Newark evening star and Newark advertiser., 1915-05-17
Evening Star S
Daily Story
MISS DREW'S SECRETARY
BY JEANNE KILBY.

DOCKS Ddldnce, Sne panleu. i WISH
Miss Smith had not been so stupid or
-@Iiss Hart so slovenly. I simply can't
set along wltnowt a secretary"
II thought you advertised for one,
observed her aunt and companion,
Mrs. Marsh.
II did, but there was not one answer
that sounded well-they were all i'm
possible"
You might try one of the secreta-
rial schools" suggested Mrs. Marsh,
sending over her embroidery.
Il WILL must have some one at
Snce."
Carlotta picked up the receiver and
telephoned her wishes:
Send along any one who is fairly
intelligent" she walled at last.
There" she said, looking deflantly
at her aunt, they are sending up
young man."
"A young mani" echoed Mrs.
Marsh. Are you crazy, CarlottaY'
"Only desperate, Aunt Anna
"I shall send him away again"
mot until he has Strengthened out
my accounts. I make them say that
l nave SpGHl just lOuL lOAlc1Ao Ait9hNee0
of five hundred In the last month,
and yet my checkbook shows that
have overdrawn my account"
What a muddle," sighed Mrs.
Marsh. "You really ought to marry
a good business man, my dear. some
one who can look after you and your
property"
IT met g, man last summer" she
1,or Inns tn keen
back a secret she had not dared con-
fess to anyone but herself. she added
gaily: I'm going out, Aunt Anna.
If the young man comes tell him to
straighten out my books. I'll be home
before he leaves"
She danced out of the room, and
Mrs. Marsh, reminded of the coming
secretary and of her entire disap-
provaI of such an appendage to their
household in the person Of young
man, determined that she would hold
him to his job.
'I'll have no idling," she murmured
resentfully, land If they send some
young popinjay who tries to capture
Carlotta and her money, I'll soon
send him flying" For Aunt Anna
was q very serious-minded woman,
who felt the gravity of her position
as chaperon to a young and rather
impulsive heiress.
1t was an hour after Carlotta's
departure when Biggs brought in
q card.
"Mr. Anthony Lester"
"Humph!" shifted Mrs. Marsh,
looking coldly at the tall, self-pos-
sessed young man who regarded Ter
SO affably my niece is out at pres
ent She wants you to wait until she
returns. No use wasting your time,
though. I suppose you are good at
flgures?"
He stared at her.
Rather" he stammered.
'I should think you would have to
be" retorted Mrs. Marsh, pointedly.
Miss Drew said you might straighten
out her books-there on the desk
find out what the trouble Is
Lester smiled and sat down at the
desk. Presently Mrs. Marsh noted
that he was working busily over the
offending accounts. For long time
there was no sound in the room save
the scratch of his pen and the fall
ing Goals in the crate.
He worked SO steadily that Aunt
Annals heart warmed toward him.
She would reward him with little
smiable conversation. 1t would be
something pleasant to take back to
his lonely hall bedroom-this recol"
lection of the condescension of a
great lady.
AS matter Of fact Mrs. Marsh was
not a great" lady at all. She was
very simple-minded country woman,
who had come to take charge of her
dead brothers household when the
newly- orphaned Carlotta found her
self alone, and Aunt Anna had re-
NAMED, enjoying the quiet luxury or
the house, but content to allow Car
lotta,s other aunt, the fashionable
Mrs. Slade, to introduce the girl to
society.
But Aunt Anna felt vastly superior
to the secretary young man." and SO
she permitted him to bask in the sun
shine of her notice.
Are you married|' she asked
abruptly.
"Good heavens-no!" he laughed
"I was married for twenty years
end l never had one single regret
NV husband has been dead for ten
Years. Ours was perfect marriage,
sighed Mrs Marsh. now on her favor
lie tonic, "and dislike to hear young
people laugh fippantly at matri-
lester colored. 'T assure you," he
said gently, II had no intention of
laughing. 1t was the idea of your
thinking 1 would be here His
voice trailed into embarrassed ST.
lence.
Aunt Anna Marsh sat up stiffiy and
regarded him over the tops of her
eyeglasses.
"Young man." she said sternly
"when YOU came here this afternoon
did YOU know that my niece, Miss
Drew, is very, very rich, indeed2"
Lester had the grace to blush
quite perceptibly.
Yes" he said at last.
81 thought sc" she said.
Lester got up and paced the floor
Now he was scowling in most un-
pleasant manner, but even the black
look didn't mar his handsome face.
Aunt Anna admitted to herself that
he looked like an actor in tragic
scene.
Cant a man marry a rich girl
without being called a fortune hun
ter?" he suddenly asked.
mol" exploded Aunt Anna indig-
ITS hard op all the girls who have
any money" retorted Lester.
dRiches bring cares and sacrifices"
said Aunt Anna, virtuously. And,
now, Mr. er--bester, eh?" glancing
All his card, suppose you finish up
those accounts before my niece re-
First. l would like to ask you
ouestion-does your niece share your
views-that every man-nol l won't
doubt her for an instantl" He turned
toward che desk.
radiant Carlotta. her blue eyes
agleam with the glad. light of surprise
and her cheeks aglow.
"Anthonyl Anthony! you dearH'
she cried, and she went straight into
the arms of the secretary young