Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1916-06-30
I. that BUNGALOW
BY KEITH KENYON.

Oedtcn pains. lQaI dCCOuutcu AoA ASoA
establishment at the age OF forty In .
profitable business as q contractor IN
stead of being q public stenographer,
or milliner, or schoOlteacher, as ner
friends had advised. One Monday
morning, as she arrived at her once
in her usual stunning tailored clothes.
she found no stenographer at the desk
where a competent but c0mely maiden
had busted herself for the past year.
Miss Candy felt q sickening sense OF
things gone awry as she saw on the
desk a letter addressed to her.
when you read this I'll be far
away on my honeymoon" was the first
astounding statement. Miss Candy
scowled and dropped Imply into her
swivel chair, but she shrugged her
shoulders and reached for the tele-
phone to ask the typewriter agency to
send her a good stenographer.
Half an hour later her name was
questioningly pronounced by q slim.
saucy-eyed little girl Of about twenty.
modishly dressed in q rose-c0lored
linen gown, with q white sports hat and
high white shoes. A whitegloved hand
passed the typewriter agency's card
of introduction to Miss Candy. who
felt many misgivings about the appli--
cant's capabilities. But her need Of .
stenographer was immediate and dire,
SO she rose and began to outline the
service she required.
After the first few days Of Bessie's
service, Miss Candy began to hope
that she had found q treasure and
after the first few weeks she began
to fear that the treasure she had
found was too good to last. As for Bes-
sic, she admired Miss Canby's dignity
and poise so much that she sometimes
felt a fieeting desire to become per-
manently settled in the business world.
Invariably. though, when Miss Candy
would leave her alone to 60 on q long
afternoon trip to some building site.
Bessie would find herself with little
to do and would turn through . book
Of bungalow plans, alluringly illus
trated in colors, and would dream of
some day sitting In . lowered gown
on q bungalow porch while the dear
est boy in the world came up the
walk with q smile of loving greeting
for her.
What on earth has happened to
you, Bessie Elkins?" asked Miss Can
by one morning. as Bessie appeared
with hollow eyes in which no smile
lurked and with colorless cheeks and
dropping mouth. Il suppose you've
quarreled with your sweetheart"
why. how do you known" Bessie's
surprise broke through her tears.
How could any woman help know
ing?" Miss Candy smiled. But cheer
up. 1t will all blow over In day or
two"
mot this time-it's real quarrel"
q flood Of tears swept speech tempo
rarily away, but. under Miss Canby's
encouragement. the turbulence sub
sided and Bessie explained further.
You see, we'd been spatting over lit
tie things and just to be pert, said:
oh, well, I've decided to be q big
business woman like Miss Candy, any
how He told me to 60 and be .
carpenter-which he pretended to
think you were-since I'd made up my
mind not to live the sort Of life every
woman ought to live. l told him he
had his nerve to map out program
for every woman In the world, but he
could understand he wasn't to map out
any part of my program. So he went
on in q hun and haven't seen him
since, but" here sobs interfered with
the story-"but happened to learn
today that he has advertised the lot
he'd bought for sale, the lot we were
going to have bungalow on"
Bessie's head went down ON her
crossed hands upon her desk. Miss
Candy stood beside her and laid q
hand on her shoulder. Then she drew
chair to Bessie's side and spoke
quietly, but determinedly.
This il serious, but it's going to
stop before 1t gets more serious. I'm
going to see your sweetheart and
straighten out this tangle."
"Oh, no! I won't let you!" cried
Bessie.
And / won't ask you." snapped Miss
Candy. Il believe his name is Robert
Davis and he's a salesman for the Elk.
hart Paper company. Now, battle your
face and straighten up your desk and
be ready to talk to me when I tele-
phone you"
Before Bessie could protest, Miss
Candy had gone. She moved about
slowly, stopping often to stare at moth.
ing. After she had bathed her face
and powdered her nose she felt and
looked better. When her desk was al.
most in order. the telephone rang.
Put on your hat and meet me at
Markham's in ten minutes" said Miss
Canby's voice commandingly.
Markhams confectionery shop was
a favorite downtown rendezvous Tor
women, and. Just as Bessie entered 1t,
Miss Candy emerged from q telephone
booth in the entry.
Come" she said. with mock for.
mality. my lady's carriage awaits
her." Taking Bessie's arm she escort
ed her through the store and out
through a side entrance opening on
another street. At the curb q taxicah
stood throbbing. and from the cab
sprang Robert Davis. whose eyes
pleaded eloquently as he held out his
hand to Bessie. She extended her
own hand timidly and the next minute
found herself in the cab, with Miss