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

THE LADY CUEEek X

Eight CLOCK Is tne nout we usu-
ally begin business.
He spoke slowly, and almost
.constrainedly; perhaps it seemed
to him that he should hardly be So
addressing her. She stood but a
moment outside the railing-tall,
slight, pale, with dignity beyond
the years that her countenance be-
tokened. Her face was like deli
cate flower for half-hour there in
the dusk and grind of the great
office. He saw, moreover, that her
attire was neat, and wholly betit-
ting a lady.
Then she turned to go.
THANK you," she said simply.
4" | will come at eight"
And Immediately after she seemed
TO have vanished.
He whirled about sharply, and,
looking out of the great window,
saw her descending the steps to the
street. She turned her head neither
TO the left nor to the right, but,
facing straight ahead passed briskly
from the place and from his sight.
He remained at the window look
ing out even after she was gone,
but, lost in thought, saw naught of
the city's uproar and warfare.
Two persons, the only others
present in the office at that moment,
exchanged glances, and smiled
half contemptuously.
These were Price, the manager,
and Miss Allison, the copyist.
Price was a distant relative of
the proprietor, and loved him
none too well. Margaret Allison
was jealous of her own position
and fearful of another lady-clerk
being hired.
Duval Fraser still stood looking
out of the window, and Price,
leaning over to Miss Allison, whis-
pered sneeringly:
The blonde god is easily af-
fected."
They often called him "the blonde
god ;" he was tall and elegantly
fashioned, with a golden head OF
ideal contour. He was, indeed, a
handsome man, and young for the
position he occupied.
The copyist, sharp-featured
brunette, forgot herself at the
words of Price, the manager, and
Uttered audibly.
The sound recalled the head OF
the office. He came away from the
window, and picking up scrap OF
paper from his private desk, brought
| it over to the managers.
This is the handwriting" he
said very slowly, "of that young
lady" lie laid it down before his
manager. "She will he here tc
begin work in the morning; We
shall not be so rushed then.
wish YOU would show her what to
do. Let her attend to those state
ments and anything else that j:
pressing" He turned away ther
and took his hat to leave. At the
door he paused, as with an after
thought.
Her name" he said, ais RosC
Madison" Then he went out.
Miss Madison was punctual. "A
g o'clock that keen March mornin;
she entered the office of Duva
Fraser and was pleasantly received
II was less of an ordeal than sh'
had anticipated. The black-eyeC
ropvist was gracious to her new
co-worker beyond conception, an'
Price seemed kindly disposed t.
the strange young lady.
When Duval Fraser arrived at II
o'clock there was slight youn;
form perched upon a high stool a
a desk that had been hitherto un
occupied; there was a delicate fac
bent earnestly over great account
book, a busy pen in a small, fral
looking hand. He went over an'
spoke so kindly that the pale fac
grew scarlet and the small han'
trembied at its work.
And so Rose Madison began
| life of "oilice work such Inf
as, twelve months earlier, she woul'
have laughed at as absurd in con
nection with herself.
She hardly knew how the firs
| five days went-the days of her I'M
,iation. 1t was all so new, 8
strange. At night she was cur
ously exhausted, and it sometime
seemed difficult to reach home
such a home as it was, boardin
' house attic. But she manage
somehow, and then-the office gre'
more familiar.
And Price, the manager gre'