The Brandon news. (Brandon, Miss.) 1892-1961, 1915-09-16

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"
II 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!
It 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.
sSee here, Lucy" he said, taking her
hand in his. II guess you don't care
for me any more. I've tried my hard
est, but IL can't make you love me.
why. Of course, I'll let you CO. Do
you think there is any chance for me
dear?"
tom, you are so absurd"
'But you have never answered me. "
'eWhy 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.
II 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 IL you can care for me.
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, but
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
Mabels illness.
When the day came for Mabel to
resume her place, and Lucinda was
relegated to her old desk, she antici-
pated the time when she would per-
manently be Mr. Dixon's secretary.
She felt that a. love such as she hoped
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 and
lost. Lucinda omitted the Paris
gown, which, she had gathered, was
thought too stylish for business. She
could win on her merits now.
About week after Mabels return
tuO mdud6CA CnAACu AuCiuud " LIE
desk.
Its all right about that position"
he said, extending his hand to her.
Miss Kearney leaves at the end Of
the week, you know, and after we
come back from our honeymoon
what, didn't you know? Why, all the
girls have been chatting me for weeks
about it,"
Poor little Lucinda, shut up in her
fools paradise!
"And / want you." went on the man
ager. 81 told Mr.. Jaffray you are the
most sensible girl in the Office, and
that we get on famously together"
It was the hardest effort Lucinda
ever made, not to burst into tears in
front of him. But that night, at
home, she realized the depths of her
folly. And, in her humiliation, she
sat down and wrote a long letter to
Tom, telling him everything.
That this was the surest founda-
ton for winning back his love was
evidenced from the fact that Lucin-
da turned the tables on Mr.. Dixon
three months later, when she an
nounced her resignation ito get mar
ried."
Copyright. 1915, by w. @. chapman.)