Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1909-12-02

1t better for me to find 1t out?"
"No," replied Armitage roughly.
Life" he went on, lis like pretty
play. A girl like you, looking at 1t,
sees only the picturesque setting, the
dainty bits of sentiment, the delicate
blending OF comedy and pathos; the
man or woman who has rubbed ell
bows with the world detects under
these things the paint and unreality,
the petty jealousies. the struggles for
supremacy, and hundred other de-
tails not visible to your"
Don't you think the trouble may
be with the eye that sees'?" asked
the girl quietly.
THAT is just the point l wish to
make" replied Armitage. THE trou-
BILE is with the eye that sees, and
that is why i warn you not to shake
the dust from your eyes by becoming
reporter. The worst of it is, you
see, that the play is only a pretense,
while the paint and jealousy are
real"
His listener smiled, unconvinced.
Il don't want dust in my eyes," she
said Are the things that are real
never pretty to see?"
Armitage shook his head. mot oft
en-" he said, except on the sur
face. Must you work?" he added
mo, and yes" she answered. Mon
ey | don't need; work do. l am tired
of toy interests and an unceasing
round of social duties that are mis-
named pleasures. 1t is all so unsat-
isfying and, in spite of a gorgeous
setting. so sordid."
Il hope your ambition will never be
realized" Armitage replied.
"You realized yours"
Eyes, and to meet a woman like you
shows me that | have lost more than
/ have gained. Before became re-
porter l would not have repaid your
kindness by deceiving you as / did
tonight"
His companion rose without reply
ing.
Il ought to thank you for not tell
ing me what you think of me-" the
man said, "but somehow your silence
seems a more severe condemnation
than you could put into words"
The girl smiled. "Since you have
tried to atone by confession, I can
not wholly condemn you," she said.
THAT l confessed was chance" Ar
mitage replied modify.
She laughed as she moved toward
the door. Il scarcely think you are
as black as you paint yourself" she
said kindly 81 must go back to the
ballroom"
"And l must get to the Office with
my copy but first I want to thanh
you for that waltz and to ask you
once more to give up the idea OF be
coming a newspaper woman. | dom
suppose l shall ever see you again
I'm only here tonight because the
man who had this assignment was ia
ken i'll; my specially is East-side muir
ders and robberies. But / shall re
member you always and / want t.
think of you as high above me In YOU
: safe little corner of the world, happ!
and making others happy. And re
) porters don't make people happy
l assure you. There, dare say an
talking a great deal of nonsense, Blu
my advice, believe me, is sound AM
sensible"
The pause that followed was broker
by the girl. II will not promise Il
take the advice. but I will remembe
what you have said. Good-by."
Armitage took the hand she offere'
hin, uGnnd-huD ha rnurmnrod
: moment later he closed the door be
hind her.
AS he reused himself and turned T.
leave the room he caught sight o
} something white on the floor. Thi
: he picked up and put carefully II
, his card-case, after which he wen
: swiftly out of the room and the house
: Cant you give me some point
| about my staff?" asked the new cit
! editor of the man whose place he wa
| to take.
4 Certainly" replied Blake, who wa
. leaving because his health had bro
D ken down. They're about the aver
. age crowd to be found In any newsps
1 per office, / imagine" Blake conclut
ed after he had touched upon tn
: faults and virtues of most of the r,
porters.
Are there any women?" inquire
q Armitage.
e YES, three. Miss West does tn
u society items, Miss Page writes up tn
women's clubs, and Miss Amory doe
: sketches-the pictures seen in tn
r Park and romance thriving in tn
= midst of poverty kind, you know. Sh
d is especially good at that sort {
= thing The only fault can find wit
her work is that it is apt to be mo
T. bid. She sees things through blu
e glasses, or else her sense of hume
needs to be developed"
n The door opened and woman cam
n in and laid pile of copy on Blake
e desk. She did not look toward Arm
" tage. THAT was Miss Amory," Blab
n said after she had gone out.
II guessed as much" returned Arm
tage, trying to speak calmly.