Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-12-31

dicial He leaned back in his chair, his
elbows resting on the upholstered arms,
his gaze fixed on the tips of his we'll
manicured fingers, which met at a per-
fectly geometricaI angle. He had all the
appearance of a man deciding FOR or
against the prisoner at the bar.
Suddenly his thin, firm lips parted in
the mere suggestion of a smile, and he
nodded his head emphatically.
"A very happy thought" he murmured
'If one decides to alter the entire course
of his existence New Years day is the
most appropriate time for instituting the
Exchange. Quite so-an extremely
happy thought"
Crossing the room, he opened the door
leading into an outer office. a head
crowned with pale gold hair woven in
satiny plats, was lifted at the sound.
The foreign mail will be ready IN ten
minutes"
"Eh-what? oh, yes-you may bring
the letters in
He closed the door very quietly behind
him and returned to his desk. Here per-
feet order reigned. Each pigeon-hole was
labeled. Letters, reports from statesmen
and memoranda were arranged In neat
piles. He plunged his hands into his
pockets and stared at the desk with I'M
seeing eyes.
"Of course, there's the mother. She
might wish to live with us, but under
stand there is brother, older than
Helene. An amicable arrangement might
be made-for n consideration. / shall
be liberal, and the year which Helene
spends abroad will prepare the mother
for the separation.
Then MIR. Grey drew from one of the
pigeon-ho1es long slip of paper covered
with figures, and studied it with slight
frown.
II wonder if I have allowed enough for
hot in PariS' She acquire
every accomplishment that will fit her for
her new position as mistress of my
home
The paper slipped from his fingers to the
memories of the past
He had married the first Mrs Grey IN
great haste and, while he had not exactly
repented at leisure, his matrimonial eN-
perience had made him cautious There
had been times when his wife had gotten
on his nerves She had been one of those
butterfly bits of femininity who never
grow up She had never outlived her
youthful impetuosity, and she had made
him feel, with advancing years, that he
was her father rather than her husband
She had thought that every business trip
TO Liverpool, where the firm had heavy IN
terests. should be the repetition of their
wedding journey. and she had never failed
70 make the last few days before his de-
parture an eternity of fearful reproaches
For his business hours she had had abso-
lutely no respect. and during the last year
of her life, he had grown to dread the tin
kle of the telephone bell on his desk, be-
cause she had utilized it to interrupt him
with hundred domestic and social ques-
lions which he had thought might very
we'll have waited until his return home at
night The very morning of the accident
she had called him up to announce that
she had on a perfect love Of a bonnet. If
Only he could have seen it, And did he still
love her? Having been assured in some
what impatient tones that he always loved
hdr- CHI had riI To i1i thl
cession of equipages on the Mall, from
which she had returned a bruised and bat
tered doll. Even her death had been char
acteriStic, for she had begged him to pick
her up and let her die in his arms. where
She could feel his heart beating against her
face.
His chain of thought was broken by a
light tar on the door, and Helene OrmeSby
swept into the room, her hands filed with
typewriter sheets
no word save swept would describe her
movement. The queenly carriage which
had been the envy of her classmates at the
fashionable finishing school. from which
she had been called by the death of her
father, had been her greatest trial in the
days following this domestic holocaust. The
women among whom she worked thought
her proud. and they withheld the sympathy
and companionship which she really
crared- Her employers had either made
violent love to her, or, concluding from her
imperial bearing and her quiet but elegant
gowns. that she was a society girl on So
Geological research bent, had refused 10
take her seriously. For this one reason
She had come to feel for Mr.. GREY more
than ordinary gratitude He had accepted
her as an integral part of his office system,
raising her salary at intervals, just as he
advanced his male employees.
Now she laid the letters at Mr.. Grey
elbow. and turned to leave the room.
'One moment. Miss Ormesby." he said,
and the hand which reached for his pen
trembled slightly. Il would like to speak
to you when L have signed these"
Certainly she said, accepting the chair
toward which he motioned. She watched
him as he signed his mail. How methodi-
cally yet rapidly he ran through each let
ter. How firm and clear was his sigma
ture- She had often heard him spoken of
as a man blessed with a wonderful gift of
organization and d marvellous capacity for
detail. This showed now in every line of
his straight, spare figure, his closely-crop-
ped hair. his clean-shaven face. Was he
forty-five or fifty? she wondered idly. What
was the life he led in the granite house
that she had pointed out to her mother one
Sunday as they had ridden up Riverside
In the electric stage?
The last letter signed, he touched a but
ton and turned the mail over to a small
boy, trinity clad in the uniform Of the firm;
then he swung round to face the girl.
Miss Ormesby l understand that you and
dale?''
The girls eyes opened just a trife
Yes, SIR
Then l shall do myself the pleasure of
calling on you both tomorrow"
The girls eyes were opened very wide
now. Her amazement was obvious He
flushed just trifie II always make a
point of paying a few calls on New Year
day. and-well-I have been contemplating
this particular call for-er, some time, Miss
Ormesby. Your services have been excep-
tionally satisfactOry-your conduct in the
office NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. and ] have
wanted to meet your mother and express
MISREPRESENTATION. In fact, 1 feel that
the future should hold something better in
store for you than the post of head stenog-
rapher for James A. Grey & Co., and / am
coming-to-talk 1t over with your mother"
The last sentence ended abruptly and a
trifie lamely. The girl had risen, and
though she stood very straight and tall in
his fast-glooming Office, the proud lift of
her head had bent Just a trifie and her eyes
held a new light.
Thank you, Mr. Grey. Mother will APP
preciate both your call and your words of
commendation. There have been times when
We both have felt-our-our new position
keenly, and your inter est in my future will
be most welcome. You may be sure that
any plan you have to suggest will receive
our earnest consideration"
She bowed slightly and left the room.
James Grey stared duly at the door
which closed upon her. Then he woke up to
sudden and most unconventional desire
to call her back and tell her now-this very