Morgan County republican., 1914-02-12

NAAEW Of eighteen, was
\'S/ blushing and bliss.
ful over Jack Har.
lan's extravaganza in violets; even
Baby May had come from the kinder
garten with her fat hands full OF lace
paper hearts. And It was the maids
afternoon off. SO Maude asked Nancy
II she would mind washing the din.
ner things. And would she be lonely
II they all went out and left her with
May, already asleep?
Nancy did not mind the dishes or
being alone-she saw too many people
downtown to want them at night. She
thought of her unfinished book and q
quiet place by the sitting room fire.
However, as she buttoned Maude's
theater waist up the back, and later
helped Helen pin her mass Of violets
to her white party dress. and saw
them all of, she felt alone-the odd
one. She had caught glimpse Of
her rather worn face in the glass over
Maude's shoulder. and missing It's fine
strength, saw only the record Of twen-
ty-nine years in 1t. What had been
ailiAg her lately?
With her characteristic refusal to
procrastinate, she sat down in the
dusk to think 1t out. She was not
going to permit herself to grow into
a state Of discomfort or unhappiness.
Certainly every one was kind to her
at homeland In the ONCE.
Suddenly she frowned. Perhaps she
was letting Flossie. the new stenog-
rapher, get on her nerves. The girl
dimpled. curly-headed. silly. was too
obviously trying to attract her en-
ployer's attention. Nancy reflected
that It was none Of her business. but
no woman likes sister woman to
make fool of herself-and no wo-
man can be a mans private secretary
for six years without having an inter
est in his welfare. John Steele de-
served better mate than that-anI
yet Nancy knew that strong men,
past their first youth. were prone to
make just such mistake.
She shook herself free Of the
thought and returned to herself. The
plain fact was that her business gave
her little time to cultivate her old
friends, mostly married now and en-
gagged in their own affairs. Her broth.
er was wrapped up in his business and
family. She. Nancy, was too much
alone, growing too introspective. She
was losing her individuality and indie
care OF herself. mentally and physic.
ally.
Still in her black office dress, with
its white collar and cuffs she stretch
ed out q little in the big chair by the
fireplace where the fire was low, and
not wanting the lights, sat thinking
She put up her hands in fashion OF
her childhood and rumpled her heavy
brown hair. usually SO trim: hel
sweet. steady gray eyes filled with
tears, which she promptly suppressed
Self-pity. she thought. was the last
straw OF humiliation! Why should
she be sorry for herself? II the Office
irked her, why not take a rest? Hel
grandmother had, with the year past
left her little money. She would
resign Why had she not thought ol
It before? Flossie could take hel
place, and she would travel and fint
broader interests.
Then 1t came upon her how muci
John Steele had been in her mind
and she fought 1t out with herself OF
the spot She would not, simply be
cause she was lonely, let herself fal
In love with the only attractive mar
near her own age whom she saw much
of-and her employer, at that. Tha
was too banal! What would he sa,
when-she resigned? Would he care
He was not so foolish! No; he hac
showed her every courtesy In the of
fce-the same courtesy he showed I,
all women. but never the little ligh
attentions he showed even to Flossic
to whom. that very morning. he had
on entering, tossed smile and ros'
as one would ball TO a kitten.
The girl was 30 soft and pretty
he could not be blamed. But she
Nancy. would straightway resign be
fore she made fool Of herself.
was high time.
1t had grown dark In the room. ant
shs was still lost In planning for tb.
seming ysar when the doorbsll yousei