The Meeker herald., 1910-09-24

Gently he was postgraduate student
ut the university. His fathers death
put him at the head of this great con-
Germ without q warning. His father In
vented this system and made It what
1t IL. General Maitland was . wonder
full man"
Sylvia did not say Q word. but she
wondered II the son had inherited his
fathers manner. The young man must
nave OWNED her thoughts. for he
looked rather conscious ~ he proceed
ed: The general was = second Chos-
terfeld In department. He had the
most agreeable manner Of any person
have ever known"
Still Sylvia did not trust herself to
speak. Left to make the conversa-
tion as he would. he continued:
"But our president IL very like bis
father in many ways. He is the soul
Of integrity and he is very clever. In
another year he will know the bust
ness from start to finish. Every one
here realizes that he ID capable OF
great things. He has already 'revolu-
tionized everything"
But is that good-for tho bust
ness?" asked Sylvia.
Precisely what It needed" he re-
piled earnestly. ut was getting .
little archaic. you know. Our COM
pstitors were beginning to make 1t
warm for US. Our new head has a.
ready worried them. They are won
dering what he will do next"
She slkhed feebly as his words re-
called her own unsettled future.
"Pardon me-" he said. II am firing
you with my talk about Stephen
Maitland. should be telling you
what you will be expected to do ~
his private secretary. You viii have
letters"
"Never!" exclaimed sylvia posi-
lively.
mot at all dihlcult." he laughed.
HE doesn't receive many letters Of
business nature. and a. soon ~ you
discover their tendency you are to
turn them over to he. It ID only his
personal mail that you are to In
spect."
Sylvia shook her head despairingly.
There are very few of them" he
FASTENED to assure her. and they
are almost exclusively invitations
and begging letters. The former you
VIII be expected to decline without
consulting him. The latter you must
return to their writer's with q printed
slip referring them to the United
Charities association.
And now for the actual duties.
please" said Sylvia with dignity.
That's about the list. so far as
have been able to nnd out. OF
course. II I were to be incapacitated
by sickness or any other cause I sup
pose you would be expected to do my
work"
What would that be7'
Il am . sort of combination Of
stenographer, business secretary and
confidential adviser. But should
advise you not to cherish any vain
hope Of stepping into my shoes even
temporarily. I'm never sick and am
very careful to avoid beind hurt.
Your salary will be s12 to begin.
Shall put you on the pay roll. Miss
Miss"
Mrs. Sylvia Brough," she corrected
with still greater dignity.
All. see." he said. writing tho
name on 4 slip Of paper.
II am pretty sure shall not DO
Satisfactory" she said. rising to 20.
but must try. for 1t Is very neces-
sary that should have work"
Tomorrow morning. then, any
where between nine and eleven" he
called out pleasantly as she was leav-
ing.
A year later Sylvia made another
visit to Judge Buchanan's once. She
still wore the doleful garb Of
widow, but her face had lost its hope
lessness.
How about my prediction" the
old lawyer asked almost imms-
diately.
For q reply she sat down and told
him her story Of the past year.
When she had concluded he sat for
moment and gazed at her with .
look. half quixxical. half paternal.
Each Of these young men has
asked you to marry him." he said.
precisely ~ II he were summing up
in an interesting case. Being
woman. you will probably choose"
Il have promised to marry stephen"