The Kansas City sun. (Kansas City, Mo.) 1908-1924, 1917-02-24

"NAhAN AoliNh III august anu NluStN
its doors. Then began "a discouraging
search for work. When day after day
Of the weary tramp of the hot streets
resulted In nothing, and Jennie beheld
her small store of money nearing the
vanishing point, the only alternative
of going home doomed up before her.
AS a last resort she went to the ex-
changes where women's work is sold,
but it needed money to buy materials,
so she took the train for home.
Her mother, glad beyond expression
to see her, could not, however, conceal
the fact that finances were at a very
low ebb. But Jennie, in the club and
her tour of the exchanges, had learned
Il few things which she meant to put
to practical use. There was still
some fruit on the place, the plums
were looking well, and wild bluckber-
rieS in plenty were to be had for the
picking, Jennie had arranged with
two of the exchanges to try her iel-
lies and jams, and while she did not
know much about making them, she
knew her mother did, and She could
learn, so she set to work. The first
consignment sold a bit slowly. bur
there was an encouraging call for
more.
The next unhcard-of thing she at
tempted was the forming of a girls
club for mutual Improvement and So
cial enjoyment, She had obtained per
mission to use the schoolroom for the
first meeting. Either through q mis-
understanding, overmaStering curiOS-
ity, or sheer deviltry, several of the
girls brothers and Sweethearts drifted
in, and sat together in the back seats.
The girls were up in front, curious and
eNpeCtant. Jennie 6eheld the male
contingency with just a touch of dis
may. She also discovered Joe Banks
among them.
Il believe" she said, 1--WE can get
together for study and social evenings,
Il have some very good times. IN
n small place like this. although we
are thrown together a good deal, we
never really know each other very
well. 1t is not knowing each other
that makes the miserable. foolish Cos
sip, makes lis say and do unkind
things we never would if we knew.
Where I've been I've seen what it did
for the girls. oh. YOU don't know how
wonderful it was to me to see how
the unSeIfshnesS. the kindness seemed
to wipe out criticism and Spiteful
words among those girls, just from
getting together and knowing each
other in the right way
The young men, who had come to
have some fun, looked at the floor, or
up at the lights, but remained quiet.
Jennie went on to explain the business
of forming the club, and added 1--WE
had not thought of having gentleman
members, but IT may be a great advan-
tage to have them" Here audible
smokers came from the back of the
room. They subsidized when Joe Banks
rose to his six feet of height and said:
81 think it would be greatly to our
advantage if the boys were allowed to
join, and l hope the ladies will amend
their constitution"
Jennie promised that this would be
considered at the next meeting. But
ii was all in such a formal. impersonal
manner that Joe wondered if she had
forgotten his existence. After the
meeting he hung around to speak to
her. He wondered how it was the
great city had not spoiled her, but
instead had opened into bloom a ma
ture quite wonderful to him. In a
Stammering, ineffective way he tried
to tell her this, but she stopped him
with some businesslike questions rela-
tive to the preparation of the ground
for spring planting. She meant to
have Il garden, and especially wanted
to start small fruits. He asked her if
he might come and give her any help
full service he could. She aSSented in
a digniied manner more BETTING the
new president of The Helpers thar
the little Jennie Ames he used to
know.
1t was surprising the number of new
facts that sprang up regarding the
culture Of small fruits, which made it
necessary for Joe to call at the Ames
cottage. The jellies and jams were
selling well, and Jennie was much alb
sorbed and happy in her work.
One day when the autumn began TO
u the greenery into gold and scar
let, Jennie asked Joe where she could
find bittersweet. She remembered
where there was some, but she wanted
a great deal. She knew Of an ex-
change that would take all she could
send. OF course Joe knew. or at least
he was pretty sure, and he arranged
to show her.
Promptly to the minute a car drove
up to the door. Jennie was somewhat
surprised, but he assured her it was
too far TO walk.
1t was a wonderful ride through the
beautiful country roads, and Joe, not
being entirely sure as to the location.
they had to go a long way, but they
found it at last.
"Blttersweet ~ said Joe, holding up
n of the flaming sprays, as they
gathered them away from the road.
It's like my being with you. It might
be just sweet to me If the bitter wasn't
there-lf l could think you"
He did not finish. The look in her
eyes made him take her in his arms.
Aluminium Money.