The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1904-09-21

| tomorrow that she must decline to act
as her secretary any longer.
Tomorrow II was not yet o'clock.
Mrs. Van Stylert had commanded her
to come to her at 0. Why not 80 to-
night and tell her not to expect her
next day and, just as she was, let
that arrogant schoolmate of her mother
see her possibilities as a well dressed
woman?
1t was all very foolish, very girllsh,
but she did not care to be considered a
dowdy any more than she would accept
gratuitous contumely.
A maidservant was coerced, and. COW
cred with a long cloak, the secretary
went forth on an errand prompted by
righteous Indignation.
At about the same time Mrs Van
Stylert 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
Wagner's agony and soon had it over
She locked 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
eyes and the bloom on her face told her
that battle was imminent.
The secretary eased the clasp of her
clOak-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 to
speak.
II am so sorry, Amy, child" she said,
"to bring you out at night. l wasn't
in earnest"
Not in earnest! At that the secre-
tary's courage flowed back again. Was
she to be made sport of all around?
Il 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. adj
miring the girls we'll arranged hair,
her face that was beautiful in its ex-
element, but, more than all, her spirit
and vigor
Now, Harroway had felt uncomfort-
able all the early part of the evening.
BY the time he had dined at the club
he was quite of opinion that he should
visit at Mrs. Van Stylerts no more.
He refused TO be a further witness of
the humiliation of a poor girl at the
hands of the lady who presumed on
the fact of his being her heir and so
making marriage arrangements for
him. COnfound the money! First, he
must set Mrs. Van right with regard
to Charlotte Templeton. She had cut
him off when he had begun to tell
her about Charlotte's engagement to
the count, taking it for granted that
he himself was the happy man. A
woman like that must not remain UNI
corrected i'm such a mistake. And if
the secretary thought he was flirting
He wiped the perspiration from his
brow.
But why shouldn't he go to Mrs.
Vans this evening, not waiting till to-
morrow afternoon? BY tomorrow
some one or other might be already
told of his presumed engagement to
Charlotte Templeton. 1t irritated him
nightly to think of such report be-
ing attributed to him, even though the
mistake might be corrected later on.
He went. On the threshold of the
pink room he paused. Inside the two
women confronted each other.
Another thing" the secretary was
saying. You tell me that you have
informed Mr.. Harroway that l despise
him for having no desire to make his
way in the world. | never said so.
told you that every man, in my opin-
ion should do his best to carve out
niche for himself in the world
Just then the speaker saw Tom Har-
roway. Her hand that had clutched
the cloak at her thrObbing throat fall
tered and the long loose garment slid
down to the floor, and she stood re-
vealed in a feecy white gown, a fair
vision of glrlish charm.
Harroway took a step toward her,
she looked so sweet and lovable.
Il should like" he said, "to--that is
| wish to correct something
Nonsense interrupted Mrs. Van
Stylert in loud voice, and refusing
to let the girl use her as a shield. Il
know you are not engaged to Charlotte
Tcmpleton. While you may not know
it, am bit of scientist, which ac-
counts for my recent behavior toward
you and Amy All, l must see my
maidw
She fairly tottered from the room,
closing the door after her, noting as
she went away that the secretary let
Harroway take her hand, the young
woman and the young man looking
preposterously happy, if somewhat
conscious.