The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1915-07-01
DAILY SHORT STORY.

~ AVA WILLIAMS.

rules to give such .. post a. this only
to married men. I believe Their,
comes to the married man . certain
sense Of responsibility which make.
him more valuable to us and NOR.
safe In the position" ~ .
But. Mr.. Johnson" protested youns
Rigby. there isn't Q man on you,
travelling force who has done better
for you. considering the bad territory
you gave me. II you'd give me q
chance at New York State. I'd break
the record"
Perhaps. but you'll have to get mar.
ried first! No. don't argue" reiterated
Mr.. johnson as Rigby tried to inter-
rupt. We'll hold the place open 70,
two weeks. II at the end of that time
I you can show me marriage certif1
cate we'll talk business" Mr.. John.
sons eyes twinkled. but his voice was
Arm. his general bearing decided.
You belong to a club here in town
have apartments waiting for you when
you come in from your trips. 90 to
the theater some. play the races a bit
EN-"
| Rigby nodded his head.
| Cut IL out and get q wife"
| But don't know any girl who'd"
1
son. do you mean to tell me that in
all your humping around the country
you've never met girl you would
seriously consider marryingT'
Rigby's mind Travelled rapidly over
his list Of acquaintances. He raised
his head. and caught q pair Of brown
eyes watching him from the desk in
the far corner Of Mr.. Johnson's office.
The eyes belonged to Johnson's pri-
vate stenographer.
mo. don't know . girl I'd care to
marry. nor . girl who'd care to mar
~ me"
Mr.. johnson.
Rigby was standing up. He had for
gotten tho brown eyes by this time.
He usually forgot girls just this easily.
But I'll tell you this much. Mr..
Johnson. don't propose to let a little
tween me and that job. I'm going to
get both inside Of the two weeks"
Then he left the office.
Mr.. johnson. senior member of the
Johnson Manufacturing Co.. chuckled.
He had liked Risby from the hour
the lad had started out In the Penn
sylvania coal territory to sell John
son shoes. but he would not vary his
long-standing rule-the best jobs to
inc men. VINO Hdu
long held the New York territory.
was going into business for himself.
and his position was the ono for
which Rigby was asking.
Charley Rigby crossed the square, his
hands thrust deeply into his pockets. his
hat pulled over his eyes. He was think
ing about girls. When his fathers money
had been swept away by ill-advised in
vestments he had cut loose from his
mothers people, who had always resent
ed her marriage with the visionary. easy
going Rigby. Now he wished that he
had kept In touch with them and their
social life. Naturally Of gentle breeding
and Instincts, he had not cared for the
class of girls he met in his life as
commercial traveller, and he had bit
OF his fathers dreamy nature. which car
ried him to the theater and made him
happy in good books. Tho visionary
character was shown in his passion for
the race track-it might almost be called
q gambling instinct. There was the nurse
who had tided him over tho malaria
fever, but she had told him the first day
Of his convalescence that she was en-
gagged. The daughter Of tho biggest shoe
dealer in Scranton had invited him to
dinner every time he called on her faith
er-but she was not just tho sort. He
drank two cocktails, only to be more
deeply plunged into despair. And matri-
mony was a gamble, a lottery. after all.
T. was Just the Same whether you knew
a girl q day or a year. You never really
knew her until you married her. Lots
of married men had told him 50. Then
all Of a sudden 1e remembered the brown
eyes that had watched him during John
sons merciless catechism.
Just then. Merrifeld, the bookkeeper,
sauntered In for lunch, and Rigby well
coined him joyously. After a few desult-
ory remarks he inquired about the owner
Of the brown eyes.
You remember Darnton, who was
killed in the Somerville collision last sum-
mer? Well. she's his daughter. Belle
Darnton. think her mothers folks have
money. but she was too proud to ask
maiden sister. I guess all they have is
her little salary
Rigby tramped ten miles through the
park that afternoon, and reached a de-
cisioa. It was a coincidence that both
should be very nearly alone in the world.
And then her eyes were appealing. And
he really knew her. for often when Mr..
johnson had been away she had writ
ten him little notes on the road.
that night he walked home With Miss
Brown-eyes. The next night he called. |
but all the while the brown eyes never |
met his. And Sunday night Of the fol-
lowing week he asked her to marry him. |
There were four days Of grace.
You know. I won't bother you very |
much. he explained awkwardly. wishing |
that the eyes were not looking straight |
into his. "I'll-I'n be on the road most |
of the time, and your aunt could stay
with you-only in a much better house. I;
and really. I'd do my best to mako you
happy"
Tho brown eyes were shooting sparks |
now.
I'm glad you didn't have the Inn
pertinence to tell me you loved me any
how. There IL that much to your credit"
she was saying scornfully. But 1
YOU couldn't make me happy. I hate
you
She said more. but Risby. stumbling |
to his apartments through the snow. |
could not exactly recall It. Perhaps he |
didn't want to recall 1t. II hate you!"
That was quite enough. And all Of .
sudden he realized that, above all things. |
He wanted her to love him, wanted IL
more than anything else in the world
even the position.
Three days later Mr.. johnson opened
a letter from Rigby. dated In . small
town.
Il have changed my mind. I don't
want the New York job until I've earned
my wife"
Then he wrote Of sales and customers
Johnson dictated an answer to the BUSH
ness part Of the letter and ignored the
to q future marriage. He gave
Rigby's letter to the brown-eyed ste