Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-01-02

o. / decided to stop work. l had
not been very happy at SLIDER
~ STEMS anyway. From the time
when 1 had had to give up my friend
ship with Lucy Ludlow, because my
mother had told me she was bad
girl, L mad lost interest In my labors
there. TO be sure it was Adelaide Pow
ell, the girl with whom l subsequently
became friends, who had introduced me
TO Howard Boyd and my new world of
gayety. But still 1 could not but feel
that the work had brought me little in
knowledge or happiness. Certainly there
was nothing more to be gained by stop
ping at Silberstein's. l told myself that
with the experience 1 had gained, should
| desire to go to work again, it would
be easy enough to secure a position.
For the present l would do as my moth
er had suggested, rest during the day,
that l might be the prettier and bright
er to accept the many invitations to
theaters and suppers that were now
pouring in upon me from Howard and
his friends. Indeed, so many had been
the parties of the past few weeks that,
although l was perfectly healthy and
normal young girl, the hours 1 had kept
had begun to tell on me. I looked as
my mother had expressed it. five years
older" If it were true, as she frequently
had told me, that if l lost my looks l
lost everything, there seemed to me no
choice in the course I must take.
Accordingly, one morning I went to
Miss Berger, the head of the millinery
department in Silbersteins, and told her
wished to give up my position.
But we're just getting busy, DIANA"
she protested. You can't leave us now
when we've kept you all through the
slack season. If you 90 we'll have to
break in some new girl 1 don't think
it's fair"
81 don't want to be unfair, Miss Ber-
GER" L told her, ''Out really 1 don't
want to work any more What do you
think 1 ought to do?""
Well" she said slowly, "of course,
if you don't want to, you don't want
to; we can't keep you, though really
you have developed into quite a sales
woman. You might stay two weeks
more, however, until can get some one
else"
III do that" I agreed readily enough
at doesn't matter whether 1 stop now
or in a few weeks. It's just that.
don't want to go on indefinitely"
Aren't you going to some other
5hop?" Miss Berger asked me- What
are you going to do?"
L
answered simply. My mother thinks
I'm beginning to look tired because
go out so much in the evening. She
says if | go on working and keep going
to parties, too, I'll lose my health"
The head of the department looked at
me very sharply.
80" she said slowly, you're going
to keep on with the parties and give up
the work."
Yes" answered and smiled
"And where's the money to come
from?" she suggested.
"Oh, that's all right" 1 answered
easily, "I'll get along somehow"
There was pause that somehow
made me feel uncomfortable.
oh said Miss Berger THAT! 1
see." '2=-
She gave me an unpleasant look and
turned on her heel and left me. Well,
thought, that's a nice way to behave!
/ suppose she is jealous because she
has to work and my mother can take
care of me. Strangely enough to me
the other girls, when 1 told them my
news, treated it with something of the
tone with which Miss Berger had re-
ceived it, Adelaide drew me aside.
Say, DIANA she said 81 hope you're
not going to make a fool of yourself!
You know, Towards got an awful crush
on you. 1 think you could marry him
If you hold out. 1 wouldn't let him
let him" she stammered and paused.
Let him what"' 1 asked her curl
ously
WELL" said Adelaide and her glance
did not meet mine. 81 wouldn't let him
give me too much if I were you. You'll
spike your own guns"
''Why, Adelaidew / DrOteSted ''IJe