It Pays to Smile

all those events which bore in a manner either psychological or physiological upon their households or upon the affairs of state, in which they were ever active. In t

ritings of my family and the desirability of maintaining our tradition of making an accurate record of such pertinent events as come under my immediate observation in order that future generations in their search after truth may have a reliable monument to depend upon. And this

and that his pretension of belonging to a younger Western branch is, as I have consistently maintained, absolutely fallacious. But I show weakness by d

death, her position being that due to the elder sister and the rightful head of the family; and the table has continued to be set thus, though at the time of my rebellion I was

der and I know what is best for youth. So long as I

to move her from

et, with the sun shining brightly upon the neatly darned table linen, the zinnias from the garden and the few remaining bits of family silver. It can hardly be said that Old Sol spread his refulgent glor

air from New York. How shocking! The postman will very likely drop things from the a?roplane! I don't approve of the Government taking such ris

d. "The radical changes in life on

ave me a s

me. "It is unfeminine in a younger person. And

ted reproof. Well, I set down the cup and put out my hand for the newspaper, which Euphemia, having glanced at the headlines, had finished reading. Again she rebuked me, this time with a gesture, and rang the bell. I subsided until the fourteen-year-old colored girl wh

said Euphemia with dignity. And when the c

ng the kitchen door behind which

Honey-B

ister, rising in wrath. "What

sal of the newspaper. I use the adjective "guilty" because I knew how thoroughly Euphemia would disapprove of the section to which I, for the seventh time

going

secret from my dear sister only until armed with actual employment, for I was but too well aware of what her attitude would be, and determined to waste no time in disputing a theoretical situation, but once str

for nothing that my parents, despairing of ever being blessed with a son, had bestowed upon me the family name of Freedom. There h

no mate ever having chosen either of us, or been chosen by either of us, and the cost of living having risen so inexplicably, our situation had gradually become greatly altered. Euphemia steadily opposed the idea of any remunerative work, no matter how genteel, and so far

workers, but I could not bring myself to either of these occupations except as a last resort. Typists were also desired, and bookkeepers; but I feared my lack of practical education would count against me. A traveling saleslady was wanted,

ss. Must be dowdy, incompetent, financially embarrassed, snobbish, and never employed before. No pretenders will be c

stated my case and situation no better. Indeed I was obliged to reread the notice several times before feeling able to credit my own senses. Then I tore the corner containing it from the pa

th upon the side table and completed my daily task of washing and putting away the

Euphemia had settled herself to her crochet work in the drawing-room I stole upstairs, upon the pret

s character. Moreover, the address given inspired a degree of confidence, because, though I was under the impression that all expensive and fashionable hotels must be-well, not suitable for the conservative female element of our dear city to frequent, still there cou

t and pinned it on with resolute fingers, found my best silk gloves, and taking my

lonely drawing-room beyond. Fortunately she did not hear me, and having thus, as it were, silently saluted her, and feeling uncommonly like an errant daughter a

the walk to the hotel was magically shortened by my excitement, though on its threshold I hesitated and might have turned back at the last moment had it not been for the inquiring gaze of

st severe criticism of the place owing to the fact that a female had smoked a cigarette in the dining room. I afterward ascertained that it was Annie's cousin who had done this, and so, of course, we never discussed the subject further. But I w

in reply to my query. "There is one lady up

me in charge and led me to what I at once per

lk if there are

if he thought I had

to be uncannily nonchalant. Maintaining as dignified an exterior as I could I concealed my alarm at what was a wholly novel experience to me, and was presently disgorged, qui

d by a manservant of extrem

gg?" I

isement, madam?"

eplied wit

all?" sai

," I replied, at which the child de

mauve velvet upholstery, most beautiful and in the best of taste. I subsequently ascert

taken upon entering, as is the custom in my circle where a butler is still maintained. "Mr. Pegg is interviewi

eality. It was extraordinary, really, and I wondered who and what the unseen applicant might be, and if the position might not already be filled. I almost hoped it was, so overpowering was the room in which I sat, and yet it was patent

adjoining room was opened and two persons entered-a m

f, and at the moment her attractions were not enhanced by a

rd!" she snapped, "and character parts is my mid

'll try and force it on you," s

st extraordinary man I had ever seen. He was about six feet four inches in height, and so heavy that at first his tallness was hardly remarkable. He was perhaps sixty years of age, though magnificently

claimed, his eyes riveted upon m

o my feet in pro

ps unusual at my age. If it is your intention to get gentlewomen here me

assuming a more composed manner held open the door to th

he said. "You seemed too real to b

settled to a critical inspection of me, though he did not look at me continuously. I faced the sunset, but as my face was clean, and as at my age I had got past attempting concealment of my crow's feet, I was quite composed-outwardly. Yet I could feel that his glance rested upon my hat, my hair, my silk gloves, my walkrite boots, e

by any chance, are y

e is Talbo

t. "My ancestors came over a generation before Winthrop," I said gently, for, of course

again. "That's fine! That's fine,

bot," I again

s it now? To take care of my daughter, I mean. Still, in some ways an old maid is better. Mo

set forth the exact nature of th

thumping the table. "Th

pardon?

d. "And learn her to talk t

to teach your d

instructin' her. My Lord, no! She'd never stand for it! Just stick round-be with

governess?"

u. I am a rich man, but I'm a roughneck and I know it. There is a few things I ain't been able to buy for myself, and refinement is one of them. But I calculate to pry

ual terminology was unintelligible to me the s

d I. "I think I do understand. 'Just as

nly inter

he home ranch until three weeks ago. Her mother died when she come. Well-never mind that either! And now I've made my haul and I've got a little time to give her-and to living generally. I'm a practical man, Miss Talbot. When I commence grafting a new orchard of Golden Americans on a twenty-acre stretch of old wild stock I cut,

d. "You really are not in the leas

us, everything that could strip fruit or thought they could-needs much wising up about a mere female

I vainly endeavo

t on as if I had not spoken. "You will commence work to-morrow morning at nine o'clock

force of his announcement. Five thousand dollars

d as the notice is kind of short, and you might like a little advance to buy some knitting or something to take with you, here is a hundred to bind t

into the anteroom, where already several per

ate, "your daughter may not like me.

oesn't know anything about this. I am leaving th

, I found myself once more upon the solid reality of the Boston street, with only the