Bridgeton pioneer., 1915-02-04

PROVED
"What Might Have
Been"
By EDWARD HOLLYWOOD
Copyright by Frank A. Munsey Co.
By EDWARD HOLLYWOOD
Copyright by Frank A. Munsey Co.

| backward against the partition of her
employers private Office and steadied
her suddenly throbbing palms on the
| cool glass.
| Beyond the partition, in the work
room of Miss Gardner's typewriting
| agency, the girls had closed their ma
| chimes for the day. They chatted soft
| ly and gayly while they adjusted in
| credible hats over miraculous cOiffures.
| From the lavatory drifted the faint,
clean odor of perfumed soap.
The name-did you say the name
was Mrs. Franklin Trent?, faltered
| Emma.
Yes. yes" Miss Gardner replied
| from her desk. You must have no.
| ticed the name in the newspapers.
| This Mrs. Franklin Trent needs anoth-
er social secretary for awhile. She will
see you at g. The house is on Fifth
| avenue and here's the address and
your stage fare"
Emma's slender fingers shook lit
| tie when she picked up the coin and
| the card. and Miss Gardner frowned
impatientiy.
"Now. for heavens sake, Emma,
don't get rattledr'
But, if you please. Miss Gardner, l
can't would rather not co.
What do you think 1 pay you for?"
snapped Miss Gardner. "You bet you'll
go or else
Very well, I'll be there at g." MUIR
INJURED Emma Saxon.
81 guess l made no mistake in send
ing Saxon on this job" remarked Miss
Gardner to her blotting pad. IF all
you hear about Franklin Trent is true
his wife wouldn't be keen about hav-
ing any chatty young piece of dress
goods around the house. Poor old EN-
mas over forty and the best hand in
the shop at that
Emma sidled into the elevator, pack
ed at this hour with noisy clerks and
giggling stenographers. She had work
ed in Miss Gardner's agency for half
a year, but she had made no acquaint-
ances elsewhere in the building Her
cold tired face, with its pathetic traces
Of former beauty, somehow kept people
from her.
Broadway was aglow and flashing.
Emma glanced at an illuminated clock
and knotted her coin thriftily in a
handkerchief. The pavement was
slushy with melted snow, and her
shoes were worn, but 10 cents meant
q breakfast. and she had time enough
to walk.
Finally cross town street led her
to Mrs. Franklin Trent's magnificent
new house on the avenue. Emma had
never identified it before. The ornate
front of the stone mansion, a tumble
of costly carving, was an architectural
joke, but Emma did not seem to be
amused. Her lips shivered strangely
as she climbed the broad steps.
For the house would have been her
own if she in her fathers orchard
twenty years ago had whispered a
'yes' instead of a mo" to young
Frank Trent on the night when he left
their Connecticut village to seek his
fortune in the western copper mines.
A liveried footman swung the heavy
door and surveyed Emma Saxon briefly.
IF you please, IL have an appoint
ment here at g." said she, and offered
Miss Gardner'S card.
"Other entrance" said the footman.
But a trim lady's maid now appear
ed from behind pillar.
Zone minute, Mr.. Hibbs," she inter-
posed, scanning the card. Madam
expects a-oh, yes. will bring her to
madam. 1t will be quicker So"
The maid crossed the lofty hall, and
Emma followed. with shoulders bent,
as if the luxury of the house oppress-
ed them like burden. Mr.. Hibbs
yawned. examining his finger nails.
At a door near !he head of the stair
case Emma's Suide pressed the con-
cealed knob o; an electric annunciator.
A second mfId opened the door silent
ly, placed the card on silver tray and
left Emma waiting behind half
drawn p2"tiere of rosy silk.
Beyond the curtain was an octagonal
| room paneled in rose Du Barry bro
SuOC. Inc lui IlluIe WIS covered With
Gobelin tapestry. and on couch re-
| clined lady whose flowing gown had
| the color and sheen of morning cob
| webs in dewy garden. Another wo
mar, soberly dressed in brown. sat ar
| a ,marqueterie desk, but Emma looked
only at the lady on the couch. Never
had she looked at such a beautiful
| creature.
MADAM will receive you," said the
| maid.
''Is that Mrs. Trenton the sofa ?"
gasped Emma.
"Of course" breathed the servant
with much disdain.
Emma advanced into the room. The
lady raised her graceful, tawny haired
head from the heap of pillows, and her
voice was kind and musical.
"This is Miss Saxon?"
my name is Saxon, ma'am. am
from the Gardner agency
eyes," said Mrs. Trent. 81 shall need
a secretary for few weeks to assist
4 Miss V0SOQrD and cbo