The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1909-07-01

worn to q frazzle between Marjcrie's
debut and Elinor'S engagement. Well.
IL cid not matter, Of course. but had
it not been for Mndse Ress could hard.
ly have endured her life sometimes.
At tn end of six months Homer
Baird her fathers Old attorney. sought
her out and asked her to accept a posi-
ton as his secretary.
Miss Page IS going to he married.
he said. .She leaves the first of the
month. She is an expert. and | gave
her 81. week. but you may have the
same If you will come"
"Oh. Mr.. Baird how good you are
Hess cried. Fifteen dollars 4 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 Il .,lcam Of
gold. not a streak Of ribbon about her,
she sat each day before the massive
office typewriter playing the keys with
swift precision or making potllooks
upon Il pad at the old lawyers dicta-
tion.
One morning as she sat thus at work
alnne the door opened and 4 man
entercd-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 Il single
thing she had expected him to say.
She felt the color leaving her face.
she felt Il trcmor seize her. but she
made brave stand in spite "f all.
Her year as Il. wage Garner had
tau@ilt her more self command than all
the other years of her life put together.
Miss Pryor" he exclaimed. I'm The
Eamc Gf Ill That is wonderful, what
are w doing herc:'
1t vas Just like him to say that, and
she cnnld not help laughing Il little at
bis too evident amaZemeut.
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 prodisal son, Mr..
Brcnt?"
He nodded, watching her earnestly.
well" BeSs went OH. a little breath
lcsSly. like him. have wasted my
substance until must earn if would
eat. I've been business woman for
year. and I'm beginning to like it
even better than being q 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 lawyer himself and upon
very good terms with Mr.. Baird. it was
easy for him to frame excuses for fire.
quent calls.
$50 you like doing this?" he said
one day. standing beside her and look
ing, down at her nimble fingers. She
looked up at him brightly.
"Yes. indeed. never knew what it
was TO live until now. ! only wish !
had got TO 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 induce you to make
change And yet have been think
Ing that | could offer you q position
rather better than this If you cared to
accept it"
.'Dut I'm not sure that it would be
fair to Mr. Baird to leave him. He
has been very good to me-" Bess said.
"Ycn don't understand" Brent said.
speaking very low and leaning over
her. "rhis is permanent position
that Of being my wife
"Td given up ever expecting to hear
that from you" Ress said little later.
why didn't you tell me it that sum
mcr at Ienox or the winter before in
Boston,"
Because, my dear Brent said. I'm
a sane msn. and no matter how much
! cared for q woman | would never
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 | was strongly
tempted. ! went away without speak
ing"
'Then l played the prodisal daugh-
ter to good advantage, after ALL Bcss
said mschievously. 'If my money
had held out this would never have
happened But how do you know that
my old habits may not returD?'
How? Because you have learned
your lesson well And. anyway, the
role Of prcdiSal daughter. as you call
it. never suited You so well as
"My present one"'
"No: as your future one rs my wife
will suit you"
Sick Convicts' Excuses.