven't the slightest de-
sire ever again to give a helping hand
to any one. That Is why l refuse to
help you. Oh, I'm now the least oblig.
ing creature you ever saw!"-Chicago
Daily News.
--t-
Youthful Chesterfield.
Th{r ~ A.. - -