Smyrna times., 1915-07-07
A Hopeless Hope

as the other girIs?''
eyes, why yes-of course. l /
know what you mean - Miss French
answered slowly. ysu are wondering
why she dresses so plainly and has
so little extra OF any kind. necessi-
ties. we call them"
Eyes, that is what I mean. But
l think she has the sweetest face
ever saw and love her already.
"Of course you do; everyone loves
her" "
But you haven't answered me-"
The reason Hope Macintosh
dresses so shabbily and spends so lit
tie on herself is either that she is a
real Christian Of the sort we seldom
meet. or else she is unbalanced.
Opinion is divided as to which it is"
The conversation ended there. but
the newest stenographer did not let
the matter drop She found out dur
ing the next few weeks that Hope had
all kinds of demands on her modest
salary. The girl who was alone in
the world and actually responsible
for no one took upon herself to
carry burdens of every description
which properly belonged to others.
The other girls were used to seeing
the lame boy come every week to sell
a silly magazine which Hope never
would read. They guessed that the
bundles which she brought to work
anG never took away went home via
a poor scrub woman.
One girl bad followed her and had
seen her passing flowers on scorch-
ing July noon to little wilted chill
dren in the tenement district. And
in all probability she ia doing a hum
dred other things that we don't dream
of. they said.
They had pleaded with her that she
owed something to herself, had warned
her that what little she could do was
Of no apparent value. and hung up
pictures Of the poorhouse to her, but
she only laughed and flung back a
merry retoTt. And so they had grown
used to her and had given up offering
advice. It was even whispered that
two of the other girls had bumped
into each other in the corridor as they
ran after the lame boy one day; any
way, il was fact that three copies
of his magazines were left every
+ week.
A grouchy boss began to bring
huge bouquets Of garden flowers and
csrelessly invited anyone who wished
to dispose of them.
So the Office long since had taken
Hopes queer ways for granted. But
the ue9 stenogi apher was too new to
know this. She and Hope had become
excellent friends doubtless under
the rule oppOsites attract. Finally
it was noticed that the two had ar
ranged to have their noon hour at thC
same time and then il was rumored
that Hope was at last in competent
hands and was TO be protected anC
brought back to her senses. Tn,
new stenographer was getting quite
important and the older girls VIII,
understood watched with amusing in
terest TO see what the outcome woulC
be.
miss Macintosh and | are goinl
up TO Lanes and intend to help he
choose q suit-and il is to be a goo
suit, - was announced one day
with emphasis. The girls gasped.
"Hope a brand new suit. "
Yes. from head to foot she is I
be arFayed as she ought to be. |
is time she knew her real lovelines
and dressed like a civilized being
YOU won't know her." she exulted.
The news spread and the girls coul
hardly contain themselves or kee
from asking questions outright whe
the two returned late. Hopes gra
eyes and tranquil face looked III
same as always. but the new gil
wore a subdued air and hardly spOh
10 any one.
For a whole week the girls waite
in vain for any sign of new QUIT
adorning Hopes figure. For a wee
the atmosphere Of that Office wi
strained to every one but Hope, WI
placidly went on as usual with h
work Finally one girl could star
it no longer; she cOrnered Hope vii
q blunt question
TELL me. please. Hope MaeIntOs
tan't stand this suspense thoug
II thought that is. we thought
anyhow, what is the matter. whe
is the suit you were going to get:"
'The suit was going to get
Hope was surprised at the sudden o
slanght and breathless questions a
IL took her a moment TO recover.
s'Oh. yes. Annie. remember no
Yob mean last week. Miss Wer
worth and started out to look
sJule clothes, but remembered IN
it lkss Jakey Thompson's day to go
| the hosuital 40 / took her along wi