The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-02-11
BETTY AND THE BEAR
By Francis A. Carey.

(Copyrfght, 1907, by F. c. Eastmentt
 And this young giant from the woolly west was her employer! Betty gryt & involuntary gasp. He was so elemental so unlike any one with whom she had ever come into close personal contact before.
 I've dubbed him The Bear" MT. Hen dtrson, whose desk was next to her own, confided to her. He's straight from the Rockies. you know. And then he is 20 tig. so brutish, so un- gainly! Looks as much of out place in a New York office as bull in a china shop" fe
 Henderson himself was slender. handsome, polished. immaculate of at tire. Betty's glance rested upon his snug, c1ean-shayen face approvingly, His well-bred tones were indescribably soothing after the hoarse rumble of Mir. Sterling's deep bass. She was re- 5oiced to find one congenial person In this place where the failure and sud- den death of her father had left her stranded.
 There are reduced gentlemen as we'll as reduced gentlewomen." she thought, with feeling of womanly sympathy for him that. later on, found expression in unexpected ways.
 For instance, although short to curt ness with her employer, she would finger after hours for friendly chat with Henderson, and even permitted h'.n to take ter out to dinner once or twice.
 One day when they were alone in the office, Henderson swung round Tn his revolving chair and said abruptly;
 Miss Vandevere, did 1t ever strike you as a bit strange that The Bear should have given you the best berth in the office? This is your first expe- rience; and good stenographers are as plenty as blackberries."
 Are they?" Betty answered. T didn't know
 DO you mind telling me how you happened to apply to himY
 Il received a marked copy of his advertisement and wrote immediately asking for the place" (
 Him And got an answer by re- turn mail, saying you might report TOT duty?"
 "Why-yes-so did. Is that so very surprising%
 "Oh. no" Henderson meditated moment. a queer little spark flashing into his eyes. See here. I'm gong to tell you something he announces abruptly. .'The Bear Is in love with your
 painfully.
 q know the signs. Watch him you'Il see for yourself Can't come nigh you without flushing and trem- bling. Genuine case of love at first sight, I guess he knew what he was about when he took you into his em- ploy.'
 "How can you say such things?"
 Betty was indignant She realized for the first time that there was vein of native coarseness under the mans veneer.
 "A pile of money comes into this office" he said, after an interval. look ing at her keenly. "The Bear is beast ly rich. That counts for good deal. You'll marry him for his wealth.
 "A cowboy from the plainsf Not 1T he were made of gold!'
 Henderson looked relieved. but be- fore he could reply MT. Sterling came into the office
 Betty bent over to her desk with scarlet face. When, presently, she yentured to steal a glance at her em- ployer she encountered his fixed gaze and knew from the look In ms eyes that Henderson was right.
 The thought that this uncouth west erner dared aspire to Vandevere ,nade her furious. Later on, when an errand took her into the inner once' whither her employer had withdrawn she made all possible haste. But he spoke to her before she could slip oach again to her place.
 Miss Vandevere, one moment, please You are looking pale. You are not used to such close application. Youn make yourself ill I have box at the opera, but seldom go. I'd be more than pleased to have you see it.
 Betty's breath had stopped and she recovered it with difficulty
 Thank you very much Mr. sterl- ing" she said icily But I must de- cline to take advantage of your kind ness"
 She fled with hot checks. But at heart she was not so angry as she tried to make herself believe She knew intuitively that the offer had not been prompted so much by a desire to win favor as by real solicitude for her welfare.
 Further proofs of the big mans thoughtfulness were forthcoming. That same evening. on returning to her boarding place, she was met by a smiling landlady.