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

II Esther had been able "a SAVE
enough money 10 pay her fare back 10
Brown City she would have been
tempted 10 return. But she would ose
have yielded TO the temptation, bs-
cause she felt that she had burned h~s
bridges when she turned her back 90
the place OF her birth for the great
opportunities that beckoned.
Every night when she crawled b.
tween the torn sheets on the By 6
bed she yisioned the clean. shady ~
town where she had grown up. sndl
she ionged for a glimpse OF Boorbon's
store and all her former associates
there. and she wished she could 60
canoeing on Mirror lake and have the
moon shine. and-yes. II would have
been rather nice 10 have Ralph WELD
Ing the paddle.
At the end OF two years, after sur.
viving variety of Jobs, Esther held
down a portion of the floor behind .
dry goods counter In the Climax hvs
and ten cent store. and every Satur~
day night she went out Of the place
With 50 in her pocket. Twice she asked
for raise, and twice she was refused.
There are any number OF girls watt
Ing TO take your place." she was told.
Nothing was said about 'affording" it,
because the Climax covered a whoIs
block and was doing more business
than any two stores Of the kind In
the city.
One Friday evening. discouraged.
heartsick, hungry. Esther walked
across Seventh avenue, near Times
square. Immersed In thought. Hex
gaze fixed on an approaching automo-
bile. she was struck by big touring
car coming from the opposite dlrec-
ton. She was knocked on her feetd
but was not seriously injured becnuss
the driver applied the brakes In tme
to prevent bad accident.
The car stopped and young mani
clad IN a plain brown suit got out.
picked Esther up In his arms ana
placed her In the front seat Then he
got In beside her and drove away.
She was somewhat dazed and did
not recognize the driver until they had
gone several blocks. By that time she
was coming to her senses and she
gazed In wonder at the face OF the
man beside her.
"Can that be you, Ralph Longi' sha
exclaimed, incredulously. He smiled
and extended an arm to Indicate he
was about to turn corner
ut can be--and II is.' he affirmed.
as they went up Broadway.
"Why--why--what are you doing
here in New York;" she stammered.
"I'm driving this car" he replied. NJ
he threw out The clutch and eased the
through a traffic congestion.
Il left Brown City soon after you did
TO make good And now I'm driving
this car"
"Oh, chauffeur" she said, but tho
scorn that might have been in her tone
two years ago was strangely lacking.
"Where are you taking me?" she
presently inquired.
Dinner" he said briefly. "The own
er of the car won't care II ! keep 1t
out awhile"
During the meal she told her story
without reserve, and he listened with
grave interest.
"That's the way II is" she said when
,he had finished. "And want to tell
iou, Ralph, that | was all wrong and
I'm sorry didn't marry you. IL you
,ou-if you think you care for me still
md want me now you can have me.
With your wages and mine well bo
ble to get along"
Ralph lighted long. formidable ci-
,ar and looked across the table with
whimsical expression.
"Of course / want you" he declared.
But my wages will support US. And
ow you've lost your job"
"What do you meanT she asked.
uzzled
II mean that you're fired from your
OBJ at the five-andten," he answered.
$ he blew smoke ring cellingward.,
You see. happen to be general man.
ger Of the Climax"