The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1905-05-06
WINNING HIS WIFE.


Rigby, but it has been one of our
rules to give such a post as this only
to married men. Ibelieve there comes
to a married man a certain sense OF re-
sponsibility that makes him more val
liable to us and more safe in the po-
sition.'
"But, Mr.. Johnson, protested
young Rigby, there isn't man on
your travelling force who has done
better for you. considering the bad
territory you gave me. If you'd give
me a chance at New York State, I'd
break the record"
Perhaps, but you'll have to get
married first No, don't argue, re-
iterated Mr.. johnson as Rigby tried
to interrupt. "We'll hold the place
open for two weeks. If at the end Of
that time you can show me marriage
certificate we'll talk business.
"You belong to a club here in
town, have apartments waiting for
you when you come in from your
trips. go to the theatre some, play the
races a bit. eh?"
Rigby nodded his head.
"Cut it out and get wife"
''But I don't know any girl
who'd"
"What r almost shouted Mr..
Johnson, "do you mean to say that
in your bumming around the country
you've never met girl you would
seriously consider marrying?"
Rig5y's mind travelled rapidly over
his list of acquaintance. He raised
his head and caught pair Of brown
eyes watching him from the desk in
the far corner of Mr.. Johnson's Office.
The eyes belonged to Johnson's pri-
vate stenographer.
mo, don't know a girl that I'd
care to marry, nor a girl who'd care
to marry me"
"Well, I'll be hanged |" ejacula-
ted Mr.. Johnson.
"But I'll tell you this much, Mr..
Johnson. I don't propose so let lit
tie thing like not having wife stand
between me and that job. I'm going
to get both inside of two weeks"
Charley Rigby crossed the square,
his hands thrust deeply into his
pockets, his hat drawn over his eyes.
He was thinking about girls.
Then all of a sudden he remember
ed the brown eyes that had watched
him during Johnson's merciless cat
echism.
Mortified, the bookkeeper, saunter-
ed in for lunch, and Rigby welcomed
him joyously. After few desultory
remarks he inquired about the owner
Of the brown eyes.
"You remember Darton, who was
killed in the Somerville collision last
summer?" Well, she's his daughter,
Belle Darton. I think her mothers
people have money, but she was too
proud to ask help, and she lives with
her fathers maiden sister. guess
all they have is her little salary"
That night he walked home with
Miss Brown-eyes. The next night
he called, the third night he took her
to the theatre-but all the while the
brown eyes never met his.
And on Sunday night of the follow
ing week he asked her to marry him.
There were four days of grace.
"You know, I won't bother you
very much," he explained awkward
ly, wishing that the eyes were not
looking straight into his. "I'll-Pll
be on the road most of the time, and
your aunt could stay with you-only
in much better house-and really,
I'd do my best to make you happy"
The brown eyes where shooting
sparks now.
I'm glad you didn't have the i'm
pertinence to tell me you loved me,
anyhow. There is that much to your
credit" she was saying scornfully.
"But you couldn't make me happy.
hate you !"
She said more, but Rigby, Stun
bling to his apartments through the
snow, could not exactly recall it.
And all of sudden he realized
that, above all things, he did not
wish this girl to hate him. He want
ed her to love him, wanted it more
than ANYTHING else in the world
even the position.
Three days later Mr.. johnson
opened letter from Rigby, dated in
small town in Pennsylvania.
"I have changed my mind. don'i
want the New York job until I've
earned my WIFE,"
And all that long, bitter winter
Rigby staid on the road. He Stunned
the theatre and closed his ears to the
racing news. But he sold goods and
wrote regularly to the senior member
of the firm.
''Rigby's got the trade in Pennsyl
vania by the boot straps and pulling
on to it to beat the band" observed
Johnson to his partner one day-ir
the presence Of the brown.eyed stem
ography. HE is surely trying t.
make record"
It was Summer before. Rigby pu
the question again, and Fall befor'
the wedding-day was set. Rigby pro
tested, but she was firm.
''I want You to make one NOR
trip" she said shyly. II want t
write to you every day-for myself
All our correspondence heretofore ha
been purely matter of business"
He looked at her reproachfully.
EYES," she added, smiling tender
ly, "I could read between the line
of each letter to Mr.. Johnson, In
doing this for you, dear, for you
But / want some letters of my yer
own. Well make it just year fror
the day Mr.. Johnson told you to g
wife hunting.
Rigby sighed resignedly.
"All right, but tell me just on
thing, Belle, dear. Why. did yo
| x,,ok.I, enc c0 o1Oco1xy fha dav Mr. IOhf