The Caldwell watchman. (Columbia, La.) 1885-1946, 1913-05-30
CHAPTER III.
Secretary of Frivolous Affairs.

CHAPTER III.
Secretary of Frivolous Affairs.
l know there's an alwise Prov
dence who directs the universe S
much better than we could do it, a
though sometimes it seems that Pro-
idence gets twisted: because tn
things we aim at we don't get, an
the things we don't aim at We do ge
| came back from my interview
with the wealthy woman who was re
covering from nervous prostration an
Just sat down and cried. She live
In gilded prison on Commonwealth
avenue with all the windows tight
shut for fear OF drafts In the uncer
tain spring weather. No wonder sh
had nervous prostration. Anybody
nerves would shrek for air In tina
place In exchange for what she de
manded and knowing I had named
three thousand year, she offered me
eight hundred with the reservation OF
letting me 60 on two weeks notice
] began practicing tact on the spot
and left the matter pending; then
went out into Gods sunshine, took
tain spring weather, and when l got
back home. poured out the whole
mean thing on JOS mothery bosom.
Then-well 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-I'm
fright when | cry-When the bell
tangled and the postman came In with
3 special" looked at the letter and
for one wild instant though per-
~vs..-shaps the mine had been pumped dry.
ownadan noticed that it was directed to
H.. initials we had signed to the ad-
sstisement The special" was writ
not onl from the Somerset, and stood
of thore gazing idiotically at the envel-
- 20, turning 1t over and over trying
ses- asoS guess who it might be from-like
every woman does, except Jo--when
10 came in and | ripped it open. /
looked at the name. first, of course
and my knees gave way. | passed
the letter on to Jo
Maria Crowninshield Hazard" she
exclaimed. She, too had read the
2ame frst-Jo is feminine after ALL
MRS. Frederick Hazard"
do you think it's actually true she
tsants companion?" asked
why not?" demanded 10, and she
read the letter, which Of course was
the only way to find out
II didn't know she lived at the
Somerset" I remarked, my mind
grasping only tangible things.
She's doing oyer her house. Her
daughter came Out this winter Surely,
you've seen abou4 the reception next
week, presumably TO announce an en-
gagement?"
Il do hope she doesn't want me for
b sort of sublimated lady's maid"
sried
"You certainly would be an accom-
plshed iady's maid" 10 replied sar-
eastically, and she was seldom sar-
castle
True" ] laughed but 10 didn't.
The note was short and to the point,
but 1t had cordial undertone that I !
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
se rather intricate and unusual, but
she thought from the tone OF the adj |
yertlsement that Id do had Dor
rowed that about speaking French, |
bridge football, ct cetera. pom
defoi over the Intricate and unus-
ual," but In all the wild flights of my
imagination l couldn't land on any
thing that seemed to be Just that, un-
less she wanted me to do all these
things. Gracious; I'd have to draw
the lina at football and baseball: |
could root, but
Now I've always denied that had |
nerves. take it back. I'm sure
wore groove in the floor up and
down the hallway that afternoon be-
fore she came. I couldn't sit down |
long enough to eat my luncheon, but |
caught 1t In relays at the dining
room door each time passed Final.
ly we heard the hum Of big car
you can always tell from the sound |
when ear is big-which stopped |
snorted and stood still In front of our |
place. Then came the jangle of the
bell In Just the space Of time that It
would take dignf6ed old lady to get |
from the car to the button.
had searched stray newspapers
and magazines for possible picture
of her, as much to kill time as to
satisfy an impatient curiosity but the
only one could find was snapshot
in a Sunday newspaper. taken at q
charity bazaar, showing her with one
foot In the air and her mouth open ] /
crumpled the paper and flung It into
corner much to JOS disgust, for she
brides herself on the neat way I've