The Somerset reporter., 1903-07-16


clearly the habitual patron of bargain
counters when she bought at all
sill, as William had said, she carried
her head high-a noble head, with bold,
clear lines aud a mass of soft, we'll
kept hair, The secretary arose, and
they faced each other for one silent
moment she surveying him with II
calm and friendly air, he dazed by the
glimmering apparition of a younger
and brighter presence which came be-
tween them.
Can this be Laura CamdenY he
asked. Her eyes filled at all his tone
implied. For an instant her bearing
changed-she lost her courage-then
she threw up her head, with a defiant
, laugh
This is all that is left of her. And is
this Tom LloydY" She swept the room
with a calculating glance. 1t 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
Yes: this is Tom Lloyd, the fellow
you wouldn't have, you know
"Well.' she laughed impenitently,
then sank into the chair nearest her
and ran 8 furtiye, appreciative finger
over the tapestry covering.
You married Tucker BartonY he
asked.
oh yes And he turned out as every
one predicted. look the character,
don't Ia drunkard's widow who has
neither hope nor pride leftY
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 fer your he
asked.
"Why yes, if you will. OF course
didn't come merely to call-nor to re-
call | want a place in one of the de-
partments."
what kind of placer
I'm not PARTICULAR she said coolly.
you know very well l have neither
talent nor training. You will have to
treat me as if | were a political bench
man and find me something which will
require neither | could keep accounts,
but | think | should like to be in the
library. There is Il ladies room, you
know, as we'll as women attendants"
But that is such mental place"
She spread out her hands, brown and
knotted and callouscd 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 $70 month"
Not more" She looked at him with
glitterng eyes. Her voice trembled now
and seemed to express want and de-
spair and resentment together. tom
Lloyd, Sixty dollars month-eyery
month? That would be riches to met
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"
"Oh, yes. Congressman
Lloyd, Senator Lloyd Secretary Lloyd
And have, as you say, been here all
the time I've wanted to come. but she
wouldn't let me-"
"She?'
Laura - Laura Camden, the girl
you knew. She was always throwing
it up to me that things might have
been different" She fingered the tas-
sells of the chair, and she dropped her
eyes with the timidity of girl.
The secretary's heart beat fast. He
leaned toward her and spoke softly.
YES, you might have been the wife Of
the secretary of the navy by now, Lau,
ra." She tossed her head in her old
impudent way and looked straight into
his suffused eyes.
II should not" she said. "If l had
married you Tom Lloyd, you wouldn't
have been sitting here today"
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 fifty. You
would have been president!'
He looked mt her and answered with
quiet conviction:
Yes; | should have been president
with you to inspire me-"
Il should never have done ii by In
SEPARATION, Tom. | should have kept you