The Lamar register., 1908-09-09
THE lew
GIRL
BY FRANK II. SWEET

Can You spell pretty good. Miss
Willis?"
why. yes: l think So" the girl an.
swered.
Then l ruess you'll do"
Big. broa l-shouldered Reub Gavith
looked down at the young woman ap
provingly.
your work with me will be rather
trying. You see." frankly. II haven't
any education to speak OF. can't spell.
an can't hardly write my own name.
an have re Gently come into a lot Of
money an 4 big business. think I
have head for the work. an the de-
termination an energyS but it's going
to be stitf pull for me to get the edu-
cation. In this I'll want your help.
I would rather you know all this now
than to PICK 1t up piecemeal with q
new shock every day"
There was a light flush on the girls
face as she seated herself at the desk.
Already she liked the big. frank-spok.
EN- man whose every tone and look be-
spoke kindly sincerity. But what
would he say II he knew of her real
purpose in coming to this little out
of-the-way town?
The next morning they commenced
work. and as the days went by they
settled down to the steady. practical
details of the large business. The new
typewriter proved herself not only
competent with the machine and spell
ing. but with keen insight and In
tetrest in the work as well.
p,,t
close companionship day after day and
week after week, Mr.. Gavith came
gradually to realize that his type
writer was no ordinary girl, and ten
that she was no longer a mere type
writing girl to him. But. with the
knowledge. he suddenly grew restless
and anxious and more reserved.
Then one day Miss Willis became
conscious that her employer was bend.
ing over his desk laboriously compos-
ing a letter.
II guess I'll have to get you to type
write an sond this. Miss Willis" he
said. placing the letter before her.
She glanced at the address. her eyeA
dilating.
"Why-why-what does this mean.
Mr.. Gavith?" she gasped.
He laughed ruefully. THE things
this way. ! was guide for hunting
party once-before | came into the
money, you know-an' there was nice
young fellow who got sick an talked
to me lot about his folks. an esps-
cially his sister. hadn't ever run
across many girls. an this seemed 70
be a wonderfully fine one. an'-an'-
well. ELL In love with her. or rathss
with his talk Of her. OF course. I
didn't hint anything. for I wasn't no
',ody. an he an she was educated an
had money; but got her address an
kept It. When I came into the money
wrote an asked her a question, an
she answered. an 80 We got to cor.
responding. Then after awhile
asked her to marry me. an she partly
promised. You see. we liked each 9th
er's letters"
But l do not understand yet-yos
name. and-and the letters?"
That's the small part Of It," rueful-
~. II was afraid she might know my
name through her brother. SO took
my middle one, Reuben Lincoln. an
after I wrote the letters had them all
copied out by q friend 80 the spelling
would be all right. But the worst part
IL that don't love the girl any more.
I love somebody else. That letter tells
It all, an asks her to release me. II
she does" his voice trembling q little.
II shall ask you to marry me. Miss
Willis. II you won't-wsll. the letter
must 60 on Just the same. 1t won't b
right for her not to know now"
Miss Willis was on her feet. her
eyes moist. her lips trembling. She
took his letter and deliberately tore IL
apart. dropping the pieces into .
wastebasket.
I'll don't want to read It, Mr.. O.
WITH" she said. "and don't want you
TO love me. Yeu must love the other
girl. She IL the real one. Don't you
understand? We lost our money, and
l learned typewriting.
Then after IL had partly prom
Used was afraid I might have made Q
mistake. I once knew a girl who an.
swered an advertisement. and It did
not turn out well. When saw your
notice 1t seemed . good opportunity to
come here under an assumed name and
find out who Mr.. Lincoln was. have
asked two or three" raising her eyes
with a half smile. land none Of them
ever heard of q Mr.. Lincoln in this
neighborhood. It looked as though I
had been duped. But really. Mr..
Gavith, l would rather you would keep
on loving the other girl. There isn't
anv Miss Wfllia"
The depression had left his face by
this time, and 1t was grinning broadly.
You're Miss Estelle Longmore,
then" he said.
YES"
| AN will you. ~ Miss Estelie. an
after that letter." nodding toward the
wastebasket. "be willin' to marry mer
81 have not read the letter. and. As
Miss Estelle," her voice dropping .
little, but her eyes meeting his frank.
ly, "I am willing to marry you. l
would never have made half promise
unless l had fully meant 1t to be .
whole and unconditional one"
o.xtsfaotIan Guaranteed