The herald. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1905-1953, 1916-11-23
:ANNE'S W.BOARDER
By CATHERINE cRANmER.

her latest attempt at millinery. me
tiny rose-colored toque with its wreath
Of shaded pink roses emphasized the
corresponding tints in her smooth
skin and carmine lips, and made her
dark eyes look darker still. But as
she looked the color paled on her
rounded cheeks, her pretty mouth
quivered into wistfulness and her big
eyes looked plaintively into their coun-
terparts in the little oval mirror.
What's the use of it all, Anne Muir
ray?" she asked her reflection. Here
you are, four and twenty, with a
peaches-and-cream complexion, a
pretty hat and a decent suit, but who
really cares whether you are thus or
whether you are four times twenty,
with a wrinkled skin and bonnet and
shawl"
Indulging in thoughts like these had
brought Anne to q more or less pessi-
mistic viewpoint of life in general.
The next morning, as she went to her
desk in the Offices of big corporation,
she felt little interest or ambition in
her work. She had hardly time to
put her purse in its accustomed place
In her desk and to open the typewriter
shaft before an Office boy came briskly
up.
THE big boss wants you in the
stock-room," said the boy. AN he says
to bring your notebook. There's some
thin dom around here. but so far
can't quite catch the drift"
Anne fastened away to comply with
the unusual demand. She found her
employer engaged in conference
with the manager Of the stock depart
ment, and she was instructed to make
notes Of the questions asked and the
suggestions made by each man.
Later they went to other depart
ment managers, and by luncheon time
they had made the rounds Of the va.
rious departments, and Anne's note
book held enough work to keep her
steadily busy all the afternoon. To
complete the task, she remained a
quarter of an hour later than usual,
and as she left the building some
thoughtless boys who were also late
In leaving gave the revolving door a
big push Just as she entered 1t, and
its suddenly acquired speed and
force almost hurled her out against
a man who had preceded the boys
and who stood lighting cigarettewhile
a newsboy stuck an evening paper
into his hand. As the man recognized
Anne, he tossed the cigarette aside,
raised his hat and asked whether the
thoughtless boys had caused her any
injury.
mot at all, thank you. Mr. Mills"
responded Anne. as she recognized the
manager of the credit department,
whom she had met for the first time
that morning. A few moments later
on the street car she found herself
standing crowded close to Mr.. Mills.
Mr.. Granby's little quiz this morn.
ing was a part of his 'get-acquainted'
scheme, I suppose" began Mr.. Mills,
but seeing Anne's puzzled look. he
added: "At meeting OF all the de.
partment managers the other day Mr..
CRANKY told US that the lack of gen.
eral fellow-feeling among the workers
and the employers was becoming a
serious defect in this company's man.
agement. and he purposed to try to
bring about better understanding all
around. supposed you were in on
the little plan"
ooh. no." Anne shrugged as she
spoke, "stenographers, especially
when they happen to be girls, are ex'
pected to be Just automatons, without
desire or capacity for initiative think
ing or acting any more than any other
office fixture. So, after awhile, one
feels an utter misfit in any sort OF
human relationships"
ooh, come now" laughed Mr.. Mills
you're in the very frame Of mind that
I was before Mr.. CRANKY gave US that
corking good talk the other day, but
got to thinking that perhaps my owl
mental attitude had more to do with
my difficulties than anything else. and
so I sat down for one whole evening
and looked myself In the face, as II
were, and sized myself up. with the
result that I've determined to gel
right with myself and others just al
soon as possible"
Mr.. Mills ushered Anne into seat
that had become vacated, and seated
himself beside her, continuing his part
Of the conversation. I've decided
that indifference breeds indifference
and I'm going to start out and try tt
find all that's praiseworthy and inter
esting in the plain, everyday men and
women l meet. AS step in that di
rection, I've given up expensive apart
ments in a bachelor establishment
and am going back to one modest
room In a first-rate boarding house
managed by capable, motherl!
| woman"
WELL" said Anne, with a long sigh
you've given me Just the though
needed to turn my mind from thu
pessimism I was falling into"
Mr.. Mills reached for the bell JUS
as Anne finished speaking, and some
how both Of them felt embarrassed
when it developed that they left TIT
car at the same place.