The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1910-04-16
Miss Bellum S Assistant

1 mad Deen NlaQe huOWu. IL was aI
assistan:. That in itself. I grant you
ls not extraordinary. but this assist
/ ant did not really assist. and that
does look queer. you see.
It came about that Miss Bellum's
srdden discovery that she had more
work than she could attend to, and
| from the advertisement which she
| promptly inserted in morning paper,
| The result Of this ad-one Of many
results. of course. but the one which
concerns us-was little Miss Marjory
Holt. Now. Miss Bel'um des red a
discreet com bination Of industry and
sedareness; she did not approve OF
Irritation even in business Office. By
this you will see that Mss Bellum
vas no longer young; she was in
deed. on the shady side Of thirty
three, and plump and ma1estic-look-
Ing besides. But still her heart was
tender, and when Marjory appeared.
0 slender 'wisp OF girl W tn crop
Of chestnut curls and an air Of gen.
teel starvation. she engaged her on
the spot and agreed to pay her the
magnificent sum of s6 week.
This performance was the moro
erratic that Marjo:y, who had picked
up typewrlting while copying her
fathers sermons at home in the par
sc mage. boasted that she sometimes
could do sayeral lines without mis-
take, knew nothing whatever OF
shorthand. and at the ridiculous age
CT 1s could not be expected to even
appear sedate.
E7er on S6 week 1t Is poss. BILE
&C find enough to eat. and Marjory
improved both In looks and ability.
It was not until spring, however. that
Miss Bellum heard her protege's
story. It was late one afternoon.
when the work On hand had been fin-
ished. and in Miss Bellum's office.
that was an event worthy Of celebra.
ton. OF course. there was very
n.ce young man in the story. who
vas not only very nice. but also quite
rich. and he had wanted to marry
little. Mar3ory Holt.
Though I never could under
stand" said Marjory s...cerely. why
be should want to. for | am quite,
quite ordinary"
What was the laatter-didnt you
like him?" inquired Miss Bellum
briskly.
Oh, yes. very much. 1t was only
tnat I was dreadful'y tired Of being
taken care Of: I wanted chance to
look out for myself. And to marry
means to be taken care OF always.
you know" Miss Bellum nodded
with an odd mixture o. w:stfulness
and defiance; to the outsider mar
riage often means just that.
THE time will come when you
would give the world for that one
thing. child" she predicted grimly.
II know-it is lonely in the city
sometimes. Marjory admitted. lust
evenings" she explained quietly.
..Of course. on:y in the evenings"
assented Miss Bellum.
"And Sundays, when it rains"
sdded Mariory honestly.
How about Christmas?" asked
Miss Bellum. The girl shivered; tho
memory was still fresh OF that Christ
mas evening spent in the hall bed
-oom Of South End lodging house.
with only the poor cheer Of red It's
sue paper bell hung in the window;
for on S6 week one does not buy
holly II one Is wise. Marjory re-
turned to her story quickly.
well, Rudolph said he would take
good care Of me. and I wanted-oh,
so mach-to take care of myse (. for
/ never had. So | took year to
make up my mind, and he persuaded
father to let me come up to the city"
Have you seen him lately?" The
girl SHOOK her head.
mot since then. think he must
have forgotten; or perhaps
breath caught-"hc may have stop
ped car.ng." Miss Bellum's heart
must have been hard after all. for
she was actually pleaseu te 1Sserve
that the girls chin qnivered slightly;
she thought 1t very good sign.
Now. I'm sure will come out all
eight" she observed cheerful y. and
proved better prophet than she
knew. for hard upon her words there
came a knock upon the doCt and q
young man entered--a young man
who looked as though he might lie
very nice indeed. and also quite rich.
lis Miss Holt" he began. Mar
lory turned.
"Ruiolph!" SHE breathed.
I've got some te:ephoning to do
said Mss Bellum hurr edly, and 'tep-
ling into the booth ma sure that
the double door was latched beh nd
rer. With a comprehend:ng glance at
NJ SIS BellDm's broad back. just visi-
MA was at Marjory's side in an in
slant. He studied her face for
long time before ne inquired very
gently:
How IS 1t. l:tt'e girl-are you
ready to come and-take care Of
me?" NarJoly's face lighted.
Lets take care CT each other"
she offered in by amendment. rhI
typewriter table which she inter-