The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1886-08-28

have been forty, perhaps trifie
less. He had dark face, whose
hardness of features was only re-
lieved at moments by good
humored smile. A heavy beard
concealed the lines of a mouth that
might have appeared vindictive
had one judged by the bitterness
of speech in which its owner occa-
sionally INDUCED.
Rose Madison said to herself it
must be that Richard Price was
under some great obligation to Mr..
Duval Fraser, else he never would
have shown such resentment-such
disposition to "run down" his en-
ployer and relative.
And when he spoke, as he came
frequently to do early in the morn
ing or at noon hours, when Fraser
was absent, disparagingly, almost
sneeringly, she felt a sense OF singu-
lar annoyance and strove not to
listen, butto attend the more closely
to her work.
But Miss Allison, the black-eyed
copvist, was an attentive hearer,
and Miss Madison could not escape
the conversation of the two. 1t
displcased her more and more as the
days went by, even beyond con
cealing.
Nearly two months had passed,
when one morning Rose Madison
experienced singular circumstances.
Richard Price took holiday and
Miss Allison went home i'll at noon.
Duval Fraser remained in the office
the entire afternoon, and scarcely
any one came in.
At 8 o'clock-she always remem-
bered that day and that particular
hour-the "blonde god" arose and
came over TO her desk.
you work very hard" he said
slowly. "You must get very tired
every day"
Rose had hardly lifted her eyes,
but the motion of her pen had
stopped.
"Yes." she said quietly; it is
very hard. l am sometimes very
tired"
Il want" he said abruptly after
moments pause | want to ask
YOU a question. When you first
came into the Office, Price seemed
to take great liking to you. Lately
he seems changed, or something
seems to have happened. What IS
the natter"
She lifted her eyes then and
looked in his face
81 cannot tell you," she said.
"You do not know-or suspect
She was silent. He watched her
with an interested look.
Perhaps he was thinking how
delicate her face was, with its beau
tiful deep-blue eyes, its silkeli-soft
frame of chestnut hair, how gentle
and how refined her speech.
He remained silent for a space,
then spoke again, even more con-
sideratelv.
Would you not like-wouid II
not be a rest for you TO 60 to some
place of amusement this evening? |
should like to take you, Miss Rose" "
"She did not answer for a mo-
ment then, in low voice:
81 thank you, Mr.. Fraser, but |
could not-I could not have at once
a business and social acquaint-
ance with the same gentleman"
"No?" he said, as if surprised.
Then: Perhaps you are right"
She found herself trembling now
from the effort of the little speech,
Perhaps be noticed tins for he with
drew. and walked rather aimlessly
about the place.
81 think" he said, II think ]
know the trouble with Price" And
then he turned and looked at heI
with sudden meaning-a some
thing in his look that startled her
and set her heart throbbing, and
brought grey mist before her eyes
She would not have felt any differ
ent had he said: " Price Is dis
pleased because / like you; Price
is jealous-of both of us"
Her head seemed in a whirl. She
was glad when he urged her to close
up her books and desk and cease
work for the day. He closed the
office early and they went out to-
geiher.
1t seemed as if his home lay to
wards her home; and thither h'
walked with her. They talked as
they went of Indifferent matters
but when the house was reached
she spoke with an abrupt bitterness
"This is the place; | live in the
attic. Once | lived in mansion.
He fingered for a moment.
Yes" he said, Il knew it.
But his tone of gentle compass
sion, tinged with regret, seemed t.
irritate her. -,
However" she said. sharply, -
neither require nor desire pity
Goodnight