The Minneapolis journal., 1902-12-16
To See the Secretary
By KATHERINE MCDONALD

"Can do anything for you?' he asked.
| why, yes, if you will. OF course I
didn't come merely to call--nor to recall.
want a place in one of the departments"
What kind of d place?
m not PARTICULAR she said coolly.
You know very well have neither talent
nor training. You will have to treat me
as II l were a political llenchman and find
me something which will require neither.
l. could keep accounts, but think should
like to be IN the library There is a Ia
dies room, you know, and women attend
ants r. II.
but that is such a menial place.
She spread out ner hands, brown and
knotted and calloused. He drew back in
sort of shame and would have hidden his
own had he dared. They were too white
| and soft and prosperous to lie in full sight
on the table before her. ~,
THE wages are small-not more than
$50 or $75 a month
mot more!' She looked at him with
glittering eyes. Her voice trembled now
and seemed to express want and despair
and resentment together. my God, Tom
Lloyd! Sixty dollars a month-every
! month? That would be riches to me.''
He shrank back in the chair. Laura"
he said, why have you never come be-
fore? You live in Washington. and you
might have come. Any time in the last
ten years I've been here
''Oh, yes, neutrality-suspicious. Lloyd.
And have, as you say, been here all the
time. I've wanted to come, but she
wouldn't let me-
"She?' - T.
'Laura-Laura Camden. The girl YOU
knew. She was always throwing it up to
| me that things might have been differ
ent.' She fingered the tassels of the
! chair, and she dropped her eyes with the
timidity of a girl.
ary'c
| leaned toward her and spoke softly. "Yes,
! you might lave been the wife of the sec
| retary of the navy by now, Laura She
tossed her head in her old impudent way
| and looked straight into his suffused eyes.
II should not she said IF I had
| married you, Tom Lloyd, you wouldn't
| have been sitting here to- day.
why not?' he asked, with a. sense OF
offense.
"Oh, because"-she leaned closer-"if
you had married me you shouldn't have
been mere secretary at So You would
have been PRESIDENT"
He looked at her and answered with
| quiet convictions:
"Yes; should have been president with
you to inspire me-
| II should never have done it by in
spiration, Tom. I should have kept YOU
at it, and 1 never would have let you
think we'll of yourself SO long as there
was another man ahead of you.'' Sh:
arose, and, taking up her shabby UNI
brella and imitation leather bag as if 20
go, she returned to the subject of the
appointment.
Am I to have that place. then-cham-
bermaid or scrubwoman or ladies' attend
ant, whichever you call tat the
+ library?" AS he hesitated her features
seemed to sharpen with anxiety. "Oh,
Tom,'' she pleaded. 'if you can get it for
me don't refuse. I have mother to take
3 &
so little can do, to earn a living:"
She swayed against the table; then,
suddenly recovering her pride and cour-
age again, she continued in a tone of calm
politeness:
81 am sorry to have troubled YOU, Mr..
Secretary. OF course there are many who
appeal to you even on the strength Of old
and forgotten friendships" She turned
, , toward the door with certain grace and
dignity which brought an indulgent smile
to the secretarys lips. He sprang up and
; stepped quickly in front of her.
This isznot a case of forgotten friend
ship Laura, I have never forgotten
never wished to forget, but you can have
that place. 1t doesn't suit you. There
l is another opening, one In which you can
be of much greater service. I do so want
> to be president. Won't you undertake to
make Of me, Laura?''
She turned her back upon him and
I clutched the table with her work-marred
I hands.
mo, Tom;-1 won't. Don't ask me. II
1 you weres poor and all worn out and
broken down by life or if we could go back
to your YOUTH
Laura, I've always suspected that you
1 regretted that old decision. I've thought
a good many times that If I had asked
1 again that next summer at camp meeting
you wouldn't have given the same
answer He came around the table and
compelled her to face him.
2 would you, Laura?'
''What does it matter now? married
Y Tucker and managed to conquer my love
t for you and now
r "Your love for me! There! I have
wanted that admission a good many times
= in my life, Laura, and I've got it. If you
loved me once. you can again.
"Oh, WELL" she laughed, but her voice
trembled, y'I should like to see you presi-
dent, Tom, after all!''
: = -.-'.-7E