The herald., 1912-01-11

.-e rewarded and selfishness is abomi-
,ated. Then when they reach an age
n understand something about the
vorld they are about to enter we tell
Them that these stories are mere ro-
nance. with nothing practical In them.
sucb was the way | was brought up.
When / was eighteen. the transition
csme Ny mother a few years before
had taken for a maid Of all work
that ia, small odds and ends such as
a child could perform-a girl Of four
teen. ! understood that Ethel had
heen taken partly for charity and part
" because my mother found such a
helper convenient My mother gave
ms all to understand that her principal
reason was charity. though she really
needed young girl for certain duties.
But I had not then reached an age
where was to be instructed that self
sacrifice was simply romance.
I did not treat Ethel as a servant.
and was not required to so treat her.
But my parents did consider that there
was danger for my worldly interest in
this demure little girl. 1t was not till
I went to college that l realized that
this danger existed. The morning l
started | went to find Ethel to say
ecodby to her. l found her busting
me parlor.
Ethel" said gayly. II have come
to say goodby."
She went on busting without paying
any attention to me. keeping her back
toward me. Taking her by the arm, /
turned her and discovered the cause Of
her keeping her face from me. There
we're tears I'm be- yes. Whether 1t
was due to my - alton or to a nat
ual instinct !, hnow-I may have
been largely influenced by the ro-
mances of kings and princes marrying
beggar maidens-but certain 1t Is I
Kissed the tears away. Then. the car
rage being ready for my departure, l
left the little girl with a sweet taste
On my lips and tender emotion about
the heart.
Whether my mother suspected that
Ethel missed me or that she consider
Cd me quite old enough to understand
that love affairs between kings and
teggar maids was pure romance I
DON'T know; but. though I often spoke
df Ethel among others in my letters,
mother never referred to the little girl
In one Of hers. Instead she wrote me
that now / was entering upon that
stage Of life where a young mans
fancy turns to love / should be care
ful In my attentions to young women,
not becoming involved with any that
It would not be advantageous for me
. marry. She had often when / was
child read me those king and beggar
maid stories with evident delight to
herself, and was not yet old enough
70 understand the change. But I was
Old enough to begin to think for my
self, and I resolved that would act
hcnerably toward any young woman
With whom might become involved.
But what a difference between the
ige Of experience and the age of TO
nance! And how singular that after
experience comes romance remains!
1rue. when older we simply daily with
u up It like delicious wine, but do not
get intoxicated with 1t sufficiently to,
mjure ourselves.
when went home for my first va
eafion Ethel was not there. 1 asked
my mother about her, and she said that
ue girl had concluded to learn some
metnod OF making her living more to
ner taste than being a servant. and,
upon the winding up of her fathers
etate, having received some means,
sne mad entered business college. !
new that my mother had taken the
un from family that had been well
% 90. and at time when her father
nad Just died insolvent.
made no inquiries at home as to
wnat college Ethel was attending, but
samed 1t elsewhere. Then l went to
see ner. She had grown and filed out
ma improved in every way. She re-
~aved me without any reference to
me tender scene that had occurred at
ne time Of my departure for college.
. was evident from her manner that
f servant days were over and that
me stood on the American basis that
woman in the new fields open to her
On social par with the generality
" men and women. Not that she OBJ
usoed this cnange upon me: Z simply
n aware that it existed. 1 left her
user a friendly meeting, having borne
sseir toward her as would any 9TH
acquaintance with whom I had
Wed under the same roof, but con-
@aled my feelings.
saw Ethel whenever I came from
S'iese for vacation. but said nothing
nome about my calls. When I re-
ned after being graduated found
ms In the house a young woman
my mother had persuaded to
~ aer. doubtless hoping to make a
0cn between he- and me. At any
- me girl was s,th $500. 900 in her
own right.
"nat q change from the king and
49, maid stories mother had read
U mother! She was doomed to
pointment I did not want a for
-. eacy made for me at the begin
ing Of INV lifa ana g., A., ,-..,,. %