The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1919-10-16
Haphazard
~~0
BY JESSIE Z. SHERWIN

| ployees.
Shameful" came an indignant cho-
rus.
And no pay for the week spent
away"
A rising storm of protest was speed
lily depressed as the manager of the
establishment came into the room.
| group-Arlne Drury. The others sat
with an angry luster of eye. Her
hands strayed from her typewriter,
nerveless, an expression Of Infinite dis
| appointment crossed her features.
Airline had lost her mother a 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-
| ly. and became work of such drudg-
cry that she was too tired eve
nings to attempt to perfect her
self in taking dictation.
To the usual vacation with a fort
nights extra pay airline had looked
| forward with glad anticipation. She
had mapped out a stay at some cheap,
but respectable sumner resort. 1t seemed
to her that alone by herself, mind and
body at ease, she could think over pres
ent and future in clear, coherent way,
The double announcement had upset
all 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 $50. When
she got home that night Airline count
ed over her little fund and viewed
the prospect dolorously. She had Sc
Lected a resort, the five hours ride to
which would be quite a novel enjoy
ment. She retraversed the advertise
ments of places nearer the city. Fern
dale--the fare thither was low-if she
went on vacation at all that must be
the limit of fare expenditure.
1t was lust before noon on Monday
that Airline arrived at Ferndale. She
eral store opposite. She was Informed
that the real town was two miles dis
tant on the lake, comprising a fash
ionable hotel and the homes of rich
people. There were no modest houses
| where one could expect moderate
board and lodging, and the hotel was
$4 day house.
Airline sat down on a bench outside
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 chauffeur ana
matronly looking woman. The lat
ter alighted as she caught sight of Ar
line and came straight up to her.
"You are Miss Eva White?" she said
half interrogatively. eve have been
here daily since Monday expecting you,
tut 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 suitcaseW and almost
| before she was aware of 1t 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 well-pald posi-
ton was open to this Miss Eva White,
| who had not appeared.
"And why not?" whispered Airline 70
| herself "if she does not come what
wrong Is done by my having a free va
| cation and one useful and helpful as
WELL" and both hopeful and tempted.
| Airline Drury lent herself to decep-
| tlon 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 drfted contentedly into a new ex-
| perience that was delightful. The in
! valid Mrs. Elston treated her as If she
! were some real friend instead Of 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. lie stared strangely when Airline
| was introduced under her fictitious
| name. He followed her inquisitlvely
| with his glance, but when he noted that
his mother regarded fondly almost low
ingly, he suppressed some powerful i'm
| pulse that sought expression.
Two weeks went by, month. All
| thoughts of returning to the city were
abandoned by Airline. Harold came to
| visit his mother twice a week, and he
could not help but feel attracted to-
ward the bright, intelligent companion
| of his mother to whom she was as at
| tentve and thoughtful as an own
daughter. Airline OWNED the dawnlng
of mutual love- each failed to con-
ceal from the other, and one day, in
the lovely garden of white shadows,
when he confessed his affection, she
bowed her head I'm humiliation.
81 am not Miss White" she began /;
but he interrupted her gayly.
"Oh knew that the first day met
youl" he declared, "for had received
word from the nurse that she could
not come. When found you here, and
my dear mother getting better each
day under your care. | only longed to
have you remain. And now"
That NOW" was the vital hour OF
their young lives, where soul spoke to
soul and Airline told al the story of
hef life TO her nAlunrel husband.
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