The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1909-07-02

~ have endured her life sometimes
At th end OF 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 tine
month. She is an expert, and gave
her $15 week, but you may have the
same II you win come"
"oh. Mr.. Baird, how good You arep'
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 aud 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 a streak of ribbon about her.
she sat each day before the massive
office typewriter playing the keys with
swift precision or making poth0oIrs
upon a pad at the old lawyers dicta-
ton
One morning as she sat thus at work
alone the door opened and a 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 a tremor seize her, but she
made brave stand in spite OF all.
Her year as wage Garner had
taught her more self command than all
the other years of her life put together
Miss Pryorw he exclaimed. I'm the
name Of al that IS wonderful, what
are you doing here?"
II was Just like him TO say that, and
she could not help laughing a little at
his too evident amazement.
Just earning my living, II you
please, Mr.. Brent" she replied.
'And IS that necessarily
Most necessary. Did you ever hear
the old story Of the prodigal son Mr.
Brent7'
lie nodded. watching her earnestly
Well" Bess went on. little breath
lessly, nike him, / have wasted my
substance until | must earn II would
eat. I've been a business woman for
n year. and I'm beginning to like II
even better than being a society girl
All. hero comes Mr. Bairdi" as the old
lawyer entered.
Ills entrance ended their converse.
tiOn for that day. but soon after Brent
came again.
Being q lawyer himself ana upon
very good terms with Mr.. Baird, Il was
easy for him TO frame excuses FOR fire.
quent calls
$50 you like doing thisT' he said
one day, standing beside her and look
ing down at her nimble fingers. She
looked up at him brightly.
Eyes, indeed. never know what Il
was 10 live until now. only wish
had got 20 work sooner"
He waited awhile. They we're alone
In the Office, and in the silence the
clattcr OF the typewriter keys sounded
startllngly loud.
Il suppose" he said finally, that
you are SO in love with your work here
that nothing could induce you 60 make
change. And yet have been think.
ing that could offer yen a position
rather. better than this n you cared 10
accept g."
But I'm not sure that II would be
fair TO Mr.. Baird 10 leave him. He
has been very good TO me-" Besa said.
You don't understand" Brent said.
speaking very low and leaning over
her "rhis Is a permanent poaltion--
TINT OF being my wife 4"
I'D given mp ever expecting 90 hear
that from you" hess said a littie later.
Why didn't you tell me It that sum
MGR az LenoX or the winter before IN
Boston,
Because, my dear" Brent said. I'm
q sane man, ana no matter how much
J cared for woman | would never
marry Der were she not the right sort
! didn't fcg iu The frIg0lnuh glrl you
were then thc making or good wife
for me. So. though ! was strongly
tempted went away without speak
Ing"
"Iben played the prodlgal daugh
Ter TO good advantage, after aH." Bes
said migchieydusly. m ms money
had held ont this would never have
happened hut how DO you know that
my old habit may not refmnr
Ilowf Bacailae sou have learned
your lesson well Aud. anyway. the
role Of prodieal cauehtcF, as you call
H. never suited you 80 wen as
MY present oueT'
no; ns your future one as my wlfe
WIN mit Won"