The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-07-20
EDening Story
Lucy Decides.

! should judge that he must have been
pretty well off if he was anything
like this George Varney."
1t was John Varney who spoke, a
| third or fourth cousin of the Varney
who had Midas's touch of gold. John
had not prospered So The Varney
industry he had inherited as generous
! ly as George Varney, but with it a
combination of shortsightedness and
over-confidence that resulted in what
John called plumb bad luck Now
at fifty seasons bad crops had
fact that after he had paid interest
on his mortgage he would have to ap-
proach the winter and it's needs with
exactly $50 ahead.
Undoubtedly something had to be
done and that without delay
IF I was a mite younger I'd go up
to the city and see this cousin George"
John Varney told his daughter Lucy.
Seems as if any one that can make
money so fast as he can ought to be
able to show me how to get a little,
too. If had son, now I'd send him
up there and get him to introduce him
self as a kin of his and learn the
game. I'd
I'm sorry." said Lucy. as if she felt
somehow her father blamed her for
being a girl. I'm sorry that I didn't
go to normal and get a teachers
license so 1 should have been able to
bring in real money. But somehow
it always seemed I was needed at
home"
Don't fret about that" broke In
the father. ''It wasn't your fault
You wanted to bad enough. But your
mother and 1 always thought it was
nice to see a girl kept at home, learn
ing how to keep house, helping her
own mother. That was my idea and
I wouldn't have it otherwise"
Tho daX TJIPX VarnRV
prised her father and mother into
speechlessness when she appeared at
breakfast in her blue serge suit and
her neat best" hat. She was ready,
was going to see George Varney-not
to beg money, but to get him to show
her how to earn it. The city lay zoo
miles away and Lucy intended de-
fraying the expenses by money she
had earned and saved from taking
magazine subscriptions among the
farmers in the county. This would
only be enough to take her to the
city. She wouldn't come home until
she had earned enough to pay her
trip back and to tide over for the
winter. So positive was she that this
was the only thing to do that her
parents acquiesced before they had
had time to take in the situation COM
pletely. Neither father nor mother
nor Lucy had ever been to the city.
If Lucy had announced her intention
of going to China or the South Sea
isles they could hardly have been
more surprised.
Lucy waited at the office of the
great money maker. George Varney,
for two hours, and it was finally only
the magic name of Varney on her
printed card that she presented to the
receiving clerk that secured for her
an interview with Mr.. Varney's pri-
vate secretary. Three days late~, after
considerable insisting and promises
n 7 -
minutes at the most, Lucy was grant,
ed an interview. She was made to
understand that it was only because of
her claim to relationship that such a
privilege had been awarded
Varney of the Midas touch rather
enjoyed having his employees regard
him as slightly eccentric = eccentric in
a distinguished way. This reputation
gave him privileges as to abruptness
and unexpected decisions that might
generally expected to act in an origi-
nal manner.
You mustn't be offended" warned
the private secretary, ushering Lucy
rupt with you. Remember you have
asked for this interview, and you must
take the consequences"
So Lucy was in a measure prepared.
She told her story simply and directly
to Varney,. SO much interested in
making it quite clear that neither she
nor her father was asking for a gift
or loan, but only for an opportunity
to earn the money needed, that she
did not notice how closely the eccen-
trio man scrutinized her, drawing his
conclusions with the analysis of a de-
tective-
What are you trained to do?"
asked Varney.
Nothing said Lucy.
THAT is bad. Isn't there anything
you do wel1?"
IT can cook and keep house; I be-
Iieve can make as good cake and pie
and bread as any one in the country.
have taken first prizes at county
fairs. You see. I never had chance
to go to normal school, but I could
stop talking" said George Varney.
I'm just opening my country place
can cook. III give you a hundred dol
lars a month. A train leaves at noon.
Go out now, and come back in half an
hour. Ill have q letter to the house
keeper and a months salary in adj
vance and enough more to buy your
ticket" Mr.. Varney rose. indicating
that the interview was over.
Lucy rose, but stood a moment.
But I thought you'd give me work
in the office" she protested meekly
You didn't think green office help
was worth more than $25 a. week, did
you?"
"Oh. no." assured Lucy. I'D begin
for almost nothing. But
You came asking me to show you
how to earn money, and you tell me
YOU know how to cook, but you don't
know much else. I'm giving you a
chance to earn money doing the thing
you're trained to do. Do you accept
my proposition, or don't you?"
Lucy blinked hard for a second or
so, swallowed hard. and said Yes"
AS she boarded the northbound train
a few hours later Lucy felt no regrets.
only surprise. No one in her family
had ever worked as a servant, but.
after all. she and her mother had
spent a good share of their time in
the kitchen, and the hundred dollars
a month would be clear gain The
amount she would be able to send
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