The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-07-16

fathers manner. The young man must
have OWNED her thoughts, for he look
ed rather conscious as he proceeded:
THE general was second Chesterfield
in department. He had the most agree
able manner of any person have
ever known"
Still Sylvia did not trust herself to
speak. Left to make the conversation
as he would, he continued:
But our president is very like his
father in many ways. He is the soul
of integrity and he is very clever. In
another year he will know the business
from start to finish. Every one here
realizes that he is capable of great
things: He has already revolutionized
But is that good for the business:"
asked Sylvia.
Precisely what it needed" he replied
earnestly. ut was getting a little
archaic, you know. Our competitor
Our new head has already worried
them. They are wondering what he
will do next
She sighed feebly as his words re-
called her own unsettled future.
Pardon me-" he said. "I am firing
you with my talk about Stephen Matt
land. I should be telling you what you
will be expected to do as his private
secretary. You will have to open his
| mail and read all his letters"
NEVER exclaimed sylvia pOSlIlrC iy
mot at all difficult" he laughed. He
doesn't receive many letters OF bust
ness nature, and as soon as you dis
covery their tendency you are TO turn
them over to me. 1t Is only. MS per-
sonal mail that you are to inspect.
Sylvia shook her head despairingly
s"There are very few of them," he
FASTENED to assure her, land they are
almost exclusively invitations and beg
ging letters. The former you VIII be
expected to decline without consulting
him. The latter You must return to
their writer's with a printed slip re-
ferring 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 find out. OF course
| if were to be incapacitated by SICK
ness or any other cause I suppose you
would be expected to do my work"
What would that be?"
81 am a sort of combination o.
confidential adviser. But should ao'
wise you not to cherish any vain hope
! of stepping into my shoes even tenn
porarily. I'm never sick and am very
careful to avoid being hurt. Your sal,
airy will be $12 to begin. Shall put
| Won on the paw roll, Miss-Miss-"
MRS. Sylvia Brough," she corrected
with still greater dignity.
"Ah, see," he said, writing the name
on a slip of paper.
st am pretty sure 1 shall not be
satisfactory she said, rising to go
"but 1 must try, for it very necessary
that 1 should have work"
Tomorrow morning, then, anywhere
between and H. he called out pleas
antly as she was leaving.
A year later Sylvia made another
visit to Judge Buchanan's office. She
still wore the doleful garb of a widow
but her face had lost its hopefulness..
How about my prediction" the ole
| lawyer asked almost Immediately.
| For a reply she sat down and tolt
him her history Of the past year.
| When she had concluded he sat TO
| a moment and gazed at her with
look. half quizzical, half paternal.
Each of these young men has asked
you to marry him." he said, precisel!
as If he were summing UP in an inter
esting case. Being a woman, you viii
| probably choose-
Il have promised to marry Stephen
she said.-(Copyright 1910, by AS
ISOLATED Literary Press)