Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1916-06-22
A MONDAY ROMANCE
By ELSIE GEE

breakfast dishes from the long board
ing-nouse liable. She's eaten scarce
ly any breakfast for q week II can't
be money. for she gets fine salary
at the government Offices, and pays
her board regular as the months come
around. SO II must be worry.
Reckon she amt grievin' over that
Mr.. Bartle's leavin'7'' asked black Mar
tina. who nlistook the aoliioQuy for a
remark addressed TO her.
mo. guess not" opined Mrs. Fer
rell.
A short time afterward, Mrs. Fer
rell darkened the dining room for the
day and was about to sit down TO tele-
phone her grocer when the door bell
rang. She opened the door and was
surprised to be greeted by the very
Mr. Bartle OF whom she had been
thinking in connection with Bessie
Moore's dependency.
"rve only a moment, Mrs. Ferrell."
said the young man in a pleasant
voice. I'm just in town for the day.
and dropped in TO leave your latch
key that carried OF with me. How's
everybody"
"All well, / believe. though Miss
Moore does seem a bit of color since
the warm weather set in" Mrs Fer
reIls motherly solicItude was genuine
II think there's something on her
mind" Mrs. Terrell ventured "She
never once mentioned her family TO
me. but when Mrs. Marmaduke brought
her TO me she told me to be good to
her. for she was true blue blood and
was carrying a big load and making a
brave fight"
You can't mean Mrs. Stanley Mar
maduke. the prominent ciubwoman ?"
Yea. we come from the same little
town up state, and she has been
mighty good friend to me more than
once in my life. Mr. Bartle"
why, she and my mother were
schoolgirl chums. and she has visited
our home often. I've stili got a lii
tie time on my hands today. though.
and think III run around 10 see her ="
That day at luncheon time. when
Bessie Moore came down the sleya-
tor and stepped into the dingy lobby
Of the subtreAsury building and Har.
~ Bartlo stepped from the opposite
side OF the corridor and smiiingly ad
vanced 20 greet her, the expression
that oyerspread her face was like
spring sunshine after rain.
Before she had time 10 frame any
excuses, Harry gained the acqnicseeneo
in prearranged plan for a teteatete
luncheon In one OF the little sun.parlOr
alcoves c: popular restaurant, When
they were settled At the table and
their order had been given. he took
q small pink roae from the cluster
that filed q low bowl in the center Of
their table and tossed II 70 her.
"In public restaurant can't throw
myself at your fest" he began, and
you've forbidden me TO do that any
how. but throw you a rose as "A
symbol. for i've something to say
which must be said here and now -
Really. Mr. Bartlo" protested TIoa-
sic. please don't spoil this lovely
day. Things that you do not dream
OF make II impossible for me TO listen
TO what you want to say
Bessie. do not dream OF anything
except the happiness that win be ours
II you win care for me as rye cared
for you for many months. but do
know about the things which have
caused you to keep me from telling
you how much care Ths queution IL.
dear. do you care. too7"
tits because ! do care that II hurts
TO mention what can never be- Do
you mean that you've learned about
my--ths debtsY"
Eyes. l called on my mothers old
friend, Mrs. Marmaduke, today. and
almost used force 10 drag your story
from her. You are q wonderful girl"
Not wonderful. at oil. Harry. 1
should have been inhuman had al.
lowed the knowledge OF those out.
standing notes 10 reach my mother IN
her depressed and broken condition
after fathers sudden death She felt
secure with the snug little life insur.
ance be left her; my brother had his
wife and babies 10 look after; my
sister was more capable than 10 look
after mothers actual physical needs,
and 30 my only real serylas % her
lay In paying on those notes without
ever letting her know Of their ex.
istence. That was possible because
old Mr. Parker presented thcm 10 me
when none OF the others wns present,
and secured his promise to let me
pay them on personally without let.
ting the others know. A thousand dol.
lars OF the debt remains. and until
all is paid ] cannot consider my own
happiness"
lie saw their waitress approach.
Ing a serving table with a covered
tray. aud he bent forward eagerly
and said very rapidly, This 10 the
queerest proposal OF marriage thar
ever was, Bessie. but what they sent
me TO town today for was to employ
a private secretary TO 30 with me into
the mountains where I'm to have
charge OF the Seaman minea. Thera
would be no objection TO my score
tary being also my wife. and few
months Of mountain life would do you
world OF good. In less than year,
yon could pay on that thousand from
your salary. and In the meantime the
world would he ours. VIII you Gomez"
For answer. she lifted the rose to
her lips. and smiled into his eager
eyes.
Copyright by the. Mcclure Newspaper
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