The Green Forest tribune., 1917-02-02
DOROTHEA s CAREER
By OLIVE ROBERTS BARTON.

DO matter who, and her share of the deceased relations estate now lay in her hand to do with as she would.
 The state of Dorothea's feelings may be more readily understood perhaps if the reader be informed of the things that had been uppermost in her mind all day. She had been living over again her triumph of the night before, when as star performer at the dedication of the new library, she had won laurels far beyond her greatest dream of sue cess. Of course everyone knew she could play; and she played the organ Sundays, and figured conspicuously on the programs in all the local concerts. But no one in Parsonsburg had ever heard her sing before. Not even Mrs. Pressing, who lived in the other half of the house, except perhaps little humming when she was hurrying through with her dishes to go to the movies with Charley.
 Dorothea, therefore, was as sur prised as anybody when on the day before the library concert she had dis covered something.
 She had found the sopranos part of the offertory for Sunday lying on top of her piano after the choir had gone home from practice. She glanced over the notes, first humming the tune, then grooming it, and finally opening her mouth and letting out the full round notes.
 Ecstacy took hold of her. She had never known what joy 1t was to sing. She would surprise Parsonburg and sing at the library instead of playing the serenade from Chaminade that she had intended.
 And so Dorothea had stood upon the platform in the auditorium of the new library and had sung, and not the least of her triumph was the look of per plexed surprise on Charley Totten's face.
 Dorothea was silent on the way home. Life, which before that day was carrying her straight into matri mony, with Charley's heart and home as port, had suddenly turned in its course and was heading for the har- Dor of career. Already grand opers was looming large, and she had visions of herself as Brunnhilde and Caruso as Siegfried wooing her with the sofi notes of his wonderful tenor.
 And so, when the check for the thou sand dropped out of the clouds to light en the way, there was no doubt in Dorothea's mind that 1t was all heaven sent. She 'phoned to Charley.
 I'm leaving in the morning for New York" she said. T wish you'd come around tonight. I've something to tel you"
 But when Charley saw his dreams ot happiness fading and the girl he adored slipping away forever he voiced pro test.
 There isn't much in that game girlie. You've got mighty fine voice, but 1t takes years of hard work, and then some, to get anywhere, and not always then. Besides, Dolly, I was just going to tell you. I've had some good news myself, and was going to ask you if you could get ready to be married next month. Uncle Ned's writ. ten for me come on and he's going to give me dandy position in his bank. You can still live in New York and you won't have to work so hard as you will at your music. I can't give you up, Dolly"
 But the magical door had shown Dorothea visions she could not forget,
 I'm sorry, Charley, but I feel that I cannot waste my life being merely domestic. 1 think it's my duty to go ahead and make the most of my talent Besides, it looks like fate when thou sand dollars drops from the skies like this. No, it's all over, Charley. hope you'll be very happy. Good-by now. I must pack"
 A year sped along. Food, lodging and lessons at ten dollars apiece had played ducks and drakes with Doro thea's fortune. There were five years of hard work ahead, years in which more money would be needed, ant years, too, at the end of which noth ing was certain. She had discovered thing or two also-that New York had thousands of musical students with as good or better voices than she had
 The money went. There was noth ing left but to go back to teaching music in Parsonburg or to find work ty, Shn xunIJld ho yk died than to own up to defeat in hel own town, so she took course 1T stenography and finally answered ar ad.
 Of course it was Charley who turned from the big mahogany desk when sh' went in. She drew back as though tt fly when she saw who 1t was, but h, was on his feet and had her hand tigh in both of his.
 Dolly! Is it really true that yo, are here"
 She saw how tired and worn h, looked, how much older-and dearer Her heart contracted and she looked aside guiltily. What silly foolish gir she had been to prefer a will-o'the wisp careerl
 "Tell me it's all over, Dolly, ant you're going to marry me- "You won't want me when you knov I failed, Charley"
 Failed? Thank heaven ]" And h. | drew her to him and kissed her.
 Copyright, 1917. by the Mcclure Newspa per Syndicate) Making Hair Fabrics.
 The making of hair fabrics is an i'm ind11ctr1r A