The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-09-24

when once routine begins to slacken
You're doing very well. Miss Bar
rett," said the manager encouraging
iy. And now I'm going to tell you
something. When Miss Kearney
leaves next month I'm going to ask tc
have you made my secretary in aei
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 IL l can't make you love me.
why, of course. I'll let you 60. Do
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 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, for
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 could
recover her breath. She stamped
when he had gone, and cried. How
she hated him!
And the days passed. There was
no doubt that Mr.. Dixon really cared
for her 1t was true he had been
even more animated with Mabel, bu,
then he cared nothing for Mabel, live
ly little beauty that she was. Lucin
da felt that she had great deal in
common with Mr.. Dixon. They drew
very close together in that time Of
Mahels illness.
When the day came for Mabel t.
resume her place. and Lucinda wa.
relegated to her old desk, she antci
pated the time. when she would per
manently be Mr. Dixon's secretary
She felt that a love such as she hope(
to inspire must be of slow growth
But when she saw Mabel, less ami
mated now, taking Mr. Dixon's notes
she pitied her. She had tried ant
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 return
the manager called Lucinda to hi
desk.
Its all right about that position.
he said, extending his hand to heI
Miss Kearney leaves at the end q
the week. you know, and after W
come back from our honeymoon
what, didn't you know? Why, all tn
girls have been chatting me for week
about it,"
Poor little Lucinda, shut up in he
FOOLS paradise!
And want you" went on the maj
> ager. Il told Mr.. Jaffray you are tn
most sensible girl in the Office, an
that we get on famously together
It was the hardest effort Lucind
ever made, not to burst into tears /
front of him. But that night, 9
home, she realized the depths of he
folly. And, in her humiliation. sh
: sat down and wrote long letter
Tom, telling him everything
That this was the surest found
ton for winning back his love we
,. evidenced from the fact that Lucil
da turned the tables on Mr. Dixo
three months later, when she a
a. nounced her resignation Ito get ma
q, ried"
It Copyright 1915 by W. q. Chapman