The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1915-11-10

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Mary Duane came out Of the store
into the fine gray rain that was max
ing the streets dsznp and dlsagxoe-
able. She had no umbrella and -
rubbers. yet she hesitatsd bsfors the
necessity OF taking . street car. voe
q nickel assumes tremendous pro
portions when one u earning only s.
u week.
"If get wet and spoil my shoes
and take q cold and get locked On
my wages II will come to more than
many nickels." she concluded and
hurried abroad . waiting car. a
man near the door gave her his seat
and she leaned back cozily.
i've made . good Investment"
she thought. shelter from the rain.
the safety OF my clothes and . nice
ride and . seat to rest In. al for s
cents. rye got moro than that, too.
Let me see. This ID my French
limousine lined with mahogany and
corded velvet. I'm wearing sable
furs and I'm going homo to Z won.
derful dinner-roast chicken and
salad and coffee" She shut her eyes
and smiled a. her imaginatiou
whisked her away from her environ
ment.
"Second-st.l" called the conductor
and she came back to reality. The
rain had become q downpour. She
was going to get wet, after all. She
gave q grasp Of dismay 40 she step
ped forward. Then she perceived
that the man who had given her I
seat was Offering her his umbrella
Pleased" he said.
She glanced at his raincoat ant
some way her hand closed upon tn,
handle Of the umbrella. "Thanl
you!" she murmured and went.
How unfortunate that my limou
sine must break down Just . blocl
from home" she said to herself
However, I shan't get wet with thil
umbrella over me-" She glanced VI
at 1t. my goodness, It's . silk un
Lrella! Well. there's nothing I cal
do about it now but 30 thankful I'll
keeping me dry. What . funn,
thing to happen to me in this rain!
She began to sing softly:
| 1T isn't raining rain to me-
| It's raining violets."
Clear to the top OF the dingy TIRES
story building she had to climb Il
dnd her room. She took the umbrel
In In with her and spread It to DR.,
upon a newspaper. Her shoes IN,
stockings were damp and she place,
them upon the radiator-an alto
gether inadequate and usually luke
warm one. Then she took on he
work clothes and put on . tricl
wool kimono and thrust her small
feet into romeos. Nov for tn
roast chicken and salad" she said
! Deity she shook some tea into
cup. filled the cup with water fror
her pitcher and set II to steep. Sh
opened . bag Of rolls and took
banana from her cold storage box o
the outer ledge OF the. window. Tn
tea dubbed cheerily. II was refresl
ing, and Mary drank 1t to tho las
dreg. As she sat and drank she eye
the umbrella.
"What . beautiful, kind thing 70
that man to dol" she thought.
hope he's got money enough to q
ford it. And l also hope that he ism
in the habit Of handing out silk un
brellas to shabby shop girls. III
didn't look like that kind. He locke
like one of Prof. Balsauso's pupil
whom I used to see at the conservs
tory, only he wore Q mustache. an
this man"
Memory pulled her back into tn
lpast. and she sat recalling those hal
ny, hopeful days when she had bee
so sure that she was going to b
able to do something with her voice
But an attack Of bronchitis had d.
stroyed her voice and she had no
training enough TO teach. Moreover
her money was gone to the doctors
In order to live she had turned DEF
perately to the first thing she coul,
6o-store work. After two years sh
was earning but IS week.
six dollars 10 better than moth
ing. II you can't have whole loa
take your half loaf without grum
bling. II at least will keep you from
starving. have shelter, warmth
food and employment. I have thii
thick robe to creep into at night
and q few books and my make-be
lieves!" She sprang up singing
airily:
The girl who was born on IN Apri
| day