The Lamar register., 1919-10-01
Haphazard
IN
D. JESSIE z. sHRRwIN

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(osSyrtsht. 1919. sy the Western News
DApsr uatsA)
IAN vacations cut to Z week"
Thus the head stenographer Of Merle
4 Co., q city mercantile house Of ex-
tensivs business prestige and narrow
views a. to the rights Of their em-
ployeeA.
shameful" came an indignant cho-
rus.
-And no pay for tho week spent
away"
A rising storm of protest was speed
~ repressed as the manager of the
establishment came Into the room.
There was one exception to the general
sroup-Arline Drury. The others sat
with an angry luster Of eye. Her
hands strayed from her typewriter.
nsrveless, an expression Of infinite dis
appointment crossed her features.
Airline had lost her mother year
previous and had been cast utterly on
her own resources. She was not an
expert typist and had not acquired
even the fundamentals Of stenography.
Her position. a poor-paying one, had
been thrust upon her almost grudging-
", and became q work of such drude
sry that she was too tired eve
nings to attempt to perfect her
self In taking dictation.
To the usual vacation with q fort
nights extra pay airline had looked
forward with glad anticipation. She
had mapped out stay at some cheap.
but respectable sumer resort. 1t seemed
to her that alone by herself. mind and
body at ease. she could think over pres
snt and future In a clear. coherent way.
The double announcement had spsst
al her plans. The circumscribed
term of leisure seemed scarcely worth
caring for. The withdrawal Of salary
during the period meant deprivation.
She had saved less than $40. when
she got home that night Airline count
I'd over her little fund and viewed
the prospect dolorously. She had 80
lsctsd . resort. the i've hours ride 70
which would be quite q novel enjoy
msnt. She retraversed the advertise
nsnts Of places nearer the city. Fern
dale-the fare thither was low-if she
went on q vacation at all that must BE-
ne limit Of fare expenditure
II was Just before noon on Monday
that Airline arrived at Ferndale. She
found only Q lonely station with . gsar
sral store opposite. She was Informed
that the real town was two miles dis
tant on the lake. comprising Q fash
ionabls hotel and the homes Of rich
people. There were no modest houses
where one could expect moderate
board and lodging. and the hotel was
. ~ q day house.
airline sat down on Q bench outsids
the little depot. gloomed and almost
homesick. contemplating the necessity
Of returning to the city. She noticed
only casually that an automobile had
driven up containing q chauffeur an0
q matronly looking woman. The lat
ter alighted as she caught sight Of A..
line and came straight up to her.
You are Miss Evs whiter' she said
half interrogatively. I'VE have been
hsre daily since Monday expecting you.
but feared you had found some other
appointment. Mrs. Elston needs the
care of . nurse greatly and she will
indeed welcome you. John. will you
take the lady's suitcaser' and almost
before she was aware Of II airline
found herself In the auto with the
good-natured housekeeper Of one Of The
show places on the lake. telling her
enough to know that a well-paid posi-
tion was open to this Miss Eva White.
who had not appeared.
-And why notf" whispered Airline 20
herself. ''if she does not come. what
wrong is done by my having a free va
cation and one useful and helpful a.
WELL" and both hopeful and tempted.
Airline Drury lent herself to a decep
tfon that was favored by the non-ap
pearance Of the real nurse that day
and never.
For the first time in many years Ar.
line drifted contentedly into Q new ex-
perience that was delightful. The In
valid Mrs. Elston treated her as II she
were some real friend instead Of q de-
pendent. The second day her SON
Harold. q tall. handsome young fellow
about two years the senior Of airline.
appeared on a hasty jaunt from the
city. he stared strangely when Airline
was introduced under her fictitious
name. He followed her inquisitively
A..s ., ~ a . n.