It Pays to Smile

ly the case with Miss Alicia Pegg, or Peaches, as she was termed by her surviving parent. It is the unqualified fact that even a

ation, and even of her final cold and terrible dismissal of me from the house of my fathers as meet punishment for the crime of earning five thousand dollars per annum; a

we attempted to remain beneath it in idleness much longer. But Euphemia was a true woman-far more genuinely feminine than I shall ever be, and her heart ever overruled her reason. In fact she had often publicly maintained that it was unwomanly to

said. Suffice to recount that I left her seventy-five dollars with the promise-unaccepted-to send more shortly, and departed at eight-thirty the following morning, taking a few belongings in

he hotel moved away-"Freedom Talbot, face the world with a smile-and soon you will be smiling in your he

et down before the hotel, where I directed the porter about my trunk, surrendered my dear father's umbrella, my own folding lace parasol and dolman, together with my valise, to the same little boy who had so kindly attend

rs had been my home is somewhat hazy. What I encountered upon entering the anteroom of the Copley-Plaza'

ening of the door outside of which I stood. In point of fact I eventually opened it myself, inasmuch as it was not quite closed and from the noise inside I

oice excitedly. "Oh baby! Come, you l

perhaps the curiosity of my young companion breaking unde

woman. The latter was in the very act of shaking dice from the palm of her hand. I at once recognized them because my dear father indul

as clear cut and regular of feature as that upon the shell cameo which my dear father gave my dear mother when they became betrothed. Her hair was so brilliantly gold as to seem artificially gilded-not with chemicals but with

functions, and this costume was further embellished by a pair of black-and-white sports shoes, such as are worn upon tennis courts. But curiously enough this ou

gh a clean, decent-looking young man, he was a distinctly common person, a thought whi

ay before they saw me, and then the girl slid

uickly recovering herself she came forward politely. "I guess

aid the infant who carried my l

he beauty, wrinkling her handsome nose

the chauffeur, sliding from his end of the table and removing the

ime to enli

said with what dignity I could muster under the

ed the chauffeur

if I had been something terrible-like, say, a mouse. "Shut up, Dicky, and let me handle this. So my old man hired you, did he?" she went on gravely.

baggage and prepared for flight. There was that in the young woman's voi

have something for yo

ived that. Indeed he was quite wordless with surprise. But I knew they were wholesome and that six were not too many, and presently he was shut out by the chauffeur, who leaned against the closed portal shaking with unaccou

e, did you say?

dom Talbot-Miss

unny!" said Mi

" remarked t

stess. "Make you acquainted-shake h

the young chap without the least trace of s

any relative to my Aunt Lucy? That's my father's s

ely," said I. "Our famil

s dry-nurse business. Of course, Miss Talbot, I realize you are not to blame in this. But it'

range audience, beginning with my situation at home, and ending with my quarrel with Euphemia. When my r

out and show me the world and everything-to teach me what little it is proper for me to kno

nce and shield for a young woman!" I replied quietly.

sappointed if you didn't go to E

this she continued to

ur age," she went on. "And it would be a crime to send

id the Dick person

nd healthy and everything. But I've got fed up on it, and I'm glad to get loose and see life, even with you tagging along. Tell you what I'll do. So long as you'v

lf hypnotized by h

ve bought all the clothes in the stores in San Francisco, at least all costing over a hundred dollars each, as befits my new society stu

, of course," said I. "But I don't think

not like San Francisco-or even Fresno. No pep, and a rott

said I. "I know the Loringstons, in

got to be pushed into the world of fashion and gayety I want there to be so

except the Countess Veruchio. But she lives in Monte Carlo. S

neglected dice upon the center table. I shuddered at her words which followed. Had I already, un

Why, that's in Italy! Oh boy! Oh boy! Say,