The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1914-02-02
copyrieht, isia, by G. w. Dillingham; Compa
"Ma-and-Clara."

Copyright, 1914, by @. W. Dillingham; Company
"Ma-and-Clara."
Josie sighed, then looked at Broad
way with an inquiry upon her face. He
nodded. She thrust the paper he had
given her into the top drawer OF her
desk. "All right. Sammy; tell them
to come in"
With a gravity like that of the
sphinx, but with a CLINT of malice sat
isfied in his small eyes, the fat boy
ambled heavily to the door. With a
voice as disproportionate to his years
as were HE calves. he cried invitation
to his mother and his sister. II was as
IL they waited on the other side of a
wide stream and he was battling a
bowling tempest with his tones. His
All right, nom, come on in," rasped
Broad ways nervess the fact that he
had failed In the delivery of the brief
~eloquence which had been fruit of mid
night and past-midnight oil at the IN
speakable Grand, a certain feeling
(such as all of us have had) that he
was doing worthily while getting less
than proper credit for 1t. made him
hate Sammy at that moment.
He wondered IL he might not throttle
him In some deserted spot before the
day was over. looked him over careful
ly, observed the size of his columnar
neck. and hopelessly abandoned
thought of 1t. His hands would never
reach around 1t! The visitors ap-
peered.
While attention was distracted from
her, in answer to an irresistible i'm
pulse, Josie took from the desk draw
er the paper Broadway had intrusted
TO her, and thrust 1t into a sacred, Sc
cret place within her shirtwaist.
Mrs. Spotswood, filled with the fine
excitement of the matron who is GER
tain that romance Is working in her
neighborhood, was devoured by that
modification of the spirit of the chase
which sends the ladies', rich or poor,
good or bad, upon the scent of such
elusive news with all the zest of sports
men after squirrels or elephants. She
was inclined toward worry In regard
to Jonesville's fate and also inclined
to confidence in 1t because she had
known Broadway since he was a little
boy tab, what errors have good women
made because they nave known some
n since he was a little boy!) and
knew that while he might be wild" he
was not wicked, for his baby curls had
been SO sweet; pleased beyond ex-
preston by the deep impression which
her own delicious Clara had made up
on Broadway's afiuent, well-mannered,
plainly competent friend-animated by
these various emotions and not less
than twenty others which | have not
mentioned. Mrs. Spotswood wore a
fluttering smile as she accepted her
baby-mastodonic sons infant fog-whis-
tie invitation.
Good morning, JOSIE"
Josie smiled at her. although she
had regretted her arrival almost as
much as Broadway had. She had so
wished to read the words upon the ho-
tel letter paper which her new en-
ployer had spent half the night In
writing.
Mrs. Spotswood's smile expanded till
it fairly beamed at Josie before she
turned her eyes to Broadway, and then
she started with surprise. 1t was be-
cause she had been certain he was
there that she had come; a visit from
her to the factory was an unheard-of
thing; she had distinctly heard his
voice as she had passed outside the
open door, but now her deep astonish-
ment because he was within the room
seemed almost overwhelming.
"Oh. hello, Broadway"
He smiled n~ervously and hurried for
ward. Things had not gone as he had
wished, but he was not resentful. New
er had he been so humble. Had he
not, the night before, defaced that pa
per with the tale of his humility and
the details of his good resolves? Be.
sides, had not Mrs. Spotswood guard.
ed him in childhood against wrath al
home on more than one occasion, and
had she not, the previous evening. with
the understanding and goo1S humor OF
an angel, prepared for him that lemon.
ade which held the magic touch for
which his system yearned?
I'm awfully glad to see you here In
the plant" she earnestly assured him
and meant every word Of 1t. Then:
did you have a good nights sleepg"
Even the question was a nervous
shock, but M smiled bravely, although
be shuddered slightly as he asked II
answer, How dc l look?'
Grand" she exclaimed.
Now his shudder was not slight
Don't mention the name, please"
you must come to our house to sup
per-"
Believe me, / shall be glad to &c
It," he said f%ervently.
Now her soul paid tribute to tina
subtle hint OF romance which was II
the air. You, too, josie
"Oh, thanks, Mrs. Spotswood."
rs the Judge here?"
She knew perfectly well that he wa
not; she had seen him through tn
window of his little one-roomed, peak
rooted ONCE building just across tn
street as she had turned into tn,
~grayeled. fiower-lined path which le
to the works entrance.