The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1914-08-20
DAILY SHORT STORY.
strawberry GIRL.
By DOROTHY DOUGLAS.
Copyright. lslI.)


Anne glanced angrily at the man &c
whom she was engaged. His fronical
laugh had quickened her smoldering
wrath. For several weeks Jim Dalton
had taken pleasure in haunting her
about the interest she had taken in the
movement Of advanced womanhood
You COULDN'T make a living If you
tried" he had said not q moment be-
fore. 1T is easy enough to talk about
these fine theories, but you've got to
show me how you can earn salary
before you can convince me of this su-
perior intelligence" Jim's words were
more than half jest. but his masculin Q
lack OF understanding did not inform
him that Anne was not in the mood for
jests-~
And I say that I can find some kind
Of employment in the first newspaper I
pick up Anne said hotly
You are far too pretty to be en-
gagged as a housemaid," Jim told her
frankly, and you know nothing what
ever of Office work. 1 defy you to get
a position within two weeks" He was
laughing but Anne knew that he meant
exactly what he said.
Hand me that paper beside you,
please" Anne commanded with unsmiI-
ing lips.
Yes. my dear" Jim acquiesced with
irritating readiness.
Anne took the paper and glanced
swiftly through the Situations Vacant"
column. There was a trihe Of fear be-
meath her lowered eyelids. Perhaps there
was nothing, and Jim could indeed pirate
o: masculine superiority to her. Her
cheeks had taken on two bright red
spots, and Jim's admiring eyes devoured
her beauty while she scanned the COL
umn.
There exclaimed Anne in a relieved
tone. Il can go out in Jersey and pick
strawberries. The fruit is wasting on the
vines for lack of pickers, and I see the
wages are - a week and keep" She
glanced triumphantly at him.
Don't be absurdT Jim said shortly.
You are not a laboring woman"
My dear Jimmy'-Anne's tone was
eXasperatingly SWEET do not remem-
Der having stipulated any especial kind
Of employment. 1 have picked many a
quart of Strawberries in my own garden.
I do not mind the sun. 1t Is a living
wage can earn and"-she shot a wicked
glance at the disconnected mani am
showing you my feminine intelligence"
IF you go out with lot of hoodlums
and pick berries in the boiling sun you
will be showing me your feminine foolish
ness"
Very well, Jimmy, dear"-she used
again ner sweetest Tone 'DuC neVerthe-
less 1 intend to do It" She sailed out
of the room and left her angry fiance
glowering at the tops OF his boots.
Anne's deed was as good as her word
Another day saw her comfortably en-
sconced on a suburban train on her way
TO the Jersey strawberry farm. It had |
never been one of Anne's faults to shirk
work Of any kind, and II was with a per- |
feet sense Of ease and command of |
nerves that she approached the manager |
OF the farm Her neat Bingham dress
and tidy hair appealed to the man and !
Anne was sent out among the pIckers.
A huge sunbonnet protected her delicate
complexion from the ravages of the SIN.
and aside from stained finger tins she
suffered little during her first days OF
employment
After shutdown 1t was Anne's privilege
to assume her own atmosphere OF social
at least so far as clothes were
and when she stroIIed orUt
through the country lanes she was not
much like the Anne of the strawberry
patches. In place she wore soft cIingy
trock and wide Powered hat, while a riot
Of waving hair took the place Of severely
dressed locks
She loved to walk through the mead
ows and snif in the fresh air that blew
across the great stretches OF grain and
often she dropped down In the tall grass
to ponder on the strsngeness of lives