Pike County press. (Milford, Pa.) 1895-1925, 1909-03-19
Miss BelIum' $ Assistant

tor the HyperbOie building, would
teve lost her we'll carmel reputation
ter asuteness II her latest investment
had been made known. It was an
assistan.. That in itself, / grant you,
Is rot eVtrcori'nary. but this ass ST
ant did not really assist. and that
does look queer, you see.
It came about that Miss Bellum's
srdden discovery that she had more
work than she could attend to, and
from the advertisement which she
promptly inserted in a morning paper
The result of this ad--one of many
results. of course. but the one which
concerns us--was little Miss Marjory
Holt. Now. Miss Bellum desired a
discreet combination Of Industry and
sedateness; she did not approve OF
Irritation even in a business office. BY
this you will see that Miss Bellum
was no longer young; she vas In
deed, on the shady side of thirty
three, and plump and maiestic-look-
ing besides. But still her heart was
tender, and when Mariory appeared,
slender wisp Of q girl with a crop
Of chestnut curls and an air Of gen
teel starvation. she engaged her on
the spot and agreed to pay her the
magnificent sum Of 90 week.
This performance was the more
erratic that Marjocy. who had picked
up typewrltlng while copying her
fathers sermons at home in the par
scnage, boastsd that she sometimes
could do several lines without mis-
take. knew nothing whatever Of
shorthand. aud at the ridiculous age
Of 10 cou'd not BE- expected to ever
appear sedate.
E7en on So g week II is possible
&C find enough to eat. ami Marj0ry
improved both in looks and alb lily.
II was not until spring, however, that
Miss Bellum heard her protege's
story. 1t was late one afternoon,
when the work on hand had beer En.
Ished, and in Miss Bellum's Office.
that was an event worthy of oelehra-
ton. OF course. there was a very
nice young man in the story, whu
vas not only very nice, but also quite
rich, and he had wanted to marry
little MaTjory Holt.
Though ! never could under.
stand" said Msrjory s!,cerely, why
he should want to- for am qu te,
quite ordinary"
What was the ,latter-didn't you
like him2" inquired Miss Bellam
briskly,
oh, yes, very much, II was on'y
that l was dreadful'y tired of belrg
taken care Of; wanted a chance to
look out for myself, And to marry
means to be taken care OF always.
you know" Miss Bellum nodded
with an odd mixture OF w'stfulnezs
and defiance; to the outsider mar
Tiage often means just that.
1.-THE time will come when you
would give the world for that one
thing, child" she predicted grlmly.
81 know-it Is lonely In the city
sometimes" Marjory admitted. Just
evenings" she explained quickly.
"Of course. on,y n the evenings"
assented Miss Be'lum.
And Sundays, when it rains,"
added Mar1ory honestly.
How about Christmas?" asked
Miss Bellum. The girl shivered; the
memory was still fresh of that Christ.
mas evening spent in the hall bed
room of a South End lodging house.
ufNfh AWl hn oh 1f Afc
sue paper bell hung in the window;
for on SO q week one does not buy
holly If one is wise. Marjory re.
turned to her story quickly.
We'll, Rudolph said he would take
good care Of me. and | wanted-oh.
so mach-to take care of myself. for
never had. So | took a year to
make up my mind, and he persuaded
father to let me come up to the city
Have you seen him lately?" The
girl shook her head.
Not since then. think he must
have forgotten; or perhaps
breath caught-''he may have stop
ped caring" Mias Bellum's heart
must have been hard after all. for
she was actually pleased to observe
that the girls chin quivered slightly;
she thought It a very good sign.
Now, I'm sure II will come out ali
right" she observed cheerful.y. and
proved a better prophet than she
knew. for hard upon her words there
came a knock upon the d )UT and a
young man entered--a young man
who looked as though he might be
very nice indeed. and also quite rich.
"Is Miss Holt" he began. Mar.
jory turned.
Rudolph she breathed.
I've got some telephoning to do"
said Miss Bellum hurr edly, and ptep.
ping into the booth ma sure that
the double door was latched behind
rer. With a comprehend ng glance at
Mss Bellum's broad back, Just visit.
be between The curtans the young
man was at Marjorys side in an in
slant. He studied her facs for
long time before he inquired very
gently:
How is It, little girl-are you
ready to come and-take care OF
me?" Mariory's face lighted.
Lets take care OF each otheT,'
she offered in hy amendment. ThJ
{. pewriter table which she inter-
;osed soon afterward would not have
roved an ere tua barrier If NJ IS
aelum had not. after premonitory
ilieE1ng OF the latch emerged from
booth. Sac surveyed the tNo J
'eat satisfaction. No explanation
vas necessary.
1T looks to me" she remarked
nniaII.. ,,ar thnnnh 1 -hn,tLa hn,-n n