The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1907-04-04
Betty and
Cbe Bear.

o.lrrrAl. ID. y !. !. -.

she had ever come Into close persona
contact befonc
ergo dubbed him the Bear" Mr
Henderson. whose desk was next e
her own, conndcd TO her Hes
slrnlght from the Rockies. you know
And then be Is 80 big. 80 british. sC
uagnlnly, Looks as much ont Of plac,
IA New York Office as a bull IN q
china shop"
Henderson himself Was slender
Z handsome. polished. immaculate OF AZ
lire. Betty's glance rested upon bis
SNUG. clean shayen face approylngly
I His well bred tones were indescriba.
4 bly, soothing after the hoarse rumble OF
I Mr. Stefllne's deep bass She was re
I jolced TO and one congenial person Ia
this place whore the failure and sud.
den death Of her father had left her
I stranded
There are reduced gentlemen as
well as reduced gentlewomen,' she
/ thought. with feeling OF womanly
sympathy for him that later on found
expression In unexpected ways.
For instance. although short 10 curt
ness with her employer, she would
llneer after hours for friendly chat
with Henderson and even permitted
him TO take her out to dinner once or
twice,
One day when they were alone in
the Office Henderson swung around In
his revolving chair and said abruptly:
"Miss vandeverc, did ltseyer strike
You as bit strange that the Bear
should have given you the best berth
IN the oiIice2 This Is your first expert.
cnce, and good stenographers are AS
plenty as blackberries"
Are theyT Betty answered. 81
didn't know"
7Do yon mind telling me how you
happened TO apply TO hlmT'
II received marked copy OF his ad-
vertlscment and wrote Immediately,
asking for the place"
'Hml And got an answer by return
mail saying sou might report for
duyT
"Why-yes--so did. Is that SO very
surprising
"Oh, no." Henderson medltated n
moment, queer little spark flashing
into his eyes. 'See herel I'm going
to tell you something" he announced
abruptly. "Thc Bear is In love with
you"
"Absurdw Betty cried, reddening
painfully.
Il know the signs. Watch him.
You'll see for yourself Can't come
nigh you without flushing and trem-
bling, Genuine case of love at first
ElEnt ! guess nu-w wuut nc was
about when he took you into his EN-
ploy."
"lIow can you say such thingsT'
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 Of
fee" he said after an interval, looking
at her keenly. "The Bear Is beastly
rich. That counts for good deal.
You'll marry him for his wealth"
"A cowboy from the plalnsi Not II
he were made OF gold"
Henderson looked relieved, but be-
fore he could reply Mr.. Sterling came
into the Office.
Betty bent over to her desk with n
scarlet face. When, presently, she ven
tured 10 steal n glance at her employer
she encountered his fixed gaze and
knew from the look In his eyes that
Henderson was right
The thought that this .uncouth west
erner dared aspire TO q Vandevere
made her furious Later on, when an
elrand took her into the inner office
whittier her employer had withdrawn.
she made all possible haste, but he
spoke TO her before she could slip back
again to her place.
"Miss yandeyere. one moment.
please. You are looking pale. You
are not used TO such close application.
Youll make yourself III. ! have box
at the opera. but l seldom 90. I'd be
more than pleased TO have you use II
Betty's breath had stopped, and she
recovered II with difficulty.
Thank you very much, Mr.. Ster-
ling" she said icily, "but ] must dc
cline 10 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 In
tuitiycly that the offer had not been
prompted 50 much by a desire 10 win
favor ms by real sollcItndo for her
welfare.
Further proofs ~ the big mans
thoughifulncss We're Forthcoming. That
fame evening, on returning 10 her
boarding place, she was met by smil
iug iandiady
"scc what's como for You, Miss Van
deyere~ The woman trinmphantls
held up basket Of delicious fruit.
"Who sen, ny Betty asked. search
ing for card
None was 70 he found, and Mrs.
Fryiit could only tell her that the bas-
ket had been left by q messenger boy.
Not ono Of her fair weather friends
knew her present address Naturally
shs thought Of Mr. Henderson For
some time there had been growing
tenderness IN his manner toward her,
When the anonymous gifts continued
10 appear daily she took occasion to
demonstrate with him.
.Hothouse grapes are expensive lux.
ur,es.r she said. Don't send any moro.
You can't afford tor
''sfisx. Napdevere allow me 10 correct
Q wrvng conclusion. have not pre-.
suned 10 send out grapes or anything
else"
who didY'
III may hazard gness--,he Bears'
Beti, was No apgry that she marched
forthwith into The next room. where
her employer was bnsy At his desk.
Mr.. sterling she cried, "lts al I'm.
pertinenoe for you 10 make ms pres.
eats, The fact that ! WORK for you IL
10 excuse"
lie booked disconnected.