The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1916-05-27

Then send that girl away from your
ofiice-and get an, ther one"
Send that girl away. You mean
Miss Foster"
Yes"
But whyo-this is absurd. Why
send Myra Foster away
Because | wish it."
Put you must have some reason.
This can't be mere imperative arbi
trariness. You are not Ike that. Can't
you tell me why? Myra Foster is my
most able assistant. To send her away
would be to disable me in my most
important work. Besides. it would be
unjust. She is a very worthy girl.
She is the sole support OF her aged
father"
He felt the urgent sincerity of her
request, and knew how deeply she was
moved. But her concern was so obvi-
ousiy uniouuded on fact that be could
not help but believe II was an hysteri-
cal outbreak that would be d:spclled
when her oyerwrought nerves were
quoted. and reason returned. II would
be ridiculous, wrong, to sacrifice Myra
to this hystorla. so he decided to be
firm, and make no rash promise He
spoke:
Some old gossip has evidently been
busy. Wen talk more OF this when
your nerves are quieter."
NO, We will talk Of it now Will
YOU"
No"
She turned. despairing- eyed and
limp, and walked dazedly from the
room.
The next morning Ethel kept to her
room. Ray left for his office. the usual
spring gone from his gait. his face
grave with the anxiety OF the previous
evening. He arrived in the city, and
proceeded Immediately to his work
Myra Foster was there, and her ener-
waited movements as she went about
her work showed only too plainly that
her "bothersome cold and slight head
ache" had not improved overnight
He decided quickly upon his course
with regard to Myra's case, and spoke
to her:
Miss Foster, you are i'll. You're in
no condition for work at the present
time in this or any office, and I'm GO
ing TO send you and your father away.
| have a place down on the ocean.
har $ 1,
salt air, and win back some of your
old time strength and snap So make
ready, please. We can start just as
soon as you can get your things to-
gether"
Very well, Mr.. Norris, and thank
you. I-er-'thank you'-any words
seem so inadequate, so inexpensive,
in acknowledgment of such kindness.
I'm afraid"-her voice grew soft and
tender-''youT have to take my
thanks for granted"
Forget it, he said, inelegantly, and
turned to get his coat.
'Ha, ha!-Oh my" He looked
quickly over his shoulder at the sound
of her mirth. "Gracious!" she said,
half sadly. half amusedly, I'VE forgot
the most important thing. 1t cant be
done! How about old man Conven-
ton. his wife Scandal, and their
daughter Gossip? What will people
say?"
'Oh, that's all right-don't let that
concern you. Your father will be
there, and I'll tell my wife tonight"
Together they left the office.
climbed into his machine, picked up
her father, and in less than three
hours were down IN his place by the
ocean
Ethel Norris came down from her
room after her husband left, and her
usually gay face was grave, and her
eyes red and heavy. She ate no break
fast, and the servants had to speak to |
her many times over before she could !
comprehend their meaning. She |
dressed for the street about noon, and |
without, as usual, leaving word of her |
intended destination, left the house. |
She had spent night of very hell, her |
spirit tortured almost beyond endur- |
ance at the thought of another COM |
ing between her and what was dearer |
to he- than life. She would see. She
would sc to his office, and let her |
quick wOmans intuition scent out the |
truth for her.
She reached his office and was about |
tO gO in when q cunninp thoupbt co,pa
to her. Why let them be aware of her
presence? Why give them an oppor-
tunity to be on their guard? She |
turned back, her "cleverness" for the
moment obsessing her, and making her
fearless, clean face ugly with the
blight of subtlety. She would go to
Falls office, make some slight pre-
text for her visit, and watch them
from there. She knocked softly, and,
getting no answer, pushed further
open the slightly ajar door, and looked
in. No one there. He must have
stepped out for just a moment. or his
door would be locked So much the
better. A moment would be enough.
would, without her having to conceal
that she was watching, be worth many
with his attention upon her.
The window was open, and she went
to it, keeping always in the shadow Of
the wall. so that she could see with
out being seen.
Mrs. Norris saw her husbands Of
flee was empty. What could it mean?