The Monticellonian., 1916-06-29
ANNE'S FELLOW bOARDER
By CATHERINE cRANMER.

11DX IOSeCOlOI GU tCiuS 49, ~
of shaded pink roses emphasized the
corresponding tints in her smooth
skin and carmine lips. and made her
dark ewes look darker still. But as
she looked the color paled on her
rounded cheeks, her pretty mouth
ouivered into usefulness and her big
ewes looked plaintively into their coun-
terparts in the little oval mirror.
What's the use of it all, Anne Muir
ray?o she asked her reflection. Here
YOU are. four and twenty, with a
neaches-and-cream complexion,
pretty hat and decent suit, but who
really cares whether you are thus or
whether you are four times twenty
with a wrinkled skin and bonnet ana
shawl"
Indulging in thoughts like these had
brought Anne to a more or less pessl-
mistic viewpoint of life in general
The next morning, as she went to her
desk in the offices of a big corporation,
she felt little interest or ambition In
her work. She had hardly time 10
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, IAN 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 a 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 Annes note
book held enough work to keep her
steadily busy all the afternoon. TO
complete the task, she remained
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
it's suddenly acquired speed and
force almost hurled her out against
a man who had preceded the boys
and who stood lighting a cigarette while
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.
Not 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.
In an impersonal conversation about
the weather. the crowds and the late
ness of the quitting hour Anne found
that Mr.. Mills had a strong and inter-
esting face and directness of man
ner that Just escaped brusqueness.
Mr.. Granby's little quiz this morn
ing was a part of his 'get-acquainted'
scheme. | suppose" began Mr. Mills.
but seeing Annes puzzled look, he
sdded: AT a 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
serious defect in this eompany's man
agem ent, 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 othet
office fixture. So, after awhile, one
feels an utter misfit in any sort of
human relationships"
"Oh. come now" laughed Mr. Mills,
you're in the very frame of mind that
l was before Mr.. CRANKY gave US that
corking good talk the other day, but
got to thinking that perhaps my own
mental attitude had more to do with
my difficulties than anything else, and
so | sat down for one whole evening
and looked myself in the face. as it
were, and sized myself up, with the
result that I've determined to get
right with myself and others Just as
soon as possible"
Mr.. Mills ushered Anne into a 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 to
find all that's praiseworthy and inter
esting in the plain, everyday men and
rection, I've given up expensive apart
ments in a bachelor establishment.
and am going back to one modest
room in f1rst-rate boarding house
managed by capable. motherly
woman"
Well" said Anne, with a long sigh.
you've given me just the thought
| needed to turn my mind from the
pessimism l was falling into"
Mr.. Mills reached for the bell just
as Anne finished speaking. and somet
how both of them felt embarrassedA
when it developed that they left the
car at the same place
I'VE must be neighbors, said Mr.
Mills, as he escorted Anne from the.
car step to the curb. I've taken a
room at Mrs. Elmore's. Do you hap