Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1903-12-12
THE GIRL WHO WANTED
A MASTER.
BY Augusta Kortrecht.


From her childhood the girl had felt
a vague longing to be controlled. Hers
was the woman-heart that craved the
word of authority now and then; and
yet she had gone through some twenty
years in a world where ell sorts OF
words abound, and had not met that
kind. She knew jus, where the trou-
BILE lay. She had been shielded frcm it
-unwisely, foolishly-by too tender
family OF male relatives. She had been
kept out of her right, as it were. When
she merited rebuke she get only gen.
tie remonstrance; and when she need
cd to be led she was followed instead,
sometimes fer in folly.
But now that she had come to New
York to earn her living she meant to
change all that. She lad thought it out.
She intended to take service with
sponsibility; to pat her thinking appar-
atus down in camphor bail; as unnec-
essary; and to do only what she was
hidden. Her brother was away from
home on business trip, and did not
know her plans.
Fate and Want AID. led her to the
establishment of MIR. Barney B!evins.
and red-haired youth led her on into
Mr.. Blevin's own Office. Mr.. Blevins
was stout gentleman and coatless. He
saw no real reason for rising CT re.nOy-
ing his cigar. He looked the dainty
figure over from top to toe; his eye
dwelt moment on the face. which was
delicate and yet had a strength Of its
own. Then he remarked: You're
likely looking girl. Want work do We,
eh?"
She should have known retter, but
she didn't. She beamed at him. The
burr in the voice was strange to her,
she would have heard at home: but UNI
derneath both there was deep sound
of mastery that was grateful TO her
ear. This was what she had Travelled
miles to hear She wished he would
do it again.
1t developed that Mr. Barney Blevins
had increasing outside interests and
that he wanted some one in his Office
as confidential clerk. He thought she
would do.
"And check up the cash register" he
explained. And watch the others, the
cheats! Watch every one OF them. And
Il hope you're honest" he shouted
suddenly. Are ye honest. en-? Well,
about how honest now-what's the very
lowest price for your honestly"
The week passed slowly by. The glrl
watched the others and saw many
things: but she kept them to herself.
Somehow it seemed difficult to lay
them before Mr.. Barney Blevins. The
cash came short every blessed night;
and grins-Guiet. ghostlike grins-
went the rounds when the confidential
clerk squared things each time out of
her little purse.
Mr.. Blevins took her to his bank and
introduced her, and said to the cashier;
Watch out for me. will We? l amt
sure of the girl yet She better be hon
est, be-dad! There's better ones gone to
the bread line that's went against mel"
And the cashier had looked at her
with wonder in his eye and she hat
felt uncomfortable.
Was this the word of authority?
Could a vine-woman cling comfortably
to an oak-man like this Then Mr..
Blevins showed her the combination Of
little safe, his personal safe, that held
some hundreds of dollars in cash, and
a box Of diamonds. These she was to
consider her charge-nobody else knew
the combination.
She did what she was told, and she
was told in English strange to her ears.
She got real criticism, outspcisen,
fresh from the heart. and frank withal.
Her every action was dictated. But she
did not throw Off responsibility. In
stead she grew pale and nervous. She
counted the diamonds and the cash
many times in q dag, lest they grew
fewer; and the register followed her
night, and by day ate up her surplus
small change while she lunched on two
cent frankfurters.
On Saturday Mr.. Carney Blevins ar
rived early at the office and called his
employees before him. II seemed to be
a weekly custom. He began at the top
of the line and went impartially along
telling them things in vigorous Ian
guage. You're a thief" he roaved to
one. "You think l don't see things
with my eyes. Hand over that change
you took from the register Give it to
the. girl there-She's the honestest one
in the bunch. Quick for you" And to
another: You're awful scared I'll fire
We. amt We, now-eh? Just don't you
worry! I'll keep ye, and I'll work We,
and the girl and neil watch that you
don't thieve us. See?"
When she got to the boarding house
that night, late, hungry, tireei, she was
ushercd into the dim parlor; and there
she saw manly figure standing very
stiff and quiet. She knew it we'll. She
had more than once stamped her foot
at this same manly figure, and said
mo! No. MOI" to it's soft and gentle
pleading. Now she stood silent before
him. The mans eyes were stern and
his lips were drawn into a straight,
hard line. He put his hand on her arm
and placed her firmly in a chair. Then
lie said:
go to your room. You will please
go to your room and wash your face.
Tsnr the water from the bowl. and do
not throw the towel on the floor. Put
another hat on. Get wrap. Do not
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