The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1908-11-27
Miss Bellum S Assistant

ICr dSuCeQeSS II ueT lateSt ;uSSSl Eeus
had been made known. 1t was an
assistan ;. That in itself. grant you.
Is not extraordinary, but this assist
ant did not really assist. and that
does look queer. you see.
1t came about that Miss Bellum's
srdden discovery that she had more
work than she could attend to. and
from the advertisement which she
promptly inserted in a morning paper.
The result of this ad-one of many
results, of course, but the one whicn
concerns us-was little Miss Marjory
Holt Now, Miss Bellum des red a
discreet com bination Of Industry and
sedateness; she did not approve OF
Irritation even In business office. BY
this you will see that Miss Bellum
was no longer young; she was In
deed. on the shady side Of thirty
three, and plump and majestic-look-
ing besides. But still her heart was
tender, and when Marjory appeared,
a slender wisp of a girl with crop
of chestnut curls and an air of gen
teel starvation. she engaged her on
the spot and agreed to pay her the
magnificent sum of Sc a week.
This performance was the more
erratic that Marjo-y. who had picked
up typewriting while copying her
fathers sermons at home in the par
scnage, boasted that she sometimes
could do several lines without mis-
take, knew nothing whatever of
shorthand, and at the ridiculous age
Of 10 could<not be expected to even
appear sedate.
Even on S6 week 1t Is possible
&c find enough to eat. and Marjory
improved both In looks and ability.
1t was not until spring, however. that
Miss Bellum heard her protege's
story. It was late one afternoon.
when the work on hand had been fin
ished, and in Miss Bellum's office.
that was an event worthy Of, celebra-
tion. OF course there was a very
NICE young man IN the story. who
vas not only very nice. but also quite
rich, and be had wanted to marry
little Marjory Holt.
Though I never could under
stand" said Marjory sincerely, why
he should want to. for am quite,
quite ordinary"
What was the laatter-didn't you
like him?" inquired Miss Bellum
brlskly.
Oh, yeI, very much. 1t was only
that 1 was dreadfully tired Of being
taken care Of: wanted chance to
look out for myself. And to marry
means to be taken care Of always,
YOU know" Miss Bellum nodded
with an odd mixture OF usefulness
and defiance; to the outsider mar
rage often means just that.
THE time will come when you
would give the world for that one
thing. child" she predicted grimly.
II know-it is lonely in the city
sometimes" Marjory admitted. Just
evenings" she explained quickly.
"Of course, only IN the evenings"
assented Miss Bellum.
"And Sundays, when 1t rains"
added Marjory honestly.
How about Christmas?" asked
Miss Bellum. The girl shivered; the
memory was still fresh OF that Christ
mas evening spent in the hall bed
room of South End lodging house,
with only the poor cheer of rel tis-
sue paper bell hung in the window;
for on Sc week one does not buy
holly If one is wise. Marjory re-
turned to her story quickly.
well, Rudolph said he wou'd take
good care of me, and l wanted-oh.
so mIct-to take care Of myself. for
J. never had. So | took year to
make up my mind, and he persuaded
father to let me come up 10 the city. .
Have you seen him lately?" The
girl shook her head.
Not since then. ! think he must
have forgotten; or perhaps"-her
breath caught-"he may have stop
ped caring" Miss Bellums heart
must have been hard after all, for
she was actually pleased to observe
that the girls chin quivered slightly;
she thought It a very good sign.
Now, I'm sure it will come out all
right" she observed cheerful,y, and
proved a better prophet than she
knew, for hard upon her words there
came a knock upon the doCr and
young man entered--a young man
who looked as though he might he
very nice indeed. and also quite rich.
is Miss Holt" he began. Mar
jory turned.
"Ruiolph!" she breathed.
I've got some teiephoning to do.
said Miss Bellum hurr:edly, and otep-
Ling into the booth ma" sure that
the double door was latched behind
rer. With a compreherding glance a;
Mss Bellum's broad back, just Wis.,
be between the curtains. the young
man was at Marjory's size in an ia
slant. He studied her face for 4
long time before he inquired rsrE
gently.
How IS It. little girl-are you
ready to come and-take care OF
me-" MarlOTy's face lighted.
Lets take cara OF each other.
size offered in ny amendment. .,h'
typewriter table which she inter
iosed soon aftCrward would not have