Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-06-16

clerk, Maggie"
Miss Loree picked up some of the invoices
on the desk and compared them with their
numbers in the book The same old thing
isn't it," she said.
Just the same-there's never any change
here. Perhaps you'd like to finish them up
for Miss Bowles?"
"Oh, indeed l would" said Miss Lorelle
Indeed, indeed l would. 1t would be so like
old times. | wouldn't make any mistakes, l
promise YOU"
It's awfully nice of you" stammered Miss
Bowles; but really"
Lorelle held out both her hands. Good night
Miss Bowles and good night to all of YOU
girls. I'll stay till Wilson closes up. l want
to see him Old Wilson is still here, isn't her"
Yes, he's here all right" said Miss Cregan;
but it don't seem just right to leave you
alone. Maggie"
You always used to leave me alone-you
know you did. Run along now, all of you.
please"
One by one the seven girls filed before her
and wished her good night, and each one
clasped the salmon pink dress in fond en-
brace When Miss Lorelle was quite alone she
sat down in her old chair and turned on the
single electric globe above the desk. The
shaded light fell full on the books which she
had once known SO very well. The life of the
last year. with all it's big troubles and petty
successes. was forgotten for the moment, and
she was back again in the monotonous happy
past of figures and invoices and ledgers. She
dipped the pen in the ink and then dropped it
back on the desk, just as she used to do, and
with her chin resting on her hand she turned
toward the open window with its box of fra
grant heotrope and to the quiet little garden
of the rectory beyond. She could not have
told how long she sat there; but when she
heard the door open which led from the private
office of the Junior Partner, she hurriedly
bers of the invoices in the book before her
The habit of the old days was still strong in the
girl.
In the dim light Grey did not recognize her.
and thinking it was one of the clerks, called
to her to come into his office
When he saw Miss Lorelle in the salmon
pink dress standing at the doorway, he hur-
riedly rose from his desk and received her with
much efusion. He had seen her the night
before at the Casino, and he too had read the
stories of the automobiles and the diamonds
and the sable coat, and being young man,
apt in the belief of his own world, had placed
his own construction on them
The girl smiled at the excessive courtesy
and for brief moment allowed her hand to
rest in his. A year before she had left the little
room as a discharged employee now they
met on terms of a certain equality-at least
of mutual independence.
This is indeed an honor" said the Junior
Partner.
Il came to see the girls, ;" Miss Loree glanced
at the mass of papers on the desk. And you
you are still working overtime?" She stood
IN the center OF the room, looking about her
at the portraits and at the other things which
had once been SO familiar to her.
Do sit down" urged Grey, and tell me
all about yourself"
Miss Lorelle took the chair in front of the
Junior Partners desk and began slowly pull
ing on her gloves.
Her late employer leaned against the desk
and looked down into the slanting eyes and
the oval face Swallowed by the big black pic
ture hat.
In that one glance he noted how the change
in her life had already written itself in the
girls face-he the little lines and the
faint shadows. There was independence
too in her manner and an assurance in her
speech which he had never known before In
the year past she had acquired new language.
Its fine to see you again, he said enthus-
astically. Il at the theater last night,
and was really proud of you, You know l
feel, in way, responsible for your success"
The girl turned her eyes toward him slowly
and then back to the desk. "That-that's
what you said to the girl in mauve who sat
next to you in the corner of the stage box.
wasn't it mean at the time l took the call
after my song"
Why, yes. l think | did say something of
the kind. She really admired you greatly
insisted on asking you to supper with after