The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1909-07-15

fair salary at a place where many
other girls were at the same work as
herself.
Six months more passed. She anG
Madge White still chung together
Madge was her closest, almost her only
friend, for the rest seemed to have
forgotten her or at least to overlook
her.
Even Aunt BeSs seemed to have nc
time for her. She wrote that she was
worn to a FRAGILE between Marjorie's
debut and Elinor's engagement. Well
it did not matter, of course, but had
It not been for Madge Bess 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 posi-
ton as his secretary.
Miss Page is going to be married."
he said. 'Sbe leaves the first of the
month. She is an expert, and l gave
her SIS week, but you may have the
same if you will come"
'Oh, Mr.. Baird, how good you are!'
u.
meant as much to her as $1,000 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 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 a single
thing she had expected him to say.
She felt the color leaving her face,
she felt a tremor seize her, but she
made a brave stand in spite of all.
Her year as a 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 here?"
It was just like him to say that, and
she could not help laughing little at
his too evident amazement.
"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 prodigal son, Mr..
Brent?"
He nodded, watching her earnestly.
SWELL" Bess went on, little breath
lessly, "like him, / have wasted my
substance until must earn If would
eat. I've been a business woman for
a year, and I'm beginning to like it
even better than being a society girl.
All, here comes Mr.. Bairdw as the old
lawyer entered.
His entrance ended their converse
ton for that day, but soon after Brent
came again.
Being a lawyer himself and upon
very good terms with Mr.. Baird, it was
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.
eyes, indeed. I never knew what it
was to live until now. l only wish
had got to work sooner"
To oil
in the Office, and In the silence the
clatter of the typewriter keys sounded
startlingly loud
81 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 1 could offer you a position
rather better than this IT you cared to
accept it,"
"But Pm not sure that it would be
fair to Mr.. Haird 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 a permanent position
that Of being my WIFE
that from you" Bess said little later
''Why didn't you tell me it that sum
mer at Lenox or the winter before III
Boston,
Because, my DEAR" Brent said, I'm
a sane man, and no matter how much
l cared for woman l would never
marry her We're she not the right sort
didn't see In the frivolous girl you
were then the making of a good wife
for me. So, though I was strongly
tempted, went away without speak
ing"
''Then 1 played the prodigal daugh-
ter to good advantage, after ALL" Bess
said mischievously. eff my money
had held out this would never have
happened. But how do you know that
my old habits may not returnY'
How? Because you have learned
your lesson well. And, anyway, the
role of prodigal daughter, as you CALI
1t, never suited you so well as''-
"NIy present one?'
mo; as your future one as my wife
will suit you"