Waterbury evening Democrat., 1904-08-06

hausted. She thought of going to Sta pleton and throwing herself upon his mercy. But her pride and hatred dis. missed the idea at once. Mo, she would work and earn her own living first.
 She started out to seek work, in the stores where she saw many girls em- ployed, in offices. in binderies and fac- tories-but she had no skilled labor to offer and was turned away until her heart was as sore as her feet The days passed and the bottom of her purse was reached Then came an icy atmos- phere at her boarding house and she realized the bitter fact that the world has no use for the person without money. Frightened, desolate and des- perate, she staggered out for q final trial. If she failed-why there was the river as a last resort.
 But it is always darkest just before dawn and the tide turned on this dark est day of her life. She happened into big insurance ofice, where extra help was needed to address circulars, and she was engaged temporarily.
 The manager noticed her and was impressed by her refined face and man. ners and after the extra work was out of the way she was transferred to 6 regular department and put on the pay roll
 These were the happiest days she had ever known. Small as her wages were they sufficed for her needs and she was absolutely independent and mistress of herself. But there is no rose without thorn and soon Marian found herself the object of most em. barrassing attentions from the mana- ger of the department As they grew to be intolerable she found rescue from an unexpected quarter Tom Wilson, a ookkeeper. observed the mana gers attentions one afternoon and fol- lowed Marian out into the hall. where he hailed her.
 T beg your pardon" said he, "but I can see that you are country girl and not used to city ways; therefore take the liberty to say to you that the less you have to do with Hyde the better it will be for you. say this because have sister myself and would deem 1t a particularly friendly act ii some fellow would give her a tip in a case like this''
 Marian flushed scarlet. Thank you sir" she said. "I have tried every way to avoid him. but cannot" Her eyes filled with tears and Tom noticed then that they were uncommon fine eyes
 "I'll see that he does not annoy you further" he said.
 He was as good as his word. One interview with Hyde suficed and Ma rfau uyon Iaft sn nnocn r.. +hSr xuov a friendship began between Wilson and Marian. which resulted in something warmer, and in the springtime. when 1 Tom told her the old, old story, she was glad to lay her tired head on his broad shoulder and let him assume all the responsibility and care. And a new nest was built In a quiet little Hat and Marian sang all the day l long.
 Tn the meantime, Hiram StapletoN had narrowly escaped apoplexy. After | exhausting all the machinery of the modern detective agency he was finally forced to admit his defeat and reported l to his joint clients that their daughter l had escaped from the convent and was l lost in the great city. Post haste came l Gilbert Lansing from abroad and his l wife from the south. Forgetting their differences, they joined hands to find the missing girl.
 One evening Tom Wilson burst into his modest fiat, blazing with excite ment
 Look at this,'' he exclaimed, point. ing to his newspaper What does il mean?"
 Sure enough there was an advertise. ment for Marian Lansing signed by hel fathers name Then for the first time she told Tom the story of her life, and together they went to the great hote mentioned in the advertisement.
 There they found Gilbert Lansing Marian refused to speak until hel mother was also present. whereupor the mother was sent for. Then she told the story of the letter and her quest ending with a tear-emphasized appead for her parents to forget and forgiv, -an appeal so eloquent that before | was fairly ended Mrs. Lansing was 1T her husband's arms.
 I Auu Wuc ID lAAS SOuuS Iudr dshce the latter.
 ''That! Oh. that is Tom.'' replied Marian.
 ''Tom?" repeated MT. Lansing, knit. I ting his brows, rom who?"
 From Wilson, my husband O, course" replied Marian, flushing There isn't any other Tom, yo, geese"
 Some months later Tom Wilson gazed effectively out of the window ol his luxurious office in great sky, scraper and pinched his leg viciously.
 "Ouchl Yes. am awake" said he sbut I'll be jiggered. if 1t don't bea, the Arabian Nights. Here I am, poo, devil of bookkeeper at $50 per month I get stuck on a dear little copyist and marry her, wondering all the time how am going to support her. I buy C paper for penny. and. presto change my wife finds 8 long-lost father and well am managing million-dollal estate for the old man and, incidental.