The indicator., 1904-08-13

her "why not come this evening? l
shall not go out till 10. Come at o."
But" dcmurred the secretary, II
fear
AT Q o'clock" loudly repeated her
employer. I'VE can then finish toduy's
work. No objections, II you please"
The secretary took herself away.
trembling in every limb. She had no
intention Of going at 8 o'clock in the
evening to do the work which she had
contracted to perform from 4 to 8 In
the afternoon. And to be spoken to
like that before Tom Harroway!
As for Harroway, he was furious.
upon my word, Mrs. Van stylert."
he said, you have needlessly humili-
ated n lady" and went hastily from
the house.
II he expected to see the secretary
outside he was doomed to disappoint-
ment. for when he reached the street
she was nowhere In sight
Mrs. Van 4tylert had her maid fetch
her cup Of strong beef tea, she felt
- used up.
Amy thinks 1 want him to marry
Charlotte! And" she said. hereafter
l shall sympathize with every scien-
nature is the same as 1t ever wasi
Hold. though! What shall I do when
Amy comes tomorrow, for of course
she will not come this EVENING" sup
pose l must chance it. am growing
reckless. And Charlotte means to
marry the count! Didn't her mother
hint as much last nightT
AS for the secretary, she had some
thing to think about. And In the warp
Of satisfaction that a young man had
seen the folly Of being an idler and
was about to become a useful membes
of society. 1t II always 4 satisfaction
to know that our theories receive sup
port And, apropos Of that young man,
what sort Of spirit did he think she
possessed when she would put up With
such treatment as he had witnessed
Mrs. Van Stylert inflict upon her
And suppose he was flirting with Miss
Templeton. She tossed her head.
She had promised the lady with
whom she boardsS to 60 to the opera
that night, the lady having had two
tickets presented to her BY 4 friend
who was hastily called from the city
and could not use them.
The thought Of Harroway's possible
Irritation with Miss Templeton made
her feel that she should like to look
her best that evening. Her hair was
her first care. and she arranged Il 30
as to set off Its abundance and color.
"As though 1t would be In good taste
to wear 1t this way when I am attsud-
ing to businessr' she said loftily.
Next she donned a white gown full
of tleeciness and ripp.ing with ribbons.
She looked in the glass and was not dis.
satisfied with the reflection.
1t was then o'clock, and she sat
down and waited for the lady whs
was to escort her to the opera. In.
stead the lady had to go and tumbla
down the back stairs and received such
contusions and abrNsicns as made II
impossible for her to stir from ths
house that night. OF course the secrs-
tary could not 60 alone. so she started
to take OF her inery. All at once the
enormity of Mrs. Van Stylert's treat
ment of her struck her more cruelty
than ever. Should she keep on accspt-
Ing that lady's favors? Not II l had q
dozen mothers" she said. "and abe had
been to school with every one of thsmr'
She would inform Mrs. Van Styisrt
tomorrow that she must decline to act
as her secretary any longer.
Tomorrow. 1t was not yet 8 O'Clock.
Mrs. Van stylert had commanded hse
10 come to her at 8. Why not - ~
night and tell her not to expect hsr
next day and. just rs she was, let
that arrogant schoolmate of her mother
see her possibilities AS a well dressed
woman?
1t was all very foolish, very girlish,
but she did not care 10 be considered
dowdy any more than she would accept
gra tuitous contumely.
A maidservant was coerced, and, COW
cred with long cloak, the secretary
went forth on an errand prompted by
righteous indignation.
At about the same time Mrs. Van
etylert was Issuing from her maids
ministrations also in opera array. She
seldom courted music until late in the
evening, when, as she said, she reached
Wagners agony and soon had 1t over.
She looked up as her secretary entered
the rosy room, whose shaded candles
cast a most becoming light. Perhaps
she had never been so scared in all her
life before. She had not expected
Amy, and the brilliancy of the girls
sves and the bloom on her face told her
that battle was imminent.
The secretary eased the clasp of her
caoak-there was a pulse in her throat
that hurt her. For when she stood in
the presence Of her mothers old friend
who had been of such signal service to
her and noted that Mrs. Van Stylerts
face now showed kindness and even
admiration her courage seemed to ebb
from her.
Mrs. Van stylert was the first b
speak.
II am SO sorry. Amy. child" she said,
10 bring you out at night. l wasn't
IN earnest"
Not in earnest! At that the secrs-
tary's courage flowed back again. Was
she to be made sport Of all around7
II came she said, ito tell you to
look out for another secretary. l am
no longer in your employ"
Mrs Van Stylert regarded her in
silence, knowing not what to say, i'd
niring the girls well arranged hair,
hr face that was beautiful in its ex-
e4sement. but, more than aY, her spirit
and vigor.
Now, Harroway had felt uncomfort.
able all the early part Of the evening