The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1900-07-26
MISTAKE.

to help matters along. He left them
alone together whenever an opportun-
ity afforded. He dropped little judi
cious words and gave up his evening
walks with her, being always too busy
to leave when she did, so that it soon
happened that she and George began
to walk home together. 1 guess that
young man had come to the conclusion
that he was mistaken in supposing
Frank to be in love with Miss Anna.
One day Frank came in suddenly
and found her crying, her pretty head
dropped on arms outstretched on the
typewriter table. He seemed much
distressed at the sight, and laid his
hand gently on her shoulder, but she
only shuddered at his touch, and would
not look up. So he went away, and
saw him talking with George in the
shipping room That gentleman evil
'dently knew what to do. When Frank
went back into the office little later,
Mr.. George was sitting on the table
and Miss Anna was laughing and talk
ing gayly.
From that day she was no longer
dignified with George. She would
smile at him and gave him shy, CO.
quettish glances from her lovely eyes
and let him button her gloves. He un-
doubtedly thought her charming, and
matters were going along swimmingly,
only somehow Frank did not seem so
elated over his success as matchmaker
as might have been expected. Instead
he seemed to have formed most un-
reasonable dislike toward George.
Several evenings [ saw him try to
manage it so as to walk home with
her, but he always failed. l guess he
missed those little confidential chats
with her that she had been use to hay
ing with him. In fact she hardly ever
spoke to him nowadays, and even ap.
peared to avoid him. One evening as
she and George were going out togeth-
er as usual l remarked what a hand
some couple they made, upon which he
turned and passionately said: "Harry,
what fool have been."
Poor, clumsy, great-hearted Frank,
he had been caught in the net he had
been so carefully weaving for the un-
suspecting George, but now that he had
begun the work, he did not try to 90
back although it must have been the
keenest torture to him. If she loved
George, she must have him, her happi-
ness first of all, be the consequences
what they may, were evidently the gen.
erous thoughts of good-natnred Frank.
But it evidently was hard work for the
poor fellow as the days went by. Miss
Anna had grown gay again, sometimes
it seemed to me almost an unnatural
gayety, she was so bright and restless.
They were standing quite close to-
gether one evening. George was bend
ing over her slender gIoved hand fast
ening most refractory button and
looking up at her with ardent eyes.
looked toward Frank to see if he had
noticed the little scene, as indeed he
had, for | could see mighty impulse
come over him to throw the lover-like
George through the window, for he
took one quick step towards them,
then controlled himself with an effort
and walked out of the office. After
that, he hardly dared look at her, but
would plod away at his work from
morning till evening, with the tireless
energy of machine.
l was beginning to wonder how it
would all end, when there came the
news of Georges promotion, and a
good position and snug salary.
'"Well Harry" said Frank, as he was
telling me the news, 1--WE know what it
means. | wonder how long it will be
before he takes her away. What will
this office be like without her? Still 1
am glad, for she will be happy"