The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1908-08-04

| fer asuteness If her latest invest uent
| had been made known II was an
| assistan.. That In itself | ,,rant you,
| is not extraordinary. but this ass ST
ant did not really assist, and that
does look queer, you see.
II came about that Miss Bellum S
Sudden discovery that she had more
from the advertisement which she
promptly inserted In a morning paper
The result of this ad-0ne of many
results, of course, but the one which
concerns us-was little Miss Marj0ry
Holt, Now, Miss Belium des red
discreet combination of industry and
sedateness; she did not approve Of
Irritation even in a business office. BY
this you will see that Mss Bellum
was no longer young; she was In
deed on the shady side of thirty
three, and plump and maiestic-look-
ing besides But still her heart was
tender, and when Marjory appeared,
a slender w!sp Of a girl with a crop
ef chestnut curls and an air OF gen
teel starvation, she engaged her en-
the spot and agreed to pay her the
magnificent sum of 81 a week.
This performance was the more
erratic that Marjoty, who had picked
up tvpewriting while copying her
fathers sermons at home in the par
sCnage. boosted that she sometimes
could DO several lines without mis-
take. knew nothing whatever Of
shorthand and at the ridiculous age
rf 10 cou a not b. expected 10 even
APP car Se3ate.
Fen on s6 week it is rosst bic
% find enough to eat and Mariory
improved both In looks and ability.
II was not until spring, however. thar
Miss Bellum heard her protese's
story. ID was late one afternoon,
when the work on hand had been fin
shed and in Miss Bellum' s ot'+ G.,
that was an event worthy Of celehra-
ton. OF course, there was a very
nee young man in the story who
vas not only very nice, but also quite
rich. and he had wanted to marry
little Mariory Holt
Though | never could under
stand. said Marjory ST 'cere'y, why
he should want TO, for am quite,
quite ordinary"
what was the raatter-didn't you
like him?" inquired Miss Bellum
hriskly.
on. yes, very much. II was ony
that was dreadful'y tired of being
taken care Of; / wanted q chance to
look out for myself And to marry
means 10 be taken care OF always,
YOU know" Miss Hellum nodded
with an odd mixture O, usefulness
and defiance; to the outsider mar
riage often means Just that.
The time will come whom you
would give the world for that one
thing. child. she predicted grimly
Il know-it is lonely in the city
sometimes Mariory admitted. Just
evenings" she explained qu'cGly.
"Of course on'y in the evenings.
assonted Miss Rellum.
And Sundays, when It rains"
added Mariory honestly
How about Christmas?' asked
Miss Bcllum. The girl shiycred the
memory was still fresh OF that Christ
mas evening spent IN TIL hall bed
room Of a South END lodging house.
aith only the poor cheer of a rel It's
su paper bell hung in the window:
for on SIS week one does not buy
holly II one ls wiee Mariury re-
turned 90 her story quickly.
We'll Rudolph aid he would take
good care of me. and | wantod-on,
20 much-to take care Of myse +. Tor
J never had. So / took year 70
make up my mind, and he persuaded
father to let me come up 70 the city. ~
Have you seen him lataly?" The
girl shook her head.
Not since then th.nb he must
have forgotten. or perhaps her
breath caught-'hc may have stop
( ped car ng" Miss Bcilum's heart
must have been hard after all. for
+ she was actually pleaee TO observe
/ that the girls chin quiyered slightly
1 she thought It very good sign
/ Now I'm sure II will come out all
right, she observed cheerfuly, and
proved a better prophet than she
knew. for hard upon her words there
came knock upon the doc, and a
young man entered a young man
! who looked as though he might he
/ very nice indeed, and also quite rich.
rs Miss Holt" he began. Mar
! ioTy turned.
'Ru lolphi" she breath-d.
i've got some te-ephouiue 10 do,
said Miss Bellum burr. edly. and etep-
/ ting into the booth ma sure that
/ the double door was latched behind
! Ter with a compromising glance At
/ Mss Bellums broad back. Just vlsi
/ be between the curtains the young
man was at Marjory'z side in an in
! slant. He studied her fac for d
/ long time before he inquired yer,
! gently:
How IS IT. little girl are YOU
ready to come and take care OF
+ me-" Mariofy's face lighted.
Let's take care OF each other.
/ size offered in shy amendment. Tn.