The Washington herald., 1908-07-22

Paul Westerly cast a curious glance
about the Office as he took his seat al
the big fat-topped desk Eight years
before he had stood IN front Of that
same piece OF furniture while he had
listened 10 Guy Masters scathing de-
nuncIation of his ehrontery IN aspiring
20 the hand OF his employers daughter.
Dismissal had followed the arraignment
and Paul had been told not 10 set foot
inside the place again
Now he was 10 sit IN Masters old
seat and control the destinies OF the
plant The same narrowness which had
regarded the suit OF his assistant fore
man for his daughters hand as an IN
suit had kept Masters out Of the print
trust until TOO late He had lost the
plant. and it was Paul who had come 10
take charge for the new owners.
This was the first time he had been
n the Office since his dismissal There
was less change than he expected 70
find The carpet was a little rusty and
the desk lacked the high polish that once
had been the standard. the gliding OF the
picture frames was trife tarnished;
the whole place. IN fact. bore mute tes-
timony TO those two lean years before
the obstinate old man had given in 10
the new order OF things.
There were flowers on the desk 10 make
welcome the new manager. Paul read
some OF the names On the cards and
smiled grtmly. He could remember the
time when he had been taxed dimes and
quarters for the flowers Of policy. Now
Re was the recipient OF the shop black
mail
It was tor him thai the collection had
been taken up IN the various depart
ments. He touched = bell and a boy
came IN
set those flowers on the side table"
Re ordered Keep them fresh as long as
you can Take these on this side OF the
table first, that I may get my desk n
order
Paul moved slightly back. that the boy
might first clear the writing space The
lad lifted over TO side table the elabo-
rate set pieces. and as he moved away
one particularly large piece. a smaller
bouquet was disclosed.
II was Just a little cluster Of pansies.
rich. veIvety blooms that remind him Of
the pansy beds ct the Masters home. He
caught Up the flowers and searched
eagerly FOR a card There was none at
IacIed 70 the bunch. nor did q search re-
veal a card pinned 70 the stems
Then with sudden memory he examined
the leaves that encircIed the blooms and
his heart gave a leap for OF the shiny
green surface OF one was traced a four
leaf clover and the initials L. NJ Il
was q little trick he had employed n
those DAYS when he had sent flowers 70
Lilith Masters These. then. were from
her, and she remembered him kindly.
even though he came to take her fathers
place
He had not supposed that she was fn
town. he had understood that she had
married and gone TO England 10 live. He
had had 10 direct communication with
her after he had left the little mill town
10 seek other employment. 4 dozen times
he had written her in care OF her old
nurse. but 10 answer had come. and at
last he had given her up
he had supposed that she had forgot
ten him entirely, but the pansies appear
ed TO tell another story. and Il was with
a warm glow at his heart that he went
about the business Of Strengthening
things up
As he moved from the Office he could
almost see LiIith as she used to look
when she came down IN the trap to take
her father home. It was here that he had
seen her one afternoon when he had come
10 bring a message from his foreman.
He had loved her then. though he was but
sixteen and she three years younger
Later on he had come to know her