Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1904-03-08
My First Client

afternoon several weeks ago,
smoking and feasting my eyes on
those inverted letters on the glass
panel of my door and incidentally
listening to the steps along the CORR
dor and watching the shadows that
passed and repassed, when one of the
shadows startled me by pausing there.
There was a knock and called,
Come in feeling instinctiveiy that
my career had begun. believe 1
stared a full minute at my visitor be-
fore l realized who he was. Then L
sprang up and grasped his hand.
Rogers L exclaimed. You out
here?"
Welcome to the West. Hunter" he
answered, laughing and shaking my
hand heartily. Yes, I've been here
two years"
$50 you're going to take in the wool
" West" he observed when we were
seated, adding, with a glance around,
you are pretty we'll fixed. May l
ask how goes the battle?"
Then we compared notes. l found
that he had lately become junior mem
Der of a law firm in Guthrie. of whose
prosperity / already knew. While in
Oklahoma City on business he had
heard of my presence and so looked
me up. l gave him all the college
news, not forgetting the great event
of commencement week-my marriage.
He seemed much interested and asked
a lot of questions, among them
whether l remembered Miss Holdings
Catherine Holdings. OF course l re-
membered Bob Hollings' pretty sister,
and instantly certain rumors heard
months ago came forcefully to my
mind. No, Miss Holdings hadn't mar
rled; hadn't cared a pin for that rich
Davis fellow. Oh. yes; she was just
as pretty and popular as ever, only
didn't seem to prefer one man to an
other.
That. then. was what took Rogers
away from college, with his law course
only half completed. 1 had often won
dered at it, remembering his excellent
standing in the classes and his popu-
lariU with the men. The poor fellow
fdgeted under the fire of cross-ques-
lions that 1 now aimed at him. but at
length he capitulated manfully and
gave me the whole story. 1 felt like
detective working Up a clue.
1T was no use, saw" he ended,
$50 l came away. l couldn't endure
being there and having to see her ev-
cry few days"
And you never proposed to her?'
mo; had a little pride. 1 was not
going to ask what know would be
refused"
That sounded final. so we let the
subject drop. might have added that
l actually did propose to her couple
of years ago. Did he know of that af-
fair, 1 wondered.
Half an hour later we walked to-
gether to my home, where introduced
him to Dolly, and we spent a very
pleasant evening. Isn't he nice?" she
said to me after he had gone. Rogers,
Rogers" reminiscently. Il believe I've
heard of him before"
Next day Rogers returned to Guth-
RE early and did not see him. Bust
ness at my office was still quiet, so 1
did a lot of thinking. and finally wrote
some letters. One went to the old col
lege town. felt few qualms about
sending 1t, but was glad on the whole
when the missive was in the nail and
therefore beyond my recall. Certain
words of mine were haunting my mind.
Isn't 1t anything to you how these
door fellows feel9 One might think you
hadn't heart at allr' And her an
swer:
"Oh, but havel l have indeed: be-
cause it answers when 1 call. but 1t has
gone long journey-to Japan maybe
or to-say. Oklahoma"
That answer had seemed TO me I'M
warrantably fiippant. but somehow the
words were taking on a new meaning.
How forlorn and pretty she had looked
that evening. two years ago! it was
brutal In me to talk TO her as did
About two weeks later. on return
ing from the office. Dolly met me at
the door with the mystifying announce
"Bessr l said who's Bess
''Bess Holdings, OF course The sec
ond cousin I've told you so much about
And. David. think or it! Think OF itr'
Think OF what?
why, David. to think that she is
coming here! And he here. tool Ever
since we came West I've been planning
for her to visit us. and kept 1t for
surprise to you. But never dreamed,
when wrote to her. that he was here"
do explain"
No"
"pon't you know?"
Then l sha'n't tell"
l did not reply. for something was
happening in my masculine mind Bess
that meant Observation-Disclosures Elk
beth Holdings. And 1 hadn't known
til now that she was Dolly's cousin!
On the following Wednesday morn
ing was at my desk writing. Dolly,
close by, was clicking on some letters
she comes down nearly every day to
help me. says she loves to. dear little
womani Rogers, in the city again ON
business. had just dropped in and was
standing ar a little distance. looking
out OF the window. l was thinking OF
Saturday and Its possibilities.
Ikere was light step in the corrt-
dor, then the door. which stood ajar.
was pushed farther open and there on
the threshold stood-Miss Holdings.
Dolly and l rose together l thought
Dolly was going to Introduce me TO
Cousin Bess," but she seemed 70 ses