El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1910-09-30
Counting Chickens
By Wilton Bruce.
you are not looking, very grand I
these days. Graham" said the

manager, in a kindly tone.
We've just got the lists out for the
holidays and If you would care to take
yours on Monday, instead of waiting
later, I'll secure that date for YOU
Thank you very much, SIR" said the
young man. 81 believe a change would
do me all the good in the world"
Wen put you down for Monday,
then. Where do you think of gofng?"
I've hardly thought of it yet sir, .
replied the confidential clerk. but
Confession always braces me up. I DON t
know if you know it?''
/ Il used to when it was a quaint lit
tie fishing village" said the manager,
smiling In fact, / spent my honey
door? Come in
The girl who had paused there with
the typed letters in her hand, listened
eagerly to the conversation, entered
with q rosy blush on her pretty face,
and laid her' work on the managers
desk, dropping her eyes as though she
wished to avoid Douglas Graham, who
passed out as she came in.
Her heart was beating like sledge-
hammer. The manager would surely
say something about their holidays,
but he simply signed the letters, and
she had reached the door before he
called her back.
"Oh Miss Spencer, you might just
take this into your room, and get the
young ladies to initial these dates,
You must arrange the order of your
going among yourselves. Thank YOU"
And he bent over his papers again I'M
conscious of the storm of hope and fear
he had raised in Maud Spencers breast.
'Gorleston, of all places in the
worldI" she was thinking. What a
marvellous coincidence! Oh, if only 1
can get my turn at the same time. I
must-I willi"
There were six girls in the typist's
room, and the click of machines was
deafening.
Miss Spencer resumed her seat. which
was next to her sisters, and allowed
the list to lie on the table for some
minutes while she schemed and
planned.
She was undeniabIy pretty, but of a
cold nature, and could even be spiteful
on occasion.
Very different was her sister,
Daphne, a sweet brown mouse of a girl,
whose tired pal1or told that a holiday
was more needed in her case than that
of any of her companions.
''Oh. Mr.. Johnstone has sent in the
hobby list" said Maud carelessly.
''The last who went has the first pick
this year-so it's my turn"
'You went before Daphne, surely?'
ventured Mile Smith.
Did 1? It's such a long time ago
that I've really. forgotten said Maud,
coloring all the same. You can't posi-
bly, get your frocks ready by Monday,
Daph-you know you can't" And one
or two of the other girls exchanged
glances, for Maud's selfishness was pro-
verbal among them.
Il don't mind, if you want to take
it." said Daphne, with a tired sigh.
Maud spent the rest of the afternoon
in a waking dream, to the detriment
of the work, but, after all, what did
it matter. Give her one fortnight, free
and untrammelled, and if she did not
very soon say farewell to the hateful
drudgery it would not be her fault.
The tide was making as Douglas
Graham, pipe in mouth, walked quick |
ly along the old wooden jetty.
He went on the few yards that /
brought him to the extent of the jetty, |
where he stood looking out across the |
dancing water, sense of loneliness /
suddenly overwhelming him. |
The last time he had stood there his /
mother had hung upon his arm-the |
little mother whose care and comfort
had been all the world to him; and !
now she was gone the desolation of life
5mote him full and hard, and his grey
eyes filled with tears.
He turned after awhile and felt a
pair of eyes fixed upon him, large, dark |
eyes set in pretty face, that colored
is he started.
What, Miss Spencer, you here?" he
stretching out his hand.
why not? Are you sorry?"
StNo. by jove, I'm more than glad"
was the reply, and he meant it. "I
yz-ho Sh n 4
with myself here all alone"
She inclined her head sympatheti-
cally. Everyone in the office knew
now hard he had been hit, but she
was too wise to refer directly to his
trouble.
How fast the days sped-the sum-
ner days of steamer trips and lazy
oafing on the cliffs, or in the con-
lies" of the dear old jetty.
He had said no word of love, that |
would come later, when she had laid
sure foundation; but she saw that
lis face frightened as they met each |
lay, always for some pleasant jaunt, /
,r a spell of delicious Incidence by the
;well of the sea.
And then came the last evening of
her holiday. On the morrow they
would go back to town together to rel
ume the old work side by side, but she
Happy, not knowing that his holiday
extended for yet another fortnight.
What time are you going up to-
Miss Spencer?% he asked, as
hey parted at her aunt's gate and she
famed a train in the forenoon.
Good! That's the one 1 always
AXE" he said. We'll, 1 shall see you
t the sta.'on. We have had a seoI
ime. haved we?"
81 have never had one like it," she
81 viii look out for you, on
he platform" and then he went away
It is a good old saying time and
ide wait for no man." and Douglas
sraham, who had gone out for a sail,
experienced the truth of it when he
ooked at his watch.
by jove, 1 can't do it, he said.
Surely she won't think 1t was put up
hing?" But with a strong wind
lowing off shore, and the tide against
i'm, he only made the harbor mouth at
he very time Maud Spencer's train was
ue to STAT.
I'D better go up to the aunt's and