Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1910-01-22

| private office was handed a telegram,
which he read eagerly. and his eye
sparkled with Joy. He bad been bid
ding against the Eureka Bridge COM
pany for the building OF large Sec
tion OF a western railroad. and the
message was an announcement that
his bid had been accepted. He expect
cd through this contract to double his
fortune.
His first thought was to communi-
cate the good news to the person he
the world. Mr.. Winslow was a wild
over with one child. daughter.
Kennedy" called Mr. winslow. toss
Ing the telegram on his desk.
| A young man responded 10 the call
TO find his employer scratching note
When finished Mr.. winslow handed It
to him. telling him to send It TO his
daughter at once Kennedy went out
side and looked for an office boy to
carry the note. Not finding one. he
put on his hat and went with II him
self His ring was answered by a
maid who told him when he said no
had note for Miss Winslow that he
would find her In the drawing room.
She was practicing at her harp.
| A pretty girl sitting at harp is an
attractive sight. Ned Kennedy was at
an age to be affected by such a sight
and possibly magnified its beauty. At
any rate. he saw the vision OF his life.
4 81 t...f %
this day he treasures 1t In his heart
the heart that In a twinkllng passed
TO the girl at the instrument.
| And she? Before her stood young
ster n few years her senior. with q
bright. honest face. a pair OF ruddy
boyish cheeks and smile that seemed
TO her enhancing. He was holding
out note to her. She arose. took the
note. recognized her fathers writing.
opened II and read his announcement
that he had secured the contract on
which he had spent most Of bis time
for the better part OF q year.
"Oh. I'm so glad" she exclaimed.
But pardon me. Won't you be seat
ed?"
mo. thank you. must get right
back to the Office
did papa tell you he'd got the con-
tractf"
"Oh. no: he doesn't tell me things
I'm only his employee. But I'm very
much pleased 10 hear that he has sue
ceeded. I've done lot OF figuring for
him on that contract"
Are you an engineer"
Yes. WAS graduated last year In
the scientific school. Your father APP
piled for one of our class. and was
assigned TO him"
The young man looked happy. and
the girl looked happy and tried to
think of some more pleasant things
that her father had said about him.
| Though he declined 10 be seated. he
asked her II she would not play Just
one piece on her harp. and she did. or.
rather. she sang Annie Laurie" ac-
complaining herself on her instrument.
Any one who has heard that song ac-
companicd by harp knows OF the
depth OF feeling there Is In II. From
that moment 10 Ned Kennedy annie
Laurie" was none other than Elsie
Winslow.
When the engineer got back to the
office he discovered that he had been
with the young lady an hour. thinking
| he had been with her ten minutes. and
his chief was lmpatiently awaiting
him, MIR WInslow asked him where
he had been SO long. and be replied
that he had carried the note himself
since none Of the boys was at hand.
| Then he threw out Il danger signal In
a blush but his employer failed TO un-
derstand H.
Three months was the time specified
FOR the beginning of the contract work.
During this period Winslow { Co.
spent a fortune In materials and other
preparation While this was going on
Ned Kennedy and Elsie winslow were
uiaklng all sorts OF excuses TO meet.
and within six weeks mutual con-
fession bad been made and the lovers
were In terror lest Elsie's father should
discover the extent TO which matters
had gone. for Elsie knew that she
would not be permitted to marry any
one. especially poor 20 ING. engineer
earning s25 a week
Such cases always run the same
course The lovers think they are en-
during no end Of cxcruciating torture.
hut they are not When love fortunes
end prosaic marriage begins. and as
husband AMI wife the couple take in
finite pleasure In rending Of other cou-
pies love fortunes. The denouement
came In time. Ned Kennedy sent n
note TO his adylove. not knowing that
her father was NJ home. Mr.. Ninslow
received II and took Il 10 his daughter.
This time the danger signal was In
terpreted. Then Elsie threw herself
into her fathers arms and confessed
all.
No one likes TO be deceived. The IA
Their should have realised that stolen
fruit Is the sweetest and had compass
Non. Instead he blamed HIS employee
for what he termed dishonorable con.
duct and blamed his daughter for keep
ing from him such an important mat
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