The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1913-04-11
sv HAMILTON POPE GAIT.

night; Mrs Staples. whose vast pos
sessions were unfortunately tied up so
that she had no ready money. MIS-
Staples had gone away without paying
one cent for six weeks board and
lodging. and now Miss Sophia must
have work in real earnest.
Miss Sophia had 20 And work. and
decided that she would pick grapes
She confided her determination to
Miss Eugenia over their breakfast.
You have never packed any grapes
and they want only experienced pack
ers." objected Miss Eugenia.
1T pays 81 day"
You are not strong enough
1T pays 81 a day
II expect you would learn to pack
pretty quick" unused Miss Eugenia.
They would only have to show me
once"
You have to pack them points
down, stems up, don't you? That
sounds rather hard"
There are lots of people doing It.
I will put on my lS47 Rogers bonnet
and my colonial silk dress and go
out and get a place in enc Of the
sheds"
Il guess you'd better carry that mis-
sion style pockethook with you" sug'
gested Eugenia, entering into the
spirit o. her sisters fun
Yes, I'll turn the gold side outside
"Oh, no, that won't do! They'll
think you're rich and don't need
work"
1 am surprised at your ignorance OF
tae world If yr look poor II is all
the harder for you t. get work"
And with these words Miss Sophia
walked briskly down the street, swing.
ing her handsome bag. and enjoying
the crisp, bracing air
She limped home at noon, dropping
and dispirited They would not give
her work at any of the sheds She had
visited.
IN. spite of the gold .lligree!" cried
Miss Eueenia.
IAN the tiligree in the world would
not help me-" answered Sophia. 1T
Is this touching her white hair and
bent shoulders Il am too old they
will not have old people"
Well. isn't that toe bad" said Miss
F,ugpna. and then like the GOOD wo-
man she was hurried W the tea
After some tea and some lunch
Miss Sophia was braced up consider
ably She brushed the crumbs from
her silk dress. and announced that
she was ecins to spend half IA dollar.
That's lot of money to spend"
wavered Miss Eugenia.
Il know it. but | must spend it,"
What for"
Hair dye. II is case Of goodby
to my silvery locks. and welcome
work. think 80 Ger is worth will be
enough for my scant locks"
Il should think so if YOU don't have
| to dye your scalp"
That afternoon Miss Sophia started
forth again. her hair beautiful wal
nut color to within a half-inch of her
sea She felt very Young and
| sprightly rs she trudged all the way
out TO Mason's packing shed. the
packing shed farth, ST out and least
promising. the shed of Mason. the
terrible.
She carefully lifted her skirts clear
| of the sandy rsaG lr rows upon
rows. precise and regular. the grape.
vines spread. like the bristes of a
tooth brush or clothes brush. and
green. red and purrle grapes hung
heavy among the Jagged leaves
She passed a group of pickers. hap
by and jocular 10 the vergn OF romp
ing II seemed like a picnic There
were no old women among them.
Sire climbed up the worn steps and
entered the packing shed. A girl was
packing grapes swiftly 1t was not
easy. but thrilling feeling of con.
fidence passed through Miss Sophia.
She knew she could do that.
She hurried into the Office 1t was
occupied by two oblivious men. The
more oblivious of the two was bald
| headed man whose eyes popped like
a spiders and whose red rair fringe
stood out very straight He was the
dreadful Mason. There was no pos
sibility of his ever looking up.
Miss Sophia addressed the least
terrible man. There is nothing" he
said, without ever looking up.
But Miss Sophia had walked too
IA, to be dismissed so easily.
q can pack" she sad