It is inconceivably hard for a girl without a definite trade or
profession, and possessed of no particular talent, to earn her own
living. With Tim O’Leary’s help I had made a little money that tided me
over for a time, but I realized that it was merely a temporary relief.
The artists would not be returning for a couple of months, and I was in
a quandary what I should do. A letter from Lil Markey, the girl who had
posed for Count von Hatzfeldt in Montreal, made me consider the
advisability of joining her in New York.
This is Lil’s letter:
“DEAR MARION:
Here I am in little old New York. Been here two months now. I’m
trying to get a job on the stage, and I’ve almost landed one. You
ought to come on here. There’s lots better opportunities,
especially for a model. I have all the work I can do just now
posing for the Standard, a theatrical paper.
Now, there’s a fellow here who is going to get a bunch of girls and
put us in living pictures. All one needs is the looks. Say, why
don’t you come on and join me here? I’ve a little flat with a
couple of other girls, and we need another to squeeze in and help
pay the expenses. I’d prefer you to anyone I’ve seen here. Say,
some of them are tough though!
I was awfully sorry to hear about the old Count dying. Ada told me
how cut up you were about it, too. I’ve a date now--my meal-ticket!
With love,