The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-08-31

Of the f6om, with the unsteady woTd1:
How am I going to tell hint"
Whatever was on his mind. how
ever. of the unsolved problem indi-
Gated, Ezra grasped the dilemma by
the horns. When Wilton Dacre came
down to the Office the next morning
Ezra met him in the main ONCE and
pointed to his private room.
"In there. sir" he observed tim
orously.
who? What do you mean"
/ "The prize-winning graduate. sir"
responded Ezra. and halted.
Dacre entered his private Office.
tossed his hat ON top of his desk and
turned around, intent on making short
work of his visitor Then he drew
back after an embarrassing stare.
Seated beside his desk, smiling, pref
ty and blushing like a fresh June
rose, was young girl. He was the
respectful, considerate gentleman at
once.
II hope l will do" she spoke; "and
oh, sir! want to thank you 80 much.
The money means q great deal to me.
for you know / am an orphan and
Aunt Lefty is poor. But the position!
II only my shorthand is quick enough
for YOU"
The hard business lines softened
down in the face of the master of the
plant. He did not reply at once. A
flashing memory Of q woman who
had won his regard and deceived him
four years agone opened wide the gates
to dreams Of new ideal Of truth and
loneliness, closed rigidly after the one
bitter disappointment Of his life.
Then all that was yearning and ten
der in his soul went out to the eager
faced, innocent girl before him, too
, artless to conceal her joy at being
placed in business life.
Il shall have to speak with my
bookkeeper, Miss" began Dacre.
laundering and of his balance like
some bashful schoolboy.
Eva, sir-Eva Morris"
Just wait a moment, Miss Morris,
please. What the thunder!" he
burst forth upon the shrinking Ezra
In the outer room. mot a female in
the place! thought it was q boy"
Yes. sir; but. you see. girl beat
them all to nrst place this year.
You wouldn't give me time to tell you
about 1t. She's little model Of in
| dustry, Mr.. Dacre. "I'll vouch for her
| there. Az to having . girl around
| why. cir. 1t will make It more cheer
full" and then the old rascal chuckled
a. Dacre went OF, reading in his en-
ployer's face decided leaning towards
| IN innovation in the system Of the
I place.
J Eva did Anely. There was not .
{ great deal Of stenographic work to do.
She was bright. smart. an excellent
correspondent She liked her employ
er. she was the pet Of the workmen.
Dacre was called away for month
on important business. He was sur
prised and pleased when he returned.
Somehow. things looked frightened
up. In the outer once the clerical
force now had their hats and coats
hung up in an orderly way on hooks.
where before they had. been nung
earelessly about. The private once
was neat a. q pin. The old ragged
shades had been reversed and turned.
! A vase filled with flowers ornamented
his desk.
! For the first time In it, history the
! washroom Of the working hands con-
tanned clean roll towels. The sight Of
brush and comb In . homemade card,
board case. trimmed with bit Of blue
ribbon. made Dacre smile at the In.
congruity. and yet somehow thrilled
his heart with pleasure.
And from these minor invasions Of
the grim rules Of the works, Eva b.
gan to advance along more material
lines Dacre was amazed at many .
practical suggestion she made in con-
sonance with his material business in
terests.
More than ever he felt the vast void
in his being, craving for sympathy
and interested companionship. The
sweet pretty girl at his side, always
smiling, accommodating and grateful,
seemed to have woven an irresistible
charm about his heart.
"Dictation," he said one day, coming
into the office. mighty resolve in his
mind, and the ready hand Of his
stenographer touched the keyboard.
miss Eva Norris" dictated Dacre
tersely. Il love you-will you be my
wife?"
The fair head dropped. the wild
rose blush ON the beautiful face
deepened. He watched her trembling
hand breathlessly as q slender. shape
ly finger delivered three radiant notes.
clicking rapidly into his longing soul:
i YES"
) copyright. 1916, by w. g. Chapman.)