Evening Republican, Volume 17, Number 159, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 July 1913 — IRRESPONSIBLE WOMAN [ARTICLE]

IRRESPONSIBLE WOMAN

“It’s a perfect ■hame!*' said the girl with the bi* eyes at the fluffy pompadour. “I thought you’d feel that way,** agreed the young man with the brilliant necktie and glittering patent leathers. "You have some sympathy and —common sense. Lots of persons lave not” “Dear me,” said the girl with big eyes. Indignantly. "I should think any one would, sympathize with you when you were Working so bard and doing so much tor the firmxand then after all you were let out like that” “Yes," said the young man, bitterly. "It just shows that true worth isn’t appreciated. Why, lots of times when I had a customer and it was my lunch hour 1 never said a word but finished waiting on him. Sometimes I’ve had at least ten minutes cut off my lunch hour, but I didn’t care. I had the good of the firm In mind. And then Gibbons, the manager, without even apologizing, hands me my walking papers. He said they couldn’t stand my getting down late and—and " "The Idea!” said the girl with the big eyes. “They needn’t have been so particular over such a little thing when you worked so hard after you got there.” “That’s what I thought,” said the young man. "Actually, some nights I’ve, gone home with a headache just because I had been so devoted to them. "Yet Gibbons actually had kept a list of the times I’d been excused or had taken a day off and henaid it was preposterous. There was the time I went to the party out at La Grange. I should think any one with sense Would see that a man couldn’t get into town much before noon the next day. I couldn’t be rude to the Howards, who had asked me to stay al night How would it have looked if I had bolted my breakfast and run? It is so vulgar to act as if money was ths only thing on earth.” “I should say so,” said the pretty girl, fluffing her pompadour. "Why. they never would have forgiven you.’ "I pointed that out io Gibbons," said the young man, “but be lu®t growled. Gibbons has shocking manners. I don’t see how !'■ ever got w be manager. I should think it would be better for the firm if they bad a man there who was younger and had —er— more social polish.” "He probably was just jealous 01 you and wanted to get you out of his way,”, sympathized the girl with ths big eyes. The young man looked conscious. “Well, I’m not saying anything, he commented darkly. “Ani that day 1 had to take that New York girl around while she waited for her train West—why. Gibbons has no idea ol scoial courtesies. AU he thinks of is hardware. I believe in a man being broad minded and not such a stickler for unessential things. As 11 half an hour or so in the morning mattered."

“I should say so!” exclaimed the pretty girl. "I think that Mr. Gibbons was perfectly horrid.” "It's too bad there aren’t more girls Uke you." said the young man, approvingly. "It Is perfectly remarkable how little things give yon new light on a person's character. Why, I always liked Alice White ever so much, though she is one of those selfsatisfied, haughty creatures. I overlooked that because It is a fault she may outgrow. I have always been nice to her, though I must say she never seems very grateful. But you'd think that in a situation like this if she had any feeling at all It would be roused, wouldn't X you? Whpn I told her just what I’ve told yon she acted In the most remarkable way. She smiled a funny little smile and said Fd only got what I deserved and she hoped Fd profit by the lesson and that Mr. Gibbons was considered a very fine business man. “Not one word of sympathy; only the most cold-blooded heartlessness. 1 couldn't believe my ears.' I bate to have my confidence in my friends shattered. It made nu feel dreadfully, for, of course, a girl like that is Impossible. A man expects sympathy in a woman above all else.” "I should say so," said the girl with the big eyes. "How perfectly horrid of Alice! It's just like her. She may boast of her common sense, but as for me, I think it is unwomanly. The idea of talking to you that way! Why, I could cry, I’m so sorry tot you! It was the most unjust thing!" "I knew you’d feel that way," said the young man with the brilliant necktie. "Ton have a different nature and appreciate a fellow's worth. A girl like Alice makes one—well,tired." "I certainly hope that I'm different," agreed the girl with big eyes. "And it’s a perfect shame!’’ —Chicago Daily News.