Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1921-07-09
A. Grub Worm and
Butterflies
By A. MAEIA CRAWFORD.

Jane had not wanted 10 go to the
biz louise party given by her beautiful
and rich young cousin AT Chestnut
Lodge. luNuriously furnished place
In tile Chilhowee mountains. Jane
knew we'll enough that she would fit
into The crowd Alma would invite
about n successfully as a square peg
In - round hole for while Alma had
been finishing her education at Sc
lcct school for fashionable young
girls lane had been earning a livrli
hood for herself and her widowed
mother by the unromantic route of
sicuography.
She did not give herself any airs
and cell herself Mr.. Mathews private
secretary, although her duties EN-
hrnccd everything from office boy TO
genera. manager OF the big marble
quarry of which Mr. Mathews was
prc>id, MT The war had hit the mar
bile industry a pretty hard blow and
Jane had generously given her youth
full strength energy and enthusiasm
10 keeping down expenses until the
quarry began to pay again. Labor
was high
4 III; n operating derrick demand
ri $50 per day, and even the water
boy. a hnlf-witted lad OF thirteen
drew $50. Machinery. long idle had
ruSted and had TO be replaced. But
the market had suddenly opened with
bang and Jane dreamed wonderful
dreams Of helping poor old Mr.. Math
Rvs get back on his feet in the iinan-
rinl void Ii was a sort Of debt Of
gratitude.
Mrs Mathews had been the very
lirSt person 10 - 10 their aid when
lanes father had died suddenly.
r;i- ing his widow and daughter only Il
modest little home and NJ means with
which TO keep il. 1t had been Mrs.
Mnthcwy Who suggested business col
."-r ana place later in her husbands
office
When the invitation to visit her
pretty. frivolous cousin in the noun
lainS had come. Mrs Mathews had
Joined With James mother In urging
The girl 10 20.
She had not been in the house more
than six hours before she realized
with real pans of heart hunger that
she was an outsider and that all the
c0uSinly tact in the world could not
make her enjoy herself A grub worm
has nothing in common with II but
terily. The small talk Of the girls
consisted of clothes boredom and
gossip The men frankly made love
to all the girls and were too free
Jane thought. with their carefully
manicurcd hands
Jane never knew how she managed
10 get through those first trying days
She was perfectly miserable and She
tried 20 hide it. Alma insisted on
lending her exquisite dresses and jew
els. too. hut Jane d"murrcd nj the
idea of borrowed tinery. 50 she wore
the simple. inexpensive things and re-
gar,rd herself aS drlb-coorrd
grub worm among brilliantly hued
huitcril "S.
Saturday morning came and the en-
iir" party motured down To ia" stat
iion 10 meet several men who had
been lured from business by the hunt.
Ing Almas gam" preserve offered.
When the train pulled in everybody
shriekcd over everybody else. Jane
alone remained an outsider And
then big Jolly fellow whose brown
hair was already Streakcd becoming
~ with gray. came up 10 her, cap in
hand.
They are too busy 10 notice that
we do no; know each other" he said
smiingly. Il am Phil Mar>drn."
He managed 10 sit beside her on
the way Ia The lodge and for the first
time since her arrival. Jane felt her
self one of the party. Alma told me
all about you." he said. "and have
been keen ever since then Ia know
YOU. do admire n girl who can
hold her own against all odds"
Jane felt real relief NJ that He
knr,. then thar She did not h"lung 10
thar crowd She was not sailing I'M
Ter false color>. She laughed So heart
lily az one of Ills stories later that
Bob Sanders raised his eyebrows and
inquired In his drawing fashion. "Oh.
I say. Miss Jane You're positively
lovely when YOU laugh. Why haven't
you done il bcforei'
rhi asked her 10 walk around The
AXE before luncheon and II was with
fnsi heating heart that Jane pre-
narrd 10 dress for her first real en-
.acoineut there She had laid ont
itilp blue serge 50 -killfuly emhroid-
.rcd by her own nimhl" fingers that
Z looked n II il might he anybodyS
.xp"n>ive model. She was just get
Ing into II with rather trembling
1andS when the bright sun of her
happiness WAS promptly obScured by
he remark Of the sophisticated little
mink who was rooming with her.