Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1909-07-06

worn to fragile between Marjorie's
debut and Elinor's engagement Well.
1t did not matter, of course, but had
It not been for Madge Bess could hard
~ have endured her life sometimes.
AT tn end sof six months Homer
Baird. her fathers old attorney. sought
her ont and asked her to accept posi-
ton as his secretary.
Miss Page is going to be married..
he said. '.She leaves the first of the
month She is an expert, and gave
her SIS a week. but you may have the
same If you win come"
"Oh, Mr.. Baird. how good you are"
Bess cried. Fifteen dollars week.
meant as much to her as $500 had
once upon time.
Two weeks later she was installed IN
his Office and was making herself as
invaluable to him as his former secre-
tary had done. Clad simply In blue.
her hair very smooth, not a CLEAN OF
gold, not streak Of ribbon about her,
she sat each day before the massive
office typewriter playing the keys with
upon pad at the old lawyers dicta-
ton
One morning as she sat thus at work
alone the door opened and man
entered-a man whom she had not seen
In two years, since that last evening
she had danced with him and he had
gone away without saying single
thing she had expected him to say. :
She felt the color leaving her face,
she felt tremor seize her. but she
made a brave stand In spite OF all. I
Her year as a wage Garner had
taught her more self command than all
the other years Of her life put together.
Miss Pryor. he exclaimed. I'm the
name of all that is wonderful, what
are you doing here?"
1t was just like him to say that. and
she could not help laughing little at
his too evident amaZement.
"Just earning my living, If you
please. Mr.. Brent" she replied.
"And Is that necessary"
"Most necessary. Did you ever hear
the old story Of the prodigal son, Mr..
Brent?"
He nodded, watching her earnestly.
well" Bess went on, little breath.
lessly. like him, l have wasted my
substance until must earn If 1 would
eat. I've been n business woman for
4 year, and I'm beginning to like it
even better than being society girl
All. here comes Mr.. Baird" as the old
| lawyer entered.
His entrance ended their converse
ton for that day, but soon after Brent
came again.
Being a lawyer himself and Upon
very good terms with Mr.. Baird, it was
| easy for him to frame excuses for fire.
| quent calls.
| so YOU like doing this:' he said
one day. standing beside her and look.
ing down at her nimble fingers. She
looked up ut him brightly.
! Eyes, indeed. 1 never knew what 1t
was to live until now. l only wish ]
| had got 10 work sooner"
| He waited awhile. They were alone
| in the Office. and in the silence the
clatter OF the typewriter keys sounded
startlingly loud.
| IL suppose" he said finally, "that
/ you are so in love with your work here
that nothing could induceiyou to make
change. And yet have been think
ing that could offer YOU position
rather better than this IL YOU cared to
1 accept it, ps,,sess
/ "But I'm not sure that 1T, would be
| fair to Mr.. Baird to leave him. He
has been very good to me-" Bess said.
i "You don't understand, Brent said,
speaking very low and leaning over
her. This is a permanent position
that Of being my wife," f
I'D given up ever expecting to hear
that from you" Bess said little later
why didn't you tell me 1t that sum.
mer at Lenox or the winter before In
Boston,"
Because, my DEAR" Brent said. Tin
a sane man, and no matter how much
cared for a woman l would ney er
Il marry her were she not the right sort
didn't see in the frivolous girl you
were then the making Of good wife
for me. So, though l was strongly
tempted, went away without speak.
ing"
Then played the prodigal daugh
ter to good advantage, after, ALL" Bess
said mischievously. "If my none,
had held out this would never have
happened. But how do you know tina,
my old habits may not return:"
How? Because you have learned
your lesson well. And. anyway. the
role of prodigal daughter. as you cal
it. never suited you so we'll as
"My present One?'
NO; as your future one as my wifi.
will suit you"
State of Ohio, city of Toledo. Lnea
county-ss: ~
i Frank J,,.Ciianey makes oath tina
. he is senior partner of the firm of +
HI Cheney e, Co doing business i