The log cabin Democrat., 1916-05-18
A MONDAY ROMANCE
By ELSIE SEE.

| ing-house table. She's eaten scarce ! ly any breakfast for week. It cant be money. for she gets a fine salary at the government offices, and pays her board regular as the months come l around So it must be worry" Reckon she ain,t grievin' over that Mir Bartle's leavin'?" asked black Mar tha. who mistook the soliloquy for a remark addressed to her.
 | No, 1 guess not" opined Mrs. Fer rell
 i 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 MT. Bartle of whom she had been ! thinking in connection with Bessie Moore's despondency.
 ''Ive only moment, Mrs. Terrell" said the young man in a pleasant voice. I'm just in town for the day, and I dropped in to leave your latch key that carried off with me. How's everybody"
 All well, I believe, though Miss Moore does seem bit off color since the warm weather set in.'' Mrs Fer rells motherly solicitude was genuine
 T 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 big load and making a brave fight"
 You can't mean Mrs. Stanley Mar maduke, the prominent clubwoman?"
 Yes, we come from the same little town up state, and she has been a mighty good friend to me more than once in my life, MT. Bartle"
 Why, she and my mother were schoolgirl chums, and she has visited our home often. I've still got a lit- tie time on my hands today, though. and 1 think I'll run around to see her."
 That day at luncheon time, when Bessie Moore came down the eleva- tor and stepped into the dingy lobby of the subtreasury building and Har- ry Bartle stepped from the opposite side of the corridor and smilingly ad- vanced to greet her, the expression that overspread her face was like spring sunshine after rain.
 Before she had time to frame any excuses, Harry gained the acquiescence in prearranged plan for tete-a-tete luncheon in one of the little sun-parlor alcoves of popular restaurant. When they were settled at the table and their order had been given, he took small pink rose from the cluster that filled low bowl in the center of their table and tossed it to her.
 "In public restaurant I can't throw myself at your feet" he began, and you've forbidden me to do that any. how, but l throw you a rose as a symbol, for I've something to say which must be said here and now"
 Really, MT Bartle." protested Bes- sic, please don't spoil this lovely day. Things that you do not dream of make it impossible for me to listen to what you want to say"
 Bessie, do not dream of anything except the happiness that will be ours if you will care for me as I've cared for you for many months, but I do know about the things which have caused you to keep me from telling you how much I care. The question is, dear, do you care, too?"
 "1ts because I do care that it hurts to mention what can never be. Do you mean that you've learned about my-the debts?"
 Yes. I called on my mothers old friend, Mrs. Marmaduke today, and almost used force to drag your story from her. You are a wonderful girl"
 Not wonderful, at all Harry. should have been inhuman had l al- lowed the knowledge of those out standing notes to reach my mother in her depressed and broken condition after fathers sudden death. She felt secure with the snug little life insur- ance he left her: my brother had his wife and babies to look after; my sister was more capable than to look after mothers actual physical needs, and so my only real service to her lay in paying off those notes without ever letting her know of their ex- istence. That was possible because old MT. Parker presented them to me when none of the others was present, and I secured his promise to let me pay them off personally without let ting the others know. A thousand dol lars of the debt remains, and until all is paid l cannot consider my own happiness"
 He saw their waitress approach ing serving table with a covered tray, and he bent forward eagerly and said very rapidly: This is the queerest proposal of marriage that ever was, Bessie, but what they sent me to town today for was to employ a private secretary to go with me into