Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-10-26

fortune that meant freedom. pleasure.
everything. it now appeared that she was
poor giri with burden of debt who
must work for her living. She who had
never learned to work and who hated
drudgery, who had often asked herself
how shop girls and Office girls could pos
sibly endure their dull existence, now she
must work for her living! No wonder
Miss Betty Thompson tossed sleepless
and wretched and fearful through most
of this first night at tipping House. after
a forlorn dinner sent to her room. under
plea of headache, and then scarcely
touched.
1t was late the next morning when
Mrs. Baxter knocked at Betty's door and
entered with brisk salutations.. Was the
headache better? Yes, thanks, II was.
And would the new secretary have break
fast in bed? The new secretary laughed
and admitted that, for this once. she
would very much enjoy some coffee and
toast in bed. nothing else. please; and
she assured Mrs. Baxter that never again
would she be SO neglectful Of her duties.
What must Mr.. Baxter think Of her?
Mr.. Baxter went into town on the
early train" answered Eleanor. reassur-
ingly. 80 don't disturb yourself. l think
he left some papers for you with Bob.
OH said Betty. and she recalled.
with thrill of pleasure. the TALL clean
cut, young American who had met them
at the station. Nice eyes had little Bobby,
who was now big Bobby! Very nice eyes!
And rather good shoulders! Extremely
good shoulders. Must have been an ath-
lete at college-rowed on the crew and
that Sort of thing. She would ask him.
Stop, she would do nothing of the sort.
She mustn't ask personal questions or
think of him as Bobby. He was Mr.. Rob
ert Baxter. a very serious person with
papers for her to copy, and she was-she
was the new secretary!
Strange to say, this thought that in the
night had brought such gloom came now
to Betty as a matter of amused contem-
plation. Mr.. Robert Baxter Ahem!
And more than once, while she carefully
dressed. the American girl flashed mis-
chieyOus and approving smiles into the
glass out Of her deep, blue eyes. and
when. shortly after 10. she descended to
the library by her little winding stairs.
she was as fresh and lovely vision Of
, a fair young woman as one would wish
to see, quite in spirit with the pleasant
sunshine flooding the park and the black
birds rejoicing in the beeches Miss
Thompson's buoyant youth and sense Of
humor had come to the rescue.
A glance showed her that the library
was empty. and she spent some moments
enjoying the dignity Of this long. spa
cious room that was to be the scene OF
of the napkin pattern how she loved
them! And the Elizabethan ceiling and
the tall, deep windows opening on the
conservatory. Surely the very last place
where one would expect to find the desk
of a hustling American man of business.
Yet there it was, waiting for Betty to
begin, not a roll-top desk. thank heaven,
but an antique piece Of curious design
and richly inlaid. standing near one OF
the great windows and now heaped with
a pile of mail for Hiram Baxter that had
accumulated since his sailing from New
York.
At a little distance from this desk was
long narrow table. also carved, but
of later period, with a standard tele-
phone at one end and a typewriter at the
neatly arranged papers, pamphlets and re-
ports. On top of the typewriter lay a
large sheet of paper, on which the new
secretary read blue-penciled message to
herself.
Dear Miss Thompson began the mes
sage. Father has gone to town. You
will find some correspondence on the
other desk that he wants you to look
oyer. Please make a little abstract OF
who wrote the letters and what they are
about. I'll be in shortly and explain.
Yours truly, r. BAXTER
1t was with mingled emotions that
Betty read this note. Dear Miss Thomp-
son. There it was in black and white!
And, having seen it. she did not particu-
larry like it. Nor the cool way in which
Bobby Baxter gave her orders. He would
be back shortly to explain. Indeed. r.
Baxter would be back shortly. Very
well! When r. Baxter came back she
would show r. Baxter that she could be
Just as stiff and businesslike as he was.
Settling herself at the desk, Betty began
with the letters. looking up from time to
time to enjoy the changing green's of the
conservatory that Shimmered in through
the loaded window panes. And presently
she smiled at her foolish annoyance Why
shouldn't Bob be stiff and businesslike?
1t was all her doing and it was too late
now to draw back and Here was a
task that she had given herself. a sort
of penance that would show how deeply
she realized her great obligation to
Hiram Baxter. She had set out to be the
new secretary. and, in spite Of r. Bax-
ter, with his eyes and his shoulders, in
spite of annoyances or humiliations, she
would be the new secretary.
(TO be continued tomorrow