Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1915-06-11
<NSSSV9SS9S
PROVED
"What Might Have
Been"
By EDWARD HOLLYWOOD /,
Copyright by Frank A. Munsey Co. /,
-
By EDWARD HOLLYWOOD

cool glass.
Beyond the partition, in the work
room of Miss Gardeners typewriting
agency, the girls had closed their ma
chimes for The day. They chatted soft
ly and gayly while they adjusted in
credible hats over miraculous coiffures.
From the lavatory drifted the faint,
clean odor of perfumed soap.
THE naIne-did you say the name
was Mrs. Franklin Trent?" faltered
Emma.
"Yes, yes" Miss Gardner replied
from her desk. You must have no
ticed the name in the newspapers.
This Mrs. Franklin Trent needs anoth-
er social secretary for awhile. She win
see you at 6. The house is on Fifth
avenue. and here's the address and
your stage fare"
Emma's slender fingers shook a lit
tie when she picked up the coin aud
the card, and Miss Gardner frowned
impatientiy.
Now. fer heavens sake. Emma,
don't get rattled!"
but, If you please. Miss Gardner, l
can't would rather not 60"
what do you think / pay you for I"
snapped Miss Gardner. you bet you'll
go or else'--
VERY well, I'll be there at g." mur-
! INJURED Emma Saxon.
II guess / made no mistake in send
ing Saxon en- this job" remarked Miss
Gardner to her plotting pad. If oil
you hear about Franklin Trent is true
his wife wouldn't be Keen about hav-
ing any chatty young piece of dress
goods around the house. Poor old EN-
mas over forty and the best hand In
the shop at that"
Emma sided into the elevator, pack
ed at this hour with noisy clerks and
giggling stenogpaphers. She had work
ed in Miss Gardeners agency for half
a year, but she had made no acquaipt-
ances elsewhere in the building. Hell
cold, tired face, with it's pathetic traces
of former beauty, somehow kept people
from her.
Broadway was aglow and flashing.
Emma glanced at an illuminated clock
and knotted her coin thriftily in a
handkerchief. The pavement WIZ
slushy with melted snow, and her
sheDNgere Aorn7>but 10 cents meant
a breakfast. and she had time enough
tt valk.
Finally a cross town street led bel
70 Mrs. Franklin Trent's magnificent
new house on the Emma had
never identified 1t before. The ornate
front of the stone mansion, a tumble
OF costly carving, was an architectural
joke, but Emma did not seem to be
amused. Her lips shivered strangely
as she climbed the broad steps.
For the house would have beer her
own If she in her fathers orchard
1 twenty years ago had whispered a
yes instead of a mo- to young
Frank Trent on the night when he left
their Connecticut village to seek his
fortune in the western copper mines.
A liveried f0otman swung the hesvy
door and surveyed Emma Saxon briefly.
"If you please, IL have an appoint
ment here at g." said she, and offered
Miss Gardeners card.
"Other entrance" said the footman.
But a trim lady's maid now appear
ed from behind a pillar.
zone minute, Mr.. Hibbs," she inter-
posed, scanning the card. Madam
expects a-oh, yes! l will bring her to
madam. 1t will be quicker So"
The maid crossed the lofty hall, and
Emma followed, with shoulders bent,
as if the luxury of the house oppress-
ed them like a burden. Mr.. Hibbs
yawned. examining his finger nails.
AT a door near the head of the stair-
case Emma's guide pressed the con-
cealed knob of an electric annunciator.
A second maid opened the door silent
ly, placed Tire card on a silver tray AMI
left Emma waiting behind a hair
drawn poriiece OF rosy silk.
Beyond the CERTAIN was an octagonal
room naneled Ia rose Du Barry bro
cade. The furniture was covered with
Gobelin tapestry, and on a couch re.
clined a lady whose flowing gown had
the color an6 sheen of morning cob
webs in a dew garden. Another wo-
man, soberly dressed in brown. sat at
a m~arqueterie desk, but Emma looked
only at the lady on the couch. Never
had she looked at such a beautiful
creature.
Madam viii receive you" said the
maid.
SIS that Mrs. Trenton the sofa?"
gasped Emma.
"Of course" breathed the servant,
with much disdatn.
Emma advanced into the room. The
lady raised her graceful, tawny haired
head from the heap of pillows. and her
voice was kind and musical.
'.This is Miss s~;axon?"
my name is faxon, ma'am. | am
from the Gardner agency"
"Yes.Y said Mrs. Trent. Il shall need
n eacrnfarv for q faw wanks IN assist