The Lehi banner. [volume] (Lehi, Utah) 1891-1917, 1908-01-09
THE MISTRESS OF
A FANCY
BY zrLIA n. WALTERS
NN"NNNNesoeooo
Copyright, by Daily Story Pub. COD

ment beside his desk to survey his
domain. He was yet so new to his
position that it gave him a pleasant
thrill.
There was to be a dance at Ham
Inns hall that night, a great social
event for the rubber workers, be-
cause it was given to swell the funds
for their relief association. From
that thought to Sadie Wagner, the
belle of the room, was a natural
transition. But from her his
thoughts went to the serious prob
lem that had occupied him during
the two months that he had held
his new position. Jim's income was
now $25 a week, and he felt that he
might indulge in the luxury of mar
riage. What pleasant visions this
called up for him A house of his
own, Brussels carpet on the parlor
floor, plants in the window, a pretty
wife who would always wear neat
gowns, and never, never red calico
ones such as were favored by the fat
landlady of the boarding house, and
last in his dreams came the picture
of white-robed baby. Usually Jim
wanted it to be baby girl with
golden curls, though he wavered be-
tween that and a boy brave in dimin-
utive knickerbockers.
The house was a reality. He had
begun to save for it two years be-
fore, and in the last week he had
found just the right one, and made
his first payment. Now he must
find wife to make it home for him.
He had thought of Sadie many
times, and modest fellow as he was
he yet could not doubt that she
would take the place if he asked her
to. But a secret faint hope always
said, "Wait."
He had walked home one dark
rainy night behind two girls and he
had overheard scrap of their con-
versation. The slender girl with a
long braid of hair had walked
YEARLY, and at length she had ex-
claimed bitterly, ooh! / wish 1
never had to go back again"
you ought to get married. said
her companion promptly and anna
bly,.
~ wish | was married." she ut
tered this unlawful wish in a vehe-
ment voice. II went to see my
Cousin Jenny last Sunday. She al
ways had all the luck. She went
to school and graduated, and | had
TO go to the shop when was IA.
Now she's married and got a good
husband and lovely baby When he
went out Sunday he kissed her good
by and they've been married two
years! And he never scolds her,
and he's SO nice and jolly around the
house. ! wish ! had a husband like
that Oh! I'd be good to him !
When he came home at night I'd
have the house clean and warm and
bright, and there'd be a nice supper
ready, and I'd have on pretty
dress, and he'd kiss me, and then
we'd sit down just we two-just we
two"
Her voice was trembling with
emotion, and Jim noticed that it was
a sweet low voice.
"There might be more than two,"
the other reminded her with a
facetious giggle.
yes" she said seriously, "a lit
Tie baby with a white dress on in
high chair laughing and playing at
the table"
Something new came into Jim's
careless boyish heart at that. Home
and wife and child seemed suddenly
the only things worth thinking
about. As soon as he could he
passed the two girls and tried to
see the face of the one who had
spoken. But the rain and darkness
obscured everything and he went on
not sure that he would know her
again. When he was promoted he
tried to find her. There were a
dozen girls with long braids in the
shop, but this one had disappeared
as though she were indeed a maid of
dreams Yet whenever Jim was on
the verge of speaking seriously to
Sadie the dream girls voice came in
between, and he was willing to wait
yet little while.
Sadie pressed to his side going
J,,y,atoirs "DO come carly to