The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-05-29
The Euening Story
Miss Drew's Secretary.
(By Jeanne Kilby.)

!
(By Jeanne Kilby.)
Carlotta Drew pushed away the ac-
count books that Uttered her desk
and sighed YEARLY.
| "Oh, dear, I never can make these
books balance" she painted. ct wish
Miss Smith had not been so stupid or
Miss Hart so slovenly. I simply can't
get along without a secretary"
Il thought you advertised for one'
observed her aunt and companion,
Mrs. Marsh.
Il did, but there was not one an
swer that sounded well-they were
all impossible
You might try one of the secre-
tarial schools suggested Mrs. Marsh,
bending over her embroidery.
IT will must have some one at
once"
Carlotta picked up the receiver and
telephoned her wishes:
"Send along any one who is fairly
intelligent" she walled at last
There" she said, looking Gefiantly
at her aunt, they are sending up a
young man.
"a young mani" echoed Mrs Marsh
Are you crazy, Carlotta?''
"Only desperate, Aunt Anna
81 shall send him away again.
mot until he has Strengthened out
my accounts. I make them say that
have spent just four dollars instead
of five hundred in the last month, and
yet my checkbook shows 1 have over
drawn my account"
What a muddle!" sighed Mrs.
Marsh. you really ought to marry
one who can look after you and your
property
Il met a man last year." Carlotta
began. Then, biting her lips to keep
| - l. - i
fess to any one but herself, she added
gayly, I'm going out, Aunt Anna,
If the young man comes tell him to
lstraighten out my books. I'll be home
before he leaves"
She danced out of the room, and
Mrs. Marsh. reminded of the coming
secretary and of her entire disap-
prevail OF such an appendage to their
man, determined that she would hold
him to his job.
'I'll have no idling," she murmured
resentfully, land if they send some
Carlotta and her money, I'll soon send
him flying!' For Aunt Anna was a
very serious-minded woman, who felt
the gravity of her position as chaperon
heiress.
1t was an hour after Carlotta's de-
parture when Biggs brought in card
MIR. Anthony Lester
>.
ing coldly at the tall, self-possessed
young man who regarded her so affa-
bly,. my niece is out at present. She
| wants you to wait until she returns
suppose you are good at figures?
He started at her.
Rather" he stamm ered.
81 should think you would have to
Miss Drew said you might straighten
out her books-there on the desk
find out what the trouble is.'
Lester smiled and sat dawn at the
desk Presently Mrs. Marsh noted
that he was working busily over the
offending accounts. For a long time
| there was no sound in the room save
the scratch of his pen and the falling
| Goals in the CRATE.
He worked so steadily that Aunt
Annals heart warmed toward him. She
would reward him with little anna
BILE conversation. 1t would be some
thing pleasant to take back to his
lonely hall bedroom-this recollection
of the condescension of great lady.
AS a matter of fact, Mrs. Marsh was
not a great lady at all. She was a
very simple minded country woman
who had come to take charge of her
dead brothers household when the
newly orphaned Carlotta found her
self alone, and Aunt Anna had
manned, enjoying the quiet luxury of
the house, but content to allow Car
1ottas other aunt, the fashionable
Mrs. Slade, to introduce the girl to
society.
But Aunt Anna felt vastly superior
to the secretary young man." and so
she permitted him to bask in the sun
shine of her notice.
Are you married?" she asked
abruptly
Good heavens-no," he laughed.
ct was married for twenty years
and 1 never had one single regret. My
husband has been dead for ten years.
Ours was a perfect marriage" sighed
Mrs. Marsh, now on her favorite top
ic land 1 dislike to hear young peo-
pie laugh flippantly at matrimony."
Lester colored. II assure you,' he
said gently, "I had no intention of
laughing 1t was the idea of your
thinking I would be here His
voice trai1ed into embarrassed silence.
Aunt Anna Marsh sat up stiffly and
regarded him over the tops of her eye
glasses.
Young man." she said sternly,
when you came here this afternoon
did you know that my niece, Miss
Drew, is very, very rich indeed ?"
Lester had the grace to blush quite
perceptibly.
Yes he said at last.
II thought so,' she said.
Lester got up and paced the floor.
Now he was scowlfng in a most un-
pleasant manner, but even the black
look didn't mar his handsome face.
Aunt Anna admitted to herself that he
looked like an actor in a tragic scene
Cant a man marry rich girl with