The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-09-22

when Office routine begins to slacken.
You're doing very well, Miss Bar
rett," said the manager encouraging
ly. And now I'm going to tell you
something When Miss Kearney
leaves next month I'm going to ask to
have you made my secretary in her
place, at the salary
Il didn't know Miss Kearney was
going" faltered Miss Barrett.
"Oh-well, it's sort of secret"
said the manager. smiling, but she's
going to be married. I'm glad she's
on the mend. poor girl
"Yes,'' said Lucinda. And she al
most danced out of the office that
night. Mabel's leaving was nothing
to Dixon. And he had resolved that
she should fill her place. He had
talked and joked with Mabel, and it
had all meant nothing!
1t happened that that night Tom,
unable to endure his treatment any
longer, came to Lucinda's boarding
house, resolved to put his fortune to
the final test.
See here, Lucy" he said, taking her
hand in his. Il guess you don't care
for me any more. I've tried my hard
est, but II I can't make you love me.
why, of course, I'll let you 60. Do
4, you think there is any chance for me,
dear?'
Tom, you are so absurd"
But you have never answered me. -
why should you poster me?"
Tom rose up with dignity and took
his hat. For the first time he was
really angry with her. Lucinda. see.
ing his face, felt a new awe of Tom
Il won't poster you any more
Lucy" he said. But I'm going to
wait one month-just one month. fol
you to find out if you can care for me
I think when you don't see me. per
haps then you'll be able to know bet
ter. Good-by. dear"
He was gone before Lucinda coulC
recover her breath. She stamped
when he had gone, and cried. How
she hated him,
And the days passed. There wal
no doubt that Mr. Dixon really caret
for her. 1t was true he had beer
even more animated with Mabel. blu
then he cared nothing for Mabel, live
ly little beauty that she was. Lucin
da felt that she had great deal il
!, common with Mr.. Dixon They drew
very close together in that time o
, Mabel's illness.
, When the day came for Mabel t
. resume her place, and Lucinda wa
, relegated to her old desk, she antic
, pated the time when she would pei
, manently be Mr.. Dixon's secretar!
She felt that love such as she hope
to inspire must be of slow growth
a But when she saw Mabel, less an
mated now. taking Mr.. Dixon's note
she pitied her. She had tried an
lost. Lucinda omitted the Pari
gown, which, she had gathered. wa
thought too stylish for business. Sh
could win ON her merits now.
About week after Mabel's retur
the manager called Lucinda to h
desk
ITS all right about that position
he said, extending his hand to he
Miss kearney leaves at the end
the week. you know, and after v
come back from our honeymoon
what, didn't you know? Why. all Il
girls have been chatting me for weel
I about it,"
7 Poor little Lucinda, shut up in h
fools paradise!
And l want you." went on the ma
ager. Il told Mr.. Jaffray you are Il
most sensible girl in the Office, al
that we get on famously together
It was the hardest effort Lucin,
ever made, not to burst into tears
front of him. But that night,
home, she realized the depths of
folly. And. in her humiliation, 8
sat down and wrote long letter
Tom, telling him everything.
That this was the surest fount
ton for winning back his love W
lr- evidenced from the fact that Luc
da turned the tables on Mr.. Dix
three months later. when she ;
- noupced her resignation TO get m
=. ried."
Copyright, 1915 by w. @. Chapman