The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1903-10-28


ness establishment, and a group of
merry girls we're standing by win
dow, chattering, as such girls will, OF
everything and nothing. Even cas-
ual glance would reveal the fact that
the force of this Office was socially far
above the ordinary run or such places.
In fact many of these young girls bore
in their faces such evidences of refine
ment that 1t was hard to understand
Just how they found themselves there.
To the manager, however. a warm
hearted, sympathetic woman, was
known the private history Of nearly
every girl in the establishment.
From disliling her as an innovation,
and fearing her rule as a curtailing of
privileges which they had wrested
from the firm, under the very slack
management which had preceded her
advent, they had grown to respect and
love her in spite of the fnflexible VIII
TO which they were obliged to bow.
They had gradually recognized the fact
that adherence to duty alone was the
standard by which they were gauged.
When this fact was thoroughly under
stood, it soon became a recognized fact
that the clerk who disllked the mana
ger was one who would shirk her le-
gitimate work whenever she could.
1t was no wonder then to see her
one OF this group mentioned in the
beginning.
"Have you ever been to st. Johns at
Easter, Miss Triffet?" inquired Millie
wendall, drawing her head in from
the window where she had been watch
ing a runaway, and turning suddenly
upon her.
A new excitement turned the heads
of all the girls, and Millie Wendall
did not see the quick, nervous clasp
of the hands, or hear the breath sharp
1y drawn in, as one in mortal pain
might do. All she was conscious OF
was the quiet reply
"Yes, Miss Wendall-once-many
years ago."
"Why, Miss Triffet, how big and
black your eyes are!" exclaimed Net
tie Julian, suddenly, warmhearted
impulsive hoyden, who, as she de-
clared, "adored the ground Miss Trif'
fet walked on"
Nonsense, Nettie, you make me
blush! You must see very jroll things
with those new glasses of yours. The
Idea of my pale blue eyes looking big
and black'"
LOOK, girls! See If am not right
exclaimed Nettie, taking Miss Triffet
by the shoulders and trying to turn
her around.
But Miss Triffet laughingly declared
she was not on exhibition, and break
ing away from her captor, went to heI
desk and struck the gong for the close
of the noon hour.
For q few moments she sat as one
in a dream, then, with a smothered ex
clamation she rose.
mo! No! l cannot, must not thinl
now. cannot afford IT." she said tc
herself. as she threw herself into the
work of the afternoon with feverisf
energy. How the hours dragged! Il
seemed as If time never passed SC
slowly. But at last five o'clock tollet
slowly out from the great clock acros!
the street, the gong struck twice ant
the work of the day was over
The same feverish energy that ha(
characterized her work of the after
noon, was thrown into her walk a!
she wended her way home. People whit
noted this energetic woman stridinl
up the street looking neither to tn
right nor to the left, evidently see
ing nothing. quietly turned aside an,
let her have the rlgkt Of way. Arriv
Ing at large old fashioned house OF
the edge of the city, she opened tn,
door with her latch-key and ascendet
three flights of stairs to the place sh,
called "home"-"Old Maids Hail.
as she laughingly termed it,
AS she entered her rooms her tw,
black cats raised their heads an,
greeted her with gratified purr, a
once dropping back into their comfort
ably positions behind the Lady Frank
iin," which did duty for an open graf
in this cosy set of apartments, whic
consisted of two large rooms upon tn
third floor, overlooking a large var
full of great trees.
So absorbed was she in her ow
thoughts that she omitted her custom
AIRY ceremony of STOPPING to pat theI
on the head and give them word c
endearment. Throwing herself in he
chair. she had just given herself u
to reflection when she felt herse
gently pulled by the skirt.
"Why, poor old Jetty," she Q,
claimed. sit is too bad. almost 70
got you, you poor old crook-necked fe
low! think feel more for you tha
do for Tippie. you poor unfortunate
We've been companions in misery, Je
~. dear. haven't WEI" And she too
the cat In her arms as II he had bee
. child. "Come on Tippie! There
room for you, tool"
Living by herself for years, this g
1eut woman had learned to make cor
Danions Of these two speechless cor
rades Of hers, and surely no halnla
1nnatU could have been moro deco