Clearwater Republican. [volume] (Orofino, Idaho) 1912-1922, 1915-12-17
CHAPTER VI.

Flodle 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 Bonigtelle married-and not to
her! Married to whom? All, that
was the worst Of it. II Flodie had
known the identity Of her rival her
sorrow might have, before now, been
transmitted into anger. Would Mrs.
Royalton, or Carolyn Dallys bscome
Mrs. BoniEtelle? Or, worst Of all,
would the wedding ring be worn by
Rosamund Gale? Flodle didn't know,
Hall didn't know. Even Rosamund
I 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 @. D.
Plumb"
Interesting mainly because, a con
coction of Flodie's debutante days a,
the typewriter, 1t contained every
known letter of the alphabet. Now il
served to focus her mind on her I'm
gers, and hide her face from scrutiny
When Hall came in, she had copied
the statement nine times. and seemed
too busy for speech.
"Say, I'm going out, Flo!" re an
nounced. and tapped with his stick or
the door thoughtfully.
Flocie kept right on: thy frown,
vex G.. D. Plumb" But love and curl
osity won against embarrassment She
wheeled round in her chair "Wha
are going to do, Mr.. Bonistelle
There's work for you to do. shoult
think"
Lord. l don't feel much like worl
today, but I've finished Mrs. Royal
tons plates. Carry Dallys', too; SOM
OF her poses are not half bad Shet
almost pretty. did you know 1t?
didn't have time to develop Rosamund
She can wait; expect I'll have plent.
of time for her later"
At the infection Flodie turned I,
him again with a heartbroken look
"Oh, Mr.. Bonistelle! Have you-reall,
made up your mind that She
Flodie couldn't finish. She choksd
Hall laughed Lord, made up m,
mind! What good would that dot It.
MP to them. now. Well. I'm on tn
get suit of clothes to go away In
! haven't anything at all to wear"
Flodie bit her lip hard. "Oh. MI
Bonistelle!-" was she going to breal
down, after all! In despair, her fir
asrs Jew to the keys of her machine
Jack"
He tapped her playfully with tn
tip of his stick. We'll, I'm on, rlt
See you tonight Be here early!"
Flodie turned a wretched face I
hin. Her eyes were wet.
, But l don't know how you war
the rooms decorated, Mr.. Bonistelle.
"Oh, l don't care-uss your ow
taste. It'll be all right. You can d
l 1t. So long, Fio!" And he was OF
Flodie went to the washstand b.
. hind the screen and dabbed her eye
In cold water, then inspected herse
r merciiessiy In the mirror. A sigl
t She mace a face at herself and r
turned listlessly to work.
But mental occupation was impo
l. sib.s, Flodie had too much on he
t mind already. Manual exercise wa
$ what she needed to keep her frol
giving up to her misery. There were tn
:, freshly developed plates-she wei
o into the dark room to get them.
|. Taking the rack full of glass neg
, tiyes, she emerged and walked mi
the office. Busy with melaheho
s. thoughts of Hall Bonlstelle. a shGc
e awaited her. There was a strang,
v In the room.
4, Mr.. Bonistelle in"