Evening star., 1915-01-15

dreamed of wearing flowers and listen
ing to music: she dreamed of slipping
her small feet into silk stockings and
of putting a shimmering satin petit
coat on over her head.
Eight years at machine, power
driven at utmost speed, and a badly
ventilated room and surrounded by all
sorts of human contact, wholesome and
diseased. were not calculated either to
make beauty or preserve it. Often when
Electra saw the mill race of life en-
gulf pretty girls she was glad that she
was plain. AS for the very beautiful
expression of her small pale face, she
did not live among class of people
who appreciated it.
One terrible fall day She came home
to find one of her brothers waiting for
her. Their meeting was almost like
that between strangers.
"Bobs dead" he said
Bob was her oldest brother. She had
always liked him the best of the three.
Tears came to her eyes.
YES" said Henry, composedly.
'Bob's dead, and he left quite a bit of
property. He hadn't any heirs, but Joe
and me and you. I've brought you your
were, Tell her to spend it in the way
that will give her the most happi-
ness"
THANK you. Henry" Electra said.
she sat looking dazedly at the paper
he had given her. 1t was a check for
$1,000.
Henry went back to Manitoba next
day. and all was as it had been be-
fore he came. Yet there was the thou
sand dollars. At last Electra held
| the substance of her dreams in her
hands. She thought it all out care
fully. Il can put this money in the
| bank against rainy day and go on
working at the machine Or / can
spend the money. as 1 have dreamed
OF spending money. If 1 spend it ]
shall have little happiness; if ]
don't spend it / never shall have any
at aH And l can always go back to
| the machine"
She decided to spend the money
She took the few things she had ano
went clear across the town to boart
at Mrs. Pelrs. Mrs. Pell had beau.
tiful house, and she was a noted cook
The Pells had been people of some
consequence before they lost thei,
money. Electra had Mrs. Pelrs tower
| room. There was green velvet rue
on the floor. fine. old-fashioned furni
ture and mirror taller than she was
When she trod on the rug and looked
into the mirror she was happier thar
she had ever been in her life. Sh,
paid Mrs. Pell SIS a week for room
and board. A hundred and ffty.dollar
| would last her just ten weeks. But tel
weeks is long time.
i She bought some magazines ant
fashion journals. and for two days sh
did nothing but eat and sleep an,
things and went to the nearest city
She took a room at hotel, and TO
two days more she shopped. 1t wa
very odd. but she seemed to get TIL
fright things unerringly. And some
thing about her made the salespeopl
treat her honestly. When she cam
back to Mrs. Pell's she had had tn
| greatest experience of her life. Sh
wore dark blue tailored suit, a Sc
of black fox furs and little velve
hot ha hal al
worth of clothes.
Mrs. Pell liked Electra from TIN
first. Moreover. She was intereste'
in this girl who, two weeks before
now wore a fifty dollar suit as well a
most people could She gave 1Glectr
some valuable ideas. and she took he
about a good deal
1t was a marvellous time. One nigh
| Electra came down to dinner in he
| pink voile dress and found a new
boarder among the old ones-a younj
| surveyor, who was doing some eXper
work for big corporation. Hi
name was John Eustace He SCENE,
to like the looks of Electra in he
pink dress, and he talked to her goo
deal.
After couple of weeks he aske
her to go to "a concert with him, an
Electra went. He sent her some vel
low roses to wear with her pink voilt
From that time they were togethe
much And Electra knew that tn
lover of her dreams had come. But sh
was not happy. for she felt that sh
was deceiving him.
One shorp winter afternoon when the
: were returning home from "a walk sh
took fate in her hands and told hiI
the truth. I'm just mill girl" sh
said. "And I'm spending my none
, as fast as ! can. When it is gone
shall have to return to the mill. Tha
will be by spring, probably.
| Ir.,.ptl,, Oh
lifted fearful eyes to John Eustace'
. face. He was looking down at her an
smiling.
I've known all this from the frs