The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1908-08-28


others don't hold with me, and say
no one wouldn't take on so over
girl"
How do they account for his fool
ish conduct?"
They've all got their own ideas.
The porter declares he's done some
thing, and daren't show himself. The
porter's wife guesses he's got dis
figuring disease-but saw enough of
him to know it isn't that. The ele-
vator boy suspects he's an anarchist.
But he isn't the sort to do harm to
anybody"
"No-o? Mary thought that Miss
Johnson began with an assertion,
though she changed her tone to in
curry. why do you think so?"
He's got feeling heart. He
heard me crying to myself one day,
and he asked me on the slate:
What's the matterT And told him
mother was Ill, and no one home to
look after her; and he wrote to the
housekeeper to send me home till
mother was well, and he'd pay all
the expenses; and he did, doctors
bill and all. So l don't believe he's
the sort to do anything wrong; and
] make no doubt it's love affair that
driven him to it, though / do say it's
ridiculous nonsense, and he ought to
be shaken; and her, tool"
He must have been very fond of
her." Miss Johnson said thoughtfully.
And she must have treated him
shocking" Mary added, trying to see
Miss Johnson's face in the glass.
Yes, but-don't you think that a
man who carries on in this absurd
way must have been very trying, Ma.
ry?"
Their eyes met at last in the look
ing glass
I'm sure he was, Miss" Mary said
emphatically. "And the lady mayn't
have been to blame a bit, for all l
know"
I'm not defending her. think-I
am sure she would-would let him
forgive her, If he wanted to. But you
see, she cant find out while he be-
HAYES in this ridiculous way"
If she wrote to him." Miss
Johnson shook her head. Most like
he wouldn't open the letter." Miss
Johnson nodded. "He wants draw
ing out of his shell, so to speak. If
someone could do something to re-
mind him of her, that would be
good way to begin, | should think"
YES" Miss Johnson agreed. "That
is why THAT is what | should think.
She was always fond Of roses-Iike /
am" There were roses all around
her rooms always. HE used to send
her some every day, and if theres is
anything that would remind him Of
her-"She picked some out of a bowl
and handed them to Mary. put
these in a glass and stand them on
his tray the next time you take any
thing"
yes, Miss" Mary beamed. "It's
like novel, And if he asks who
sent them?"
Miss Johnson smiled.
You can say--Miss Johnson"
Ard | always knew it couldn't be
your real name!" Mary cried; land
| don't suppose his rs Smith either"
Obi" said Miss johnson. "He
calls himself Smith, does he.
Thank you. Mary; am much obliged
to you"
She shrugged her shoulders, and
took up book to read. Mary's cur
ious eyes fastened upon it.
rs it French or German, Miss?"
she asked.
ITALIAN" said Miss Johnson. "This
is French; and this is German" She
touched two books on her table.
Can you read. all those foreign lau-
guages?" Mary asked in an awed
voice.
YES" said Miss Johnson indifter-
emily.
And speak them?" Miss johnson
nodded. And suppose you can play
the piano, and sing and paint?"
yes" Miss Johnson laughed a
little. THAT doesn't make me
princess in disguise, you silly girl"
The next morning Mary shook her
head when she brought Miss John
sons early tea.
He left them outside" she report.
ed, land didn't ask anything about
them, And here are your fresh ones
for to-day. Aren't they lovely, Niss?"
Miss Johnson buried her face in
the fresh roses, and picked out two
and gave them to Mary, as she did
every morning. 1t was those daily
gifts of flowers that made Mary her
slave. 1T makes you feel that she
looks upon you as human woman