Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1909-08-26

her.
Even Aunt Bess seemed to have no
time for her. She wrote that she was
worn TO Il fragile between Marjorie 4
debut and Ellnors engagement. Well.
II did not matter. Of course. but had
1t not been for Madge Bess could hard.
Is have endured her life sometimes.
At III end of six months Homer
Baird. her fathers old attorney. sought
her out and asked her to accept n posi-.
tion as his secretary.
Miss Page Is going 10 be married"
he said. "She leaves the first OF the
month. She l. an expert, and I gave
her SO n week. but you may have the
same II YOU will Gomez
"Oh, Mr.. Baird. bow good you arer'
Bess cried. Fifteen dollars week
meant as much TO her as 81 800 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 CLEAN OF
gold, not streak of ribbon about her,
she sat each day before the massive
office typewriter playing the keys with
swift precision or making pothooks
upon pad az the old lawyers dlcta-
ton
One morning as she sat thus az work
alone the door opened and 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 a 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.
Her year rs wage Garner had
taught her more self command than all
the other years Of her life put together,
Miss Pryor" he exclaimed. In the
name of all that is wonderful, what
are YOU doing hcre?"
1t was just like him TO say that and
she could not help laughing little Mt
his too evident amazement.
Just earning my living. IL you
please, Mr.. Brent" she replied,
And Is that necessarily
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, have wasted my
substance until | must earn Il | would
eat. I've been a business woman for
a year. and I'm beginning to like 1t
even better than being a society girl
All here comes Mr. Baird" "a the old
lawyer entered
His entrance ended their CONVERSE
ton for that day, but soon after Brent
came again.
Being n lawyer himself and upon
very good terms with Mr.. Baird, 1t was
easy for him to frame excuses for fire.
quent calls,
80 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.
"Yes. indeed. / never knew what II
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 ke-'s sounded
startllngly loud
IL suppose" he said finally, that
you are so In love with your work here
that nothing could induce you to make
a change And yet have been think
ing that could offer you position
rather better than this II you cared TO
accept It,"
But I'm not sure that it would be
fair TO Mr.. Baird TO leave him. He
has been very good to me-" Bess said.
You don't understand" Brent said.
speaking very low and leaning over
her, This is Il permanent position
that of being my wife"
''Fd given up ever expecting TO hear
that from YOU" Bess said a little later.
''Why didn't you tell me It that sum
mer ut Lcnox or the winter before In
Boston,
btfduSc' my uFiTf i'Icul Sdlb, 1 III
4 sane man. and no matter how much
! cared for women would never
marry her were she not the right sort.
l didn't see in the frivolous girl you
were then the making OF a good wife
for me- SO, though ! was strongly
tempted. | went away without speak
ing"
Then | played the prodigal daugh
ter to good advantage, after all Bess
said miSchievCusly III my money
had held out this would never have
But how do you know that
my old habits may not return
How? Because YOU have learned
your lesson we'll And, anyway, the
role of prodigal daughter, as you call
It. never suited YOU so well as
MY present oncT'
$40; as your future one rs my wife
will suit you"
Sick Convicts' Excuses.