The Richfield recorder. (Richfield, Idaho) 1909-1931, 1912-03-14

/ overheard Intimate family confer
ences. or else some families cloakel
the ugly facts with polite Illusion
Prescott was stunned to find that he
had had Illusions after all The sor
didness of the Wards shocked him
He found himself rushing back to the
Office II was still early: perhaps he
could bury himself in work
He was afraid he had committed
himself that he could not honorably
withdraw from his suit or course il
was possible TO go elsewhere That
would be better than wounded conceit
He might have to break away by de-
grees, to avoid explanations. He felt
hunted, huniliated as he dashed into
his Office and stopped suddenly on the
threshold. the door swinging behind
him
He remained quite still and looked
at his stenographer The desk light
was on and it turned her dark hair
/ into golden aura and shed the subtle
/ shadows Of a cameo over her delicate
profile The click of her machine had
drowned the noise of his arrival and
she sat quite unconscious of his pres
ence, a trifie dropped with WEAKNESS.
simply girlish and appealingly sweet.
Prescott had never really seen her be-
fore. He had always stopped at her
left ear
He walked over to her desk and
stood looking down at her
"Oh. why don't you go?" he asked
and felt strangely stirred that she
was startled. and then treasured TO
find it was he who spoke
II can't" she said. till get these
letters out"
Couldn't you leave them till tomor.
row. he asked, drawing up chair.
There will be others tomorrow"
Her eyes met his for a moment pleas
antly and he discovered they were
blue as Miss Wards violets. daily sent
at his expense. They gave him a
thought He leaned over intently
why do you work." he demanded.
Her gaze fiuctuated for moment
and then came back to him steadied
81 have to- she replied, simply
with those eyes?" He was sorry
the moment it slipped out A flush
swept over her. and her hands trern-
bled
81 like to-" she added. with quiet
dignity
He leaned forward and his voice was
almost reverent
I'm glad you do. Don't ever get
over that idea" Then gayly: What
do you do with your magnificent sal
airy? Buy gold mines? Or just furbe
lows?"
No. I'm buying house"
"A housed" Prescott sat up as II
some one had turned on an electric
ION fifteen per? Where?"
"Out at Inglewood And we have
kitchen garden and flowers and a
whole nest of little chickens and
and spring and a fire
place and oh. everything" She
stopped breathless. her face aglow
with the householders pride of pos
session.
Great snakes!" said Prescott awe.
struck I'm coming out to see it."
"Oh. yes. do And mother will make
)ne of her cream pies for you and If
you just wait long enough Wen have
ried chicken"
No | won't wait, either Don't you
Inow it'll take those chickens weeks
o grow up? I'm coming out Sunday
md hoe In the garden. Say put on
our hat and III run you out there in
he car. I'm crazy to see that place.
Ven take out steak and things and
ook our own dinner. Whoopee!'
Poor Mrs Ward striving to cover in
ated household expenses. would have
roaned over the tragedy of extremes
ould she have seen Prescott. swathed
D bingham, cavorting in a spotless
itchen and slapping thick steak up
nd down in boyish glee, while his
tenographer washed the vegetables
nd an impoverished gentlewoman
lid the table. The whole family |
roaned when Prescott's engagement
as announced two weeks before the
edding, and some cutting things
ere said about the present tendency
young men TO marry beneath them.
Prescott, himself, had nothing but
ratitude for the Wards.
They at last showed me. dear.
hat love was not" he confided to his J
ride And until then did not know
lat ! had been falling in love with :
ou for a year. Let me look at that =
lorable left ear of yours again n