The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1903-10-03

I IN correspondence with so many
| prominent men.
But when the Judge bought brand
new oak. drop-top typewriting desk for
| Miss Gildersleeve and had it placed
| in his own private office, where neith-
| er the prying clerks nor the receptive
Lufkin could overhear him debating
| letters, old Eben got out the little oil
stone from his bottom drawer, and, as
he sharpened his penknife. whistled
THE Campbells Are Coming" in q
weird and dreary discord. A few days
afterward he noticed that Judge Roach
wore very brilliant rose in his but
tonhole as he strobe into the office in
the morning. And in the evening, af-
ter she had gone and the old bachelor
went into the private Office to get the
morning paper out of the waste bas-
ket, he saw the same rose in bottle
Of water on Miss Gildersleeve's desk
After that he began to notice lot
of unusual things in Judge Roach's
dress and demeanor, and he whistled
"The Campbells Are Coming" all the
time, to all kinds Of measure and never
in tune. Roach was Enthusiastically ir-
ritated when Eben suddenly resumed
the dictation of letters. To do this it
was necessary for the old fellow either
to call Miss Gildersleeve into the main
Office or to intrude upon the privacy CT
Roach's sanctum. The Judge began
to conceive deep-rooted, but unrea-
son. % hatred for his old partner.
Luf MS correspondence began to sur
pass' all reason. ,Ie amiable Miss
Gildersleeve was forever taking notes.
But now 1t was Eben who monopolized
her time.
The Judge tried coming down early.
He arrived one morning at o'clock
But Lufkin was already at work. Then
he tried lettering in the evening, but
Eben insisted on locking up
II believe the old fool thinks Miss
Gildersleeve has ensnared me-" reflect
ed Roach, gnawing his mustache. THE
meddlesome FOSSIL"
AS a matter of fact the Judge had
found his stenCgrapher so quick-wit-
ted, SO modest, SO amiable and so
comely that he was beginning to con-
slider the propriety of showing her ALT
tie more personal attention. You see,
she was the daughter of an old and re-
spected client and she had come to
town an utter stranger. Her manners
were those of the nurtured southern
lady. She was young, diffident, indus
trious, discreet. Why not show her
some of the consideration which is
usually omitted between employer and
employe? So thought Judge Roach. It
could do no harm, for instance, to take
her driving in the park after dark. No
body would see them. He could keep
away from the crowded drives and
fashionable resorts. So he asked her.
"Oh. thank you, Mr.. Roach" she had
answered, but promised friend to
attend the concert this evening. It's
very kind Of you. I'm sure"
He saw that she was pleased, fiat
tered, he guessed, and by the merest
chance he drove that evening past the
music stand in the park. He saw her,
her face radiant, smiling, chatting gay
lv to a man.
The next day, having asked Miss
Gildersleeve to withdraw, Judge
Roach. looking quite solemn, his hand
trembling bit, his face flushed, called
Eben into his Office and closed the
door.
"Eben." he said awkwardly. con-
fused, I've been thinking-of course.
it's just notion of mine, but I-have
you thought anything of Withdrawing
from the partnership in for
Eben?"
Eyes, I've thought of it. George"
said Lufkin, quietly, sad kind of
smile lowering about the corner Of his
gentle mouth. u think I'd have done
better Mege. rsrha2s, but rs . bit late
{