The Mobridge news. [volume] (Mobridge, Walworth Co., S.D.) 190?-1917, 1914-02-06
My Career
BY EDNA WOOL.WORTH

. In these days poor girls tit them.
selves for a life Of labor because they
expect to be obliged to support them
selves, and wealthy girls-at least some
or them-because they don't relish n
choice between matrimony and idleneSS.
1 belong to the latter class. One au-
tu,nn not many years ago !. then TWEEN
~ years old. thoroughly imbued with
the belief that al men were selfish and
il welded the man | married would
take me for my fortune and. having
spent 1t. desert or i'll treat me, decided
to go to the city and prepare myself
for a career.
l belonged TO several societies in my
native town. one of which was devot-
ed TO the cause of temperance. Dur
badge was q bit of blue ribbon tied In
the buttonhole Of the men members
and somewhere on the cOrsage Of
the ome l was an enthusiastic
advocate Of the temperance aus aud
always my colors.
The day | alighted from the train IN
my quest for a career Il young man
with a pleasing face and as pleasing q
smile on il stepped up to me and, tax
ing from me Il satchel | carried. said:
Here you are. Cousin Bess!'
Now. my name happened to be Eliza
beth. Had il not been so | should
have probably told the young man that
he was mistaken in tie person. As it
was, | thought for a moment that some
Of my numerous cousins living III the
city whom | had never = had cot
i wind Of my coming and had concluded
To meet me.
You are l asked.
I'm Ned Olcott. We received your
letter mentioning the blue ribbon. Ev-
erything is prepared for you. We
have succeeded in getting a position
for you in the high school. You're to
teach history. l believe that's what
YOU wanted. isn't it,"
! We We're moving with the throng
and by this time had reached the sta
ton exit. There was something so i'll
yenuous, so kindly, as we'll as dignified,
in the young mans face and manner
that my heart went right out TO him.
| was seized with a curiosity to know
what he would do with me. I hesitat-
ed a few moments whether ! would In
form him Of his mistake or delay.
Meanwhile he called q cab, and the
driver came dashing up TO the curb.
care you sure:' | began ana stopped.
.'Quitc SO. Mother said | was TO
bring YOU straight home. Get in"
yielded. After all, was not this
4 relative? At any rate, | would act
| for awhile as If he We're. Perhaps he
v{e-dloIo -ns to appdeSt- dyNeu=
ing standing well back from the street.
with very white curtains and some
we'll polished brass at the front door.
An old lady. with q iovabie face and
snow white hair, backed by twU,young
Girls. received me. welcoming ne with
a kiss.
"Why. Cousin Bess,'' exclaimed the
elder girl, ''how you've changed! o
don't look at all as you did when we
| played together ten years ago
elizabeth must be tired and hungry.
Helen, show her to her room. Dinner
will be ready i'll half hour"
l was glad to escape. for That time
at least, from my e%quivOcal position.
Helen left me to think over what !
should do. ] had gone so far that any
course l might pursue would result III
modification. l would not be able to
make these kind persons believe that
I had been drawn into their brothers
mistake. was sure there was q mis-
take, for just before going upstairs |
had been asked how | had left my
Stepmother. and | had no StepmOther.
was too confused to make much
Of q toilet. I employed my lin try
ing TO think Of a way out Of my diem
ma. Not finding any way to suit me, |
resolved To await q favorable opportu-
nifty TO make it appear that had been
taken up by relatives that had never
seen. When the half hour had passed
I went downstairs. and there in tray
cling dress stood the real Bess. the
mother. the son and the two daughters
regarding her as if not knowing what
10 make of her. As l entered the room
they looked at me. equally dumfound-
ed. I saw that the denouement had
come. / noticed that my double wore
a blue ribbon.
(which Of you is Elizabeth" asked
the mother.
elizabeth what:" l asked.
Elizabeth Stanton, OF course
II am Elizabeth Elliot" I said.
And I am Elizabeth Stanton" said
the newcomer.
For a moment | affected to be much
puZzled, then said: II had my doubts
about the gentleman being my cous-
in, but 1 have relatives in the city !
have V seen and supposed he
might he one of them. But since my
arrival / have come to believe a mis-
take has been made"
"You took away my escort said the
other Cousin Bess. smiling, land have
been obliged to find my way here
alone. l see you wear the blue ribbon
eOraaI ppop"