The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1913-03-08
CHAPTER III.
Secretary otFrivolous Affairs.

Secretary OF, Frivolous Affairs.
know there's an all-wise Provi-
dencG who directs the universe so
much better than we could do 1t, al
though sometimes 1t seems that Prov
Mshce gets twisted; because the
things we aim at we don't get, and
the things we don't aim at we do get.
/. came back from my interview
with the wealthy woman who was re-
covering from nervous prostration and
1ust sat down and cried. She lived
in gilded prison on Commonwealth
avenue with all the windows tight
shut for fear of drafts in the uncer-
tain spring weather. No wonder she
had nervous prostration. Anybodys
nerves would shrek for air In that
place In exchange for what she de-
manded and knowing l had named
three thousand a year, she offered me
eight hundred with the reservation of
letting me go on two weeks notice.
! began practicing tact on the spot
and left the matter pending; then
went out into Gods sunshine, took
some deep-sea breaths of the uncer-
tain spring weather, and when l got
back home. poured out the whole
mean thing on JOS motherly bosom.
Then-wel I've said it sat down
and cried. l always do cry when I'm
angry.
had hardly dried my eyes and
was trying to get rid Of the horrid
tear-streaks down my face-Im a
fright when cry-when the bell
tangled and the postman came in with
special" l looked at the letter and
haps the mine had been pumped dry.
Then | noticed that it was directed to
the initials we had signed to the ad
vertisement The special" was writ
ten from the Somerset, and l stood
there gazing idiotically at the envel-
ope. turning 1t over and over trying
to guess who it might be from-like
every woman does, except Jo-when
10 came in and | ripped it open. l
looked at the name first, of course.
and my knees gave way. ! passed
the letter on to 10.
Maria Crowninshield Hazard" she
exclaimed. She, too, had read the
name f1rst-Jo is feminine after all.
Mrs. Frederick Hazard"
do you think it's actually true she
wants a companion" asked.
why not?" demanded 10, and she
read the letter, which of course was
the only way to find out
Il didn't know she lived at the
Somerset" remarked, my mind
only tangible things.
She's doing over her house. Her
daughter came out this winter. Surely,
you've seen about the reception next
week, presumably to announce an en-
gagement?"
Il do hope she doesn't want me for |
sort of sublimated lady's maid," l
cried.
You certainly would be an accom-
plished lady's maid," 10 replied sar-
castically. and she was seldom sar-
castle
True" ! laughed but 10 didn't
The note was short and to the point,
but It had cordial undertone that |
knew 10 liked Mrs. Hazard wanted
me to telephone to her as soon as
the note reached me and arrange an
interview as quickly as possible She
couldn't explain in letter just what
she wanted, as her proposition was to
De rather Intricate and unusual, but
sne thought from the tone of the ad-
vertlsement that Id do. 4 had Dor
fowed that about speaking French,
bridge. football, ct cetera. | pom
Tered over the Intricate and unus-
aal, but in all the wild flights of my
imagination couldn't land on any
ming that seemed to be just that, I'M
ess she wanted ME to do all these
shlngs. Gracious: I'd have to draw
me line at football and baseball; |
could root, but
Now I've always denied that had
nerves. take it back I'm sure
wore a groove in the floor up and
Town the hallway that afternoon be-
ore she came. couldn't sit down
oas enough to eat my luncheon. but
'augnt It IN relays at the dining
oom door each time / passed. Final
We heard the hum of a big car
.ou can always tell from the sound
car is big-which stopped. I.