The Washington herald., 1915-09-19
Thinking of you. /"

to thinking of what 1 had said about
having made good all alone. That's
rot. 1t isn't so. ! was striped with yell
low like stick of lemon CANDY. II
I've got this far, it's all because of
you. I've been thinking all along that
l was the original electric self-starter,
when you've really had to get out and
crank me every few miles"
Into Emma McChesney's face there
came wonderful look 1t was the
sort of look with which a newly-made
angel might receive her crown and
harp. 1t was the look with which a
war-hero sees the medal pinned on
his breast. 1t was the look Of one who
has come into her Reward. There
fore:
What nonsensew said Emma Nc
Chesney. "If you hadn't had it in
you, it wouldn't have come out"
ut wasn't in me, in the first place"
contested Jock stubbornly. you
planted it"
From her stand at the foot of the
bed she looked at him, her eyes glow
ing brighter and brighter with that
wonderful look.
Now see here"-severely-"I want
you to go to sleep. l don't intend to
stand here and dispute about your
ethical innards at this hour I'm going
to kiss you again"
"Oh, we'll, If you must" grinned
Jock resignedly, and folded her in a
bear-hug.
To Emma McChesney it seemed
that the next three weeks leaped by,
hxr doxre h,,t
And the day came when a little, chat
tering, animated group clustered
about the slim young chap who was
fumbling with his tickets, glancing at
his watch, signaling a porter for his
bags, talking, laughing, trying to hide
the pangs of departure under a cloak
of gayety and badinage that deceived
no one. Least of all did it deceive the
two women who stood there. The
eyes of the older woman never left
his face. The eyes of the younger one
seldom were raised to his, but she
saw his every expression. Once
Emma McChesney's eyes shifted a lit
tie so as to include both the girl and
the boy in her gaze. Grace Gait in
her blue serge and smart blue hat
was worth a separate glance.
Sam Hupp was there, T. a. Buck,
Hopper, who was to be with him in
Chicago for the first few weeks, three
or four of the younger men in the
Office, frankly envious and heartily
congratulatory.
They followed him to his train, all
laughter and animation.
eff this train doesn't go in two min
utes," said Jock, I'll get scared and
chuck the whole business. Funny, but
I'm not so keen on going as l was
three weeks ago."
His eyes rested on the girl in the
blue serge and the smart hat. Emma
McChesney saw that She saw thai
his eyes still rested there as he stood
on the observation platform when
the train pulled out. The sight did
not pain her as she thought it would.
There was success in every line of
him as he stood there, hat in hand.
There was assurance in every breath
of him. His clothes, his skin, his clear
eyes, his slim body, all were as they
should be. He had made place in
the world. He was to be builder of
ideas. She thought of him, and of
the girl in blue serge, and of their
children-to-be.
Her breast swelled exultingly. Her
head came up.
This was her handiwork. She look
ed at it, and found that it was good.
Lets strike for the afternoon and
call it holiday" suggested Buck.
Emma McChesney turned. The train
was gone at. A., you'll never grow
up"
Never want to. Come on, let's play
hooky, Emma"
Cant. I've dozen letters to get
out, and Miss Loeb wants to show me
that new knickerbocker design or
hers"
They drove back to the Office almost
in silence. Emma McChesney made
straight for her desk and began die
tating letters with an energy that bor-
dered on fury. At five o'clock she
was still working. At hve-thirty T. 4.
Buck came in to find her still sur
by papers. samples, models.
"What is this2" he demanded
"an all-night session."
Emma McChesney looked up from
her desk. Her face was flushed. her
eyes bright, but there was about her
an inde6nable air of WEAKNESS.
1T. A., I'm afraid to 60 horne. I'll
rattle around in that empty dat like
a hickory nut in a barrel"
well have dinner downtown and
60 to the theater"
"No use. I'll have to go home some
time"
"Now, Emma" demonstrated Buck,
you'll soon get used to it. Think Of
all the years you got along without
him. You were happy, weren't your
Happy because had somebody to
work for, somebody to plan for, some
body to worry about When l think of
what that fiat will be without him
Why, just to wake up and know that
you can say good morning to some
one who cares! That's worth living
;or, isn't it7"
"Emma," said T. A. evenly, "do you
-ealize that you are virtually hound
ng me into asking you to marry me?
1T. A.p gasped Emma McChesney.
"Well, you said you wanted some
,ody to worry about. didn't you,'
A little whimsical smile lay lightly
:, Timothy Fin Buck, I'm over forty
rears old"
"Emma, in another minute I'm
,oing to grow sentimental, and moth
ng can stop me"
L.