Middletown transcript., 1915-07-31
CHAPTER vi.

II was two o'clock in the afternoon. |
Flodie was crying. Seated at her desk
her bills Uttered, her account books in
disorder, her head was down on her
arms, in an attitude Of dismal aban-
don. She did not weep, she cried.
Hall Bonistelle married-and not to
herl Married to whom? All, that
was the worst of 1t. If Flodie had
known the identity of her rival her
sorrow might have, before now, been
transmitted into anger Would Mrs.
Royalton, or Carolyn Dallys become
Mrs. Bonistelle? Or worst of all,
would the wedding ring be worn by
Rosamund Gale? Flodie didn't know,
Hall didn't know. Even Rosamund
didn't know herself Hence Flodie's
tears, wet and heavy, splashing, trick
ling. soaking the dark blue blotter of
Flodie's desk.
At two-ten sundry sounds, translat-
ed by Flodie's intimate knowledge of
Hall Bonistelle's ways, indicated his
approach. She sat hastily down at the
typewriter and began to print of this
interesting message;
"Quiz Jack; thy frowns vex G. D.
Plumb"
Interesting mainly because. a con-
coction of Flodie's debutante days at
the typewriter. it contained every
known letter Of the alphabet. Now 1t
served to focus her mind ON her fin
gers, and hide her face from scrutiny.
When Hall came in, she had copied
| Ut NJ
too busy for speech.
"Say, I'm going out, Flo!" he an
nounced. and tapped with his stick on
the floor thoughtfully.
Flodie kept right on: THY frowns
vex G. D. Plumb" But love and curl
osity won against embarrassment. She
wheeled round in her chair. What
There's work for you to do, should
think"
Lord, l don't feel much like work
today, but I've finished Mrs. Royal
tons plates. Carry Dallys'. too; some
of her poses are not half bad. She's
almost pretty, did you know it?
didn't have time to develop Rosamund.
She can wait; expect I'll have plenty
of time for her later"
At the infection Flodie turned to
him again with a heartbroken look
"Oh, Mr.. BonistelleI Have you-really
made up your mind that She
Flodie couldn't finish. She choked.
Hall laughed. Lord, made up my
mind! What good would that do? It's
up to them. now. Well, I'm on the
way to buy the rlng-and ought to
get suit of clothes to go away in
l haven't anything at all to wear"
Flodie bit her lip hard. "Oh, Mr.
Bonistelle!-" was she going to breal
down, after all? In despair, her fin
, gers few to the keys of her machine
] thy frowns vex G. D. Plumb. Quiz
y Jack"
I. He tapped her pls5fully with thu
tip of his stick. well, I'm off, Flo
See you tonight. Be here early!"
Il Flodie turned a wretched face t.
1t him. Her eyes were wet.
y But don't know how you wan
:; the rooms decorated, Mr.. Bonistelle!
p "Oh, l don't care-use your owl
taste. It'll be all right. You can d.
II 1t. So long, Flo!" And he was of
F1odie went to the washstand be
re hind the screen and dabbed her eye
in cold water, then inspected hersel
1r mercilessly in the mirror. A sigh
1t She made a face at herself and re
turned listlessly to work.
" But mental occupation was impoi
a sible; Flodie had too much on he
It mind alrC ady. Manual exercise wa
ss what she needed TO keep her fror
giving up to her misery. There were tn
g, freshly developed iiates-she wen
so into the dark room to get them.
II. Taking the rack full of glass nega
p tives, she emerged and walked int
the office. Busy with melanchol
Is thoughts of Hall Bonistelle, a shoe
We awaited her. There was strange
" In the room.
h. "Mr. Bonistelle in?"