Charlevoix county herald., 1907-10-26

"You Can Be be heard grumb-
Trusted" lingly: ST m
Goodloe is in pretty business disturb
ing the peace of the neighborhood this
way every morning. He deserves to
be muZzled."
Tom had told Bertha often that he
could not afford to marry on his
present salary, yet now he was rush
ing headlong toward matrimony with
the music teacher, regardless Of con.
sequence. Bertha was SO nervous that
she took frequent walks in the park
to ease her feelings.
She was sitting on bench one day
when she was accosted by the music
teacher with demand for 4 few min
utes' conversation.
tom Goodloe," began the music
teacher, used to be fond Of you and
now l want you to coax him back He
has proposed to me and will not be
refused, he says, unless l confess that
/ love another. Well, / do; but to con-
fess it to Tom is impossible, because
to have the engagement known now
might injure the prospects Of my in
tended husband, who is studying for
the operate stage. He writes the
most pathetic letters, begging me to
take pity on his lonliness and marry
him. But we must wait until he has
proved himself success, as 1 shall
convince him when he comes. here
next week for his vacation. When he
arrives, l shall have my hands full
without Tom to complicate the situa-
ton
Bertha's eyes flashed. "And you
made Tom neighborhood jest for the
sake of the few dollars you received
for his Instruction." she cried.
"A poor music teacher must hold
her pupils as best she can" returned
her former rival coolly. II have no
father and brother to support me as
you have. If / have not taught Tom
to sing I've made him more tractable
man than he was when puffed up by
your alteration"
Bertha rose, disdaining reply, but
she heard the music teacher say: My
secret is safe with you, l am sure.
Now that you know l will not have
Tom Goodloe you can be trusted to
do the rest"
While Bertha was forgiving Tom for
lis period of hallucination he was, as
the music teacher had predicted, very
f,.an 10 ha
idea which had occurred to her in one
of the dark hours which she disliked
to recall. She induced Tom to try
comic songs, and his imitable accent
and poses soon gained him a reputa-
ton
One morning at the railroad Office
where he was employed he was anus
ing his fellow clerks with a funny
song. The applause was at it's height
when the general manager walked in
and Tom and the tumult suddenly
ceased.
In the afternoon a letter on
Toms desk which had an ominous
look. The young man opened it nerv.
ously, fearing to find himself discharg-
ed. But the letter proved to be an
invitation to favor the general man.
ager and party of friends with songs
at a dinner that evening.
The day after the dinner Tom said
to Bertha: Il am now in position to
marry whenever you set the day. They
have made me sort of soliciting
freight agent. 1t will be my work to
get hold of big shippers who are in
town and give them a good time. Sc.
curing business for our road inciden.
tally. The boys call it being trans.
ferred from the labor squad to the
force of entertainers. The general
manager says l have strong social
qualifications"
Meaning your voice." said EArtha,
happily.
Exactly. He thinks my comic
songs are good for business"