Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1903-07-04
To SEE THE
SECRETARY
BY Katherine M'Donald
Copyright, 1902, by T. G. Mcclure
By Katherine M'Donald

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The secretary sat in his Office and
fumed at the heat. He was born IN
Hoosier log cabin and had attended
college Of the northwest. He had gone
to housekeeping in a little old messy
cottage for which he found it difficult
at times to pay So month rental. Yet
at fifty he sat in that noble room whose
long windows let in the breeze from
the Potomac and framed view in
comparable for the mingling of natural
and artificial beauty-sat and fumed
at the heat. Williams, the messenger,
entered He was like most negroes, a
sort of human barometer, and he never
failed to suit his bearing to his mas
ters humor. On this occasion he was
obsequious, patient, but bored.
THAT woman's still theah, BOSS" he
said.
Didn't tell you to get rid of her?'
"Yassah; / been tryin', but she's a
slayer. Fust time done like you say
/ told her Mr.. Sec'tary's engaged Tell
him I'll wait until he is at liberty she
say, like she de lady of the lam herself.
Next time / say, Beg yo' pahdon,
madam, for not tellin' yO' sooner, but
Mr.. Sec'tary he's OUT and she look up
and say, Tell him I'll wait until he
comes in Yassah, she say them iden-
teal words"
what kind Of looking woman is
she, Williamsburg and saucy?
mo; she gettin' long t'wa'ds middle
life sab, and she mighty shabby. Still,
I amt say but she is got quality eye,
and she do hoP her head up nightly"
ooh, WELL" said the secretary, with
sigh of resignation, "I'll see her and
have it over"
The woman William ushered in was
shabby. Not only were her clothes
worn and rusty, but they had never
been either fine or tasteful. Your lady
in temporary straits always has some
bit of faded elegance to prove that she
has seen better days. This woman was
clearly the habitual patron Of bargain
counters when she bought at all.
Still, as William had said, she carried
her head high-a noble head, with bold,
clear lines and a mass Of soft, well
kept hair. The secretary arose, and
they faced each other for one silent
moment, she surveying him with
calm and friendly air, he dazed by the
glimmering apparition of younger
and brighter presence which came be-
tween them.
"Can this oe Laura Camdenw he
asked. Her eyes filled at all his tone
implied. For an instant her bearing
changed-she lost her coura ge-then
she threw up her head, with a defiant
laugh.
"This is all that is left Of her. And is
this Tom Lloyd? She swept the room
with a calculating glance. It was as if
she estimated the cost of the massive
table and rich chairs. Instantly she
turned her eyes back upon the secre-
tary as if to measure him.
He flushed and rallied.
eyes; this is Tom Lloyd, the fellow
you wouldn't have, you know"
'Wellv' she laughed impenitently,
then sank into the chair nearest her
and ran a furtive, appreciative finger
over tie tapestry covering.
"You married Tucker Barton?" he
asked.
"Oh, yes! And he turned out as every
one predicted. 1 look the character,
don't Ia drunkard's widow who has
neither hope nor pride left?"
Her voice rang clear-no tremor OF
self pity, no note of shame or appeal.
"By Jove," the secretary said to him
self ''this is Laura, and she's got the
old spirit in her still!'
Can l do anything for you?' he
asked.
"Why, yes, if you will. Of course
didn't come merely to call-nor to re-
call I want place in one Of the de-
partments."
what kind of placer?
"I'm not particular" she said coolly.
"You know very we'll / have neither
talent nor training. You will have to
treat me as if were political bench
man and find me something which will
require neither. could keep accounts,
but I think / should like to be in the
library. There is ladies' room, you
know, as we'll as women attendants"
"But that is sucn mental place"
She spread out her hands, brown and
knotted and calloused. He drew back
in a sort Of shame and would have hid
den 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 mouth.
'Not more!'' She looked at him with
glittering eyes. Her voice trembled now
and seemed to express want and de-
spair and resentment together. Tom
Lloyd! Sixty dollars month-every
month? That would be riches to mev'
He shrank back in the chair. Tau
ra," he said, why have you never
come before? You live in Washington,
and you might have come. Any time in
the last ten years I've been here"