The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1886-08-28
KETCHUM ALTURAS COUNTY, IDAHO SATURDAY AUGUST 2 1886

Price began to mutter and ind
fault, and finally to grumble and
complain openly. Miss Madison
evidently was not pleasing him.
"You have done this all wrong"
he said, turning savagely upon her.
"The addition of that column is
absurd. Haven't you any sense?'
Duval Fraser's blonde head was
suddenly lifted from behind his
desk. He rose and came over to
the corner where Miss Madison sat,
and took the great sheet from the
pale Young worker. After quick
look he turned to the other man.
"Miss Madison's work is not at
fault" he said quietly. 'She makes
fewer mistakes than any one we
have ever employed. You must
find the errors elsewhere. She has
done everything as she should"
Richard Price had his face bent
down, but that which he sneered in
reply came with horrible distinct
ness to the ears of both proprietor
and clerk:
"Of course everything she does
is all right"
Duval Fraser waited hardly an
instant. He stepped close to Price,
"You will apologize to Miss Mad
ison,r he said in low voice.
Price did not answer. He was
apparently busy with figures. His
right hand played carelessly with
the wrench-shaped hand-stamp with
which all accounts were stamped
Paid"
81 hope you heard me-" said
Fraser sternly.
What happened next, happened
so swiftly, and was, withal, so shock
ing, that one could not describe
exactly how it came about.
1t was like the flash of an eye
Richard Price turned upon the
other with an oath, and would have
struck him in the face with the
hand-stamp. bat Rose Madison, who
had sprung from her seat, dartec
between the two and received tn,
blow upon her own head. She fel
without a sound. A tiny stream o
blood trickled out of the chestnu
hair and over the marble forehead
4
Two weeks later she opened he
eyes and looked around her in ;
wandering way. The first thin:
she fully knew was that she wa
living i'll in bed in her boarding
house attic.
The next thing she realized wa
a scent of heliotrope, which drev
her attention to the fact that ther
were beautiful flowers in the room
The third and last thing was tn
face of Duval Fraser looking dowi
upon her. Then she again lost con
sciousness. But il came to her tn
following morning, and he wa
there again.
And many other mornings he wa
there, until she grew stronger an'
able to sit up.
There YOU see" he said q" / tol'
YOU | knew Prices troubles. BE
sides, l did him a favor once, am
he has never forgotten it. 1t is tn
way of the world. l hope it vii
not be my way, ever. Price ha
left" he continued, as if anticipat
ing her desire to know. 1t is
lesson he will not forget. And
well, / am just as glad he is out o
the way; it might irritate me t.
see or hear him. | do not want t
be irritated at present
"No!" said Rose feebly, with
faint smile.
NO." he repeated soberly, " 70
| have something very importan
on my mind - something t.
achieve"
He suddenly reached forwar
and took her hand. But she trie'
to draw it away.
Rose" he began.
"No, no, no y she answered.
don't want to be pitied." "
NO." he acquiesced. 81 re
member; you neither require no
desire pity. But then-this is dl
ferent. Rose, | love you; shall W
, be married."
And she did not say him nay.