The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1919-06-19
Ambition
and Ability

By z. RAY BAKER

Copyright, 1918. by Mcclure Nswspape
Syndicate)
Ralph Long lacked two essentials 4
uccess--ambltion and business abll
lty. At least his iiancee. Esther Rem
ington. said he didn't have them. Ant
those two essentials were among thu
things she admired most In men.
How do you ever expect to get mar
ried on SIS weekf" she wanted tc
know when they hsd their final reck
oning" on the night he asked his EN-
ployer for 81 raise and was told "the
firm can't afford IL; besides. you're not
worth It."
ut can't be DONE" Esther, went on
jabblng a loose pin back into her fluffy
red hair. IF old Wilbur won't give
you raise. why don't you dig out and
try New York? Cut loose from this
dead town. Ralph. and show them
what you're made OF In regular city
you've been holding down that Of.
flee Job In Wilbur's canning factory
five years for that same measly SIS a
week. and II you'd had any ambition
you would be manager by this time
or you wouldn't be there at ALL"
Ralph demonstrated. He had worked
hard. but simply had been unable to
make the grade" he asserted. This
is a pretty good Job, anyhow" he said.
"and ! might not be able to get any
where In the big town."
Esther's attractive red lips curved
downward In disgust. and she forth
with severed relations. There was no
ring to hand back. because he had not
been able to procure one. but she let
him know In words that could not be
misinterpreted that their engagement
was a thing Of the past.
"You can keep your good job for
ten years more II you like" she said,
"but I'm going to the big town myself.
and I'm going to make good In a regu-
lar position"
She resigned her place as saleswOm-
an In Boorbon's department store. and
week later carried handbag and a
suit case to the railroad station, re-
solved to bid Brown City g0od-by for
ever. Ralph was there to see Off and
to ascertain IL her decision was ire
vocabIe.
"Come on. Es; forget that big talk
and settle down here" he pleaded.
Never" was her reply, steely gilt
ter in her blue eyes. ''It's all over be-
tween us, Ralph. | like you; in fact,
I'm very fond Of You. but ! must for
get you. because my husband must be
a man who has enough ambition and
ability to get to the front in the bust
ness world"
He set his lips firmly and shook
hands with her and went back TO his
desk in the canning factory, but made
a miserable failure of his work that
afternoon and for several days there.
after. He did deal Of serious think
ing. and his Jaw seemed to become
frmer and resolute light shone from
bis gray eyes.
Things went wrong with Esther. She
arrived In New York with thirty dol
lars in money and fortune In ambi-
tion. In one month the thirty had
dwindled and the fortune was ebblng.
n she had had folks at home" she
would have written for assistance, but
her parents were dead and the only
relative she could claim was an uncle
whose address was somewhere In
America, just where she could not tell
because he was a wanderer.
True, there were many good friends
back home-Ralph among them-but |
she preferred starvation to letting |
hem know that her prospects, which |
lad been so alluring from distance,
lad turned out 10 be mirage.
For there seemed to be no position
mot even mere job-for Esther |
Remington in all New York. Her writ
en- recommendation had no effect. be-
'ause experience was what counted
md experience In Brown City was not
he same as experience In New York.
Although she answered every help
wanted" advertisement that seemed TO
II her abilities even remotely, she
ould not find work. Either she was
90 late with her application or she
acked training for the job. Thus. at
he end OF months weary search.
esther was In dire straits.
Before long. however, fortune fa-
ored her. The goddess didn't smile
/ her, but she dId lend helping
and. and Esther obtained work In a
dirty clothes!
She kept this Job o month. In lieu Of
better. and lived from hand
0 mouth on So week, eating cold
ood In her dingy room In dIlapidat-
d house on dismal street.
Then something better turned up. II
,as IS a week. with meals thrown In.
8 waitress In q restaurant. where the
pod was given liberal coat Of grease
, make II slip down easily. instead Of
cling cooked. However. the patrons
the place appeared to like II that
'ay. for they came back for more
ach day. Esther was allowed to keep
u her tips. but the tips were ingrat.
ting smirks from the male gIuttons