Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1912-09-24
Judge REEDS
new SECRETARY

bling. "Judge Reed has advertised
for another private secretary
Miss Sewell had been the judges
private secretary for ten years. She
had always seemed satisfactory, but
now she was to be usurped.
Miss Sewell, in spite Of the agon-
izing shock, made excuses for the
judge. Gle probably wants a young
er person" she decided. But she ate
no more lunch, and her hands were
not steady as she sat near the judges
desk to take the afternoon dictation.
He noticed the shaking hands, and
leaned back in his chair, and asked :
"Aren't you wellH Or has somebody
hurt your feelings"
The judge had such wonderful in
buttons. He always seemed to know
when things went wrong in the other
room, where a half dozen clerks-a
little jealous of Miss SewelPs in
huence with the judge-ignored her
gentle efforts at peace-making, and
.pricked her with their comments.
But now it was the judge who had
hurt her, so Miss Sewell said stead
lily, perhaps it's the weather. 1t was
80 warm in the lunch ROOM"
"And I'll wager you didn't eat
anything" The judges tone was ac-
cusing.
'1-I ordered a glass Of milk"
said Miss Sewell, ''but l didn't drink
it."
'There-I knew it," said the
Judge. He picked up the telephone,
and before she could stop him, Miss
Sewell heard him ordering chicken
sandwiches and tea from an adjoin-
ing tearoom.
''I haven't had my lunch," he in
sisted, when Miss Sewell protested.
When the lunch came, Miss Sewell
was aware Of the curiosity and envy
Of the other clerks. The thought de-
pressed her. She had tried to make
them like her. She had tried to be
faithful to her duties, and to please
the judge. She knew that she was
thirty-fve, and very little and quiet,
but she had hoped that she had made
little and quiet place in their
hearts. But now it was all over, and
she must seek work elsewhere, must
encounter strangers, sit at a new
desk. And thinking thus she forgot
to eat.
"Now," the Judge said, "you
haven't touched that sandwich, and
your tea is getting cold. You've got
something on your mind, Miss
Mary"
1t was only now and then that he
called her Miss Mary, and Miss
Sewell always liked it when he did.
It seemed to indicate that he had
friendly interest in her, and she had
always been glad to feel that she
was his friend.
eyes," she said, 81 have something
on my mind. But II can't tell
anybody about it-please don't ask
me-" he lips quivered, please
don't"
"Surely not" the judges keen eyes
were upon her dropping figure. 'fBut
you're not going to work any more
today. "1'm going to send you home
in my automobile, and if you don't
feel better tomorrow you'd better not
come down"
Miss Sewsu felt that her death
lmell had been sounded. If she
didn't come down he would have
some one else to do her work. He
didn't need her. Nobody needed her.
She rose and took up her pencil and
notebook with shaking hands. 81
guess I'll go home," she said. 81
can't stay here"
He opened the door for her as she
went out, and Miss Sewell, hurrying
past the glances leveled at her in the
outer office, put on her hat in a little
alcove and crept downstairs to find
the judge before her. stony will
take you home," he said, and helped
her into the great red car; "and don't
you come back till you are feeling
better"
She held out her hand to him.
THANK you so much" she said, "but