Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1915-08-12
CHAPTER vi.

1t was two o'clock in the afternoon.
FIOdie 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 Bonistelle 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 become
Mrs. BOnistelle? Or, worst of all,
would the wedding ring be worn by
Rosamund Gale? Flodie didn't know,
Hall didn't know. Even Rosamund
didn't know herself. Hence Flodie's
tears, wet and heavy, spIashing, trick
ling. soaking the dark blue bIotter of
FIodie's desk
At twO-ten sundry sounds, translat-
ed by FIodies intimate knowledge of
Hall Bonistelle's ways, Indicated his
approach. She sat hastily down at the
typewriter and began to print off this
interesting message:
Quiz Jack; thy frowns vex G. D.
Plumb"
Interesting mainly because, a con-
Coction of Flodies debutante days at
the typewriter, it contained every
known letter OF the alphabet. Now it
served to focus her mind on her fin
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, FIo!" he an
nounced and tapped with his stick on
the floor thoughtfully.
Flodie kept right on: "thy frowns
vex G. D. Plumb" But love and curl
osity won against embarrassment. She
wheeled round in her chair. What
are going to DO, Mr.. BonisteIIe?
There's work for you to do, I should
think"
Lord, / don't feel much like work
today, but I've finished Mrs. Royal
tons plates, Garry Dallys', too; some
of her poses are not half bad. She's
almost pretty, did you know it? /
didn't have time to develop Rosamund.
She can wait; expect I'll have plenty
Of time for her later"
At the infection Flodie turned to
ooh, Mr.. BonisteIle! Have you-reaIly
made up your mind that She
FIodie couldn't finish. She choked.
Hall laughed. lord, made up my
mind! What good would that 90? It's
UP to them, now. Well, I'm on the
way to buy the ring-and I ought to
get a suit Of clothes to go away in
I haven't anything at alto wear"
Flodie bit her lip hard. ooh, Mr.
BonistelIe!-" was she going to break
down, after all? In despair, her fin
| gers flew to the keys of her machine
thy frowns vex G. D. Plumb. Quiz
Jack"
He tapped her playfully with the
/ tip of his stick. We'll, I'm off, Flo
See you tonight. Be here early!"
FIodie turned a wretched face tt
him. Her eyes were wet.
But l don't know how you want
the rooms decorated, Mr.. Bonistelle!'
ooh, don't care-use your owl
taste. tn be all right. You can de
it. So long. FIo!" And he was off
Flodie went to the washstand be
] hind the screen and dabbed her eye.
in cold water, then inspected herself
mercilessly in the mirror. A sigh
She made a face at herself and re
turned listlessly to work
But mental occupation was impos
/ sibIe; Flodie had too much on hel
mind already. Manual exercise wa:
what she needed to keep her from
giving up to her misery. There were the
freshly developed plates-she wen
into the dark room TO get them.
Taking the rack full of glass Mega
tives, she emerged and walked int
the Office. Busy with melancholy
/ thoughts Of Hall Bonistelle, a shocl
awaited her. There was a strange,
in the room.
Mr.. BonistelIe in?"