The Lamar register., 1916-07-05
THAT BUNGALOW
BY KEITH KENYON.

establishment at the age of forty in
profitable business as contractor in
stead OF being public stenographer.
or milliner. or schoolteacher. as her
friends had advised. One Monday
morning. as she arrived at her office
in her usual stunning tailored clothes,
she found no stenographer at the desk
where a competent but comely maiden
had busted herself for the past year.
Miss Candy felt d 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 a slim,
saucy-eyed little girl OF about twenty,
modishly dressed in a rose-colored
linen gown, with a white sports hat and
high white shoes A white-gloved hand
passed the typewriter agency's card
of introduction to Miss Candy. who
felt many misgiyings 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 Bessies
service. Miss Candy began to hope
-. - frA 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 ieeting desire to become per
manently settled in the business world.
Invariably. though, when Miss Candy
would leave her alone to go on long
afternoon trip to some building site.
Bessie would find herself with little
to do and would turn through a book
of bungalow plans. alluringly Illus
trated I'm colors. and would dream of
some day sitting in a lowered gown
on a bungalow porch while the dear
est boy in the world came up the
walk with a 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
a dropping mouth. Il suppose you've
quarreled with your sweetheart
why, how do you know" Bessies
surprise broke through her tears.
How could any woman help know
ing7" Miss Candy smiled. But cheer
up. It will all blow over in a day or
two"
mot this time-its a 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, we'll. I've decided to be a big
business woman like Miss Candy, any
how. He told me to go and be a
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 a 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 a hun and / haven't seen him
since, but" here sobs interfered with
the story-"but l happened to learn
today that he has advertised the lot
he'd bought for sale. the lot we were
going to have a bungalow on"
Bessie's head went down on her
crossed hands upon her desk. Miss
Candy stood beside her and laid a
hand on her shoulder. Then she drew
chair to Bessie's side and spoke
quietly. but determinedly.
This is serious. but it's going to
stop before it gets more serious. I'm
going to see your sweetheart and
straighten out this tangle."
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.
MorLbarnsa faptfpnary ghnn