, 1915-11-25

taken aback.
ITS worth $4,000 to me to have nv
BOY really want to work, not just to do
1t to please me-" said the old man.
really moved beneath his grufY exte-
rior. What a difference an incentive
makesr'
Doesn't itT' said Mary. smiling at
her check.
But what about your marriage"
He said ne wouldn't marry me till
ned made good-if I'd just wait"
Her employer looked at her a little
~anxiously.
DO you think perhaps he Ia real.
ly love your he asked.
"Of course not" said Mary.
Its the first time he's actually want
ed TO marry anybody" said his father.
oh, It's just that I've been yery blue
eyed and baby facedr' said the secre-
tary modestly.
Il guess you're right" agreed Mar.
tin.
vi course l am. Why, dear Mr..
Martin, even for this" she said mint
ing to her check, II wouldn't give your
son one real pang. He's too nice a
boy. When l break our engagement
he may feel a bit lonely and be very
sorry for himself for a few days and
give up women forever, but pretty
o some charming girl of his own
position-of his own world, who needs
to be petted and spoiled and protected.
some Limousine ~lady-will come along.
and they'll live happily ever after
"Nonsenser' said Mr.. Martin. "I
don't agree with you at all. beoin
TO wish this marriage were going to be
on the level
1T wouldn't work out" Mary inter
rupted. I'm a business m Mar.
riage and the Preside and leaning on
SOM man are not for me. I've been
independent too long. couldn't stop
my work for a man, and there cam be
two heads in a family-two bappy
heads Even If your son did love me
really owe wouldn't marry him.
Just now he's twenty-four. with an in.
dia rubber heart that is easy to stretch
and easier to snap back. All men at
twenty-four are like that"
Il suppose So" Mr.. Martin comment.
ed reminiscently. II remember when
i was a young man there was a girl
my heart was broken for a week-per.
haps ten days-however. however,
Then. abruptly changing the subject.
he inquired. whats my son going to
work at?"
81 don't know yet" Mary said truth.
fully.
DO you think he'll make good?"
FL will If he keeps at it"
We'll. you'll keep him at it. won't
your"
THAT wasn't our agreement" said
Mary. Il only undertook to get him
to start to work"
"Hmr' went Mr.. Martin. tapping the
arm of his chair.
isn't that trueT' demanded Mary
quietly.
Quite, quite" said Martin cannily.
81 was Just thinking we might make
some agreement to have you keep him
on the job"
t keep him on the job?'' echoed
Mary faint h~eartedly. Here was a
new complication If the soap king was
proposing a second chapter in the de.
ceptlon. She had honestly meal to
give the whole thing up. She truly
did not want Rodney to get permanent
ly interested in her. She had let him
kiss her-the memory of his kisses still
trembled on her lips-but she had lone
that for the boys w good. Poor lit.
tie secretary. pretty little Mary Gray
Gnn y-hof mo ghn 70 fhfnlr 90 @hsar,
how cleave her way through his tan.
gle of motives that bound her heart
and hands? She had let him kiss her.
yes. but had 1t really been wrong in
her? Was it-bad? No, she found her
whole soul protesting, 1t was not wrong
or bad. IL had been for the boys own
good, she told herself again. She hug,
ged the thought greedily, tasting u por
ton Of that joy of women in giving
But she would not spoil his life. She
had been firm as to that. And now
here was old Mr.. Martin coming back
at her with this hateful power OF
money and trying to bride her to &c
on. What should she do?
Suddenly. by IA complete change OF
venue her thoughts attacked the case
from a different angle. She had been
enough In the business world to know
the power and use Of money, and from
a French grandfather she had inherited
a streak of the keen and honest thrift.
Let the rich people look out for them.
selves; the poor had to. Curiosity. too.
set in. and helped dictate her answer
when she finally made it.
well" she said Mt last enlgmatical-
ly. I'm a business woman
Mr.. Martin looked at her d%elightedly.
what strikes you as fair?'' he asked
her.
I'D rather the proposition came from
vou - rafofnaI Mary