The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-04-29
Aus1IN'S IDEAL

hdit ldliin6 A6hSAy O'SA AASA sSS~NS
young shoulders, he forgot all about
the little stenographer. The girl was
Madge Jenkins, daughter of Mr.. Dud-
ley Jenkins, senior partner Of Jenkins
& Barr.
The girl had gone straight to her "a
theirs office and a few minutes later
was seen going out again at her IA
TIERS side apparently to have lunch
with him at his downtown club.
Somehow the air was fresher and
the day was brighter to Tim Austin
because of that visit of Madge Jenkins.
She was just in her teens at the time
and Tim, at sixteen, was beginning
his career.
Once-it was two, years later and
by this time Tim had come to regard
the girl as his presiding divinity
Madge had brought her dog to the
Office with her.
Would you be SO good-could you
Just hold him in leash till come out?"
Then, after he had returned the dog
to its pretty owner. after he had been
introduced to her by Mr.. Jenkins him.
self, he realized for the first time the
breach that lay between them. What
must be her contempt for him? The
fact that he was no longer Office boy
that he had obtained rapid promotion
and had even been taken out to lunch
at the club by the boss" seemed to
make no difference. Then came the
day when Mr.. Jenkins asked him to
have dinner with him at his home.
AS they were taking the elevator It
was akin to blow to have Mr. Jen-
kins say: my daughter will be dis,
appointed not to be at home. But it
is the night of some sort Of school
festivity"
Then came a time when Jenkins and
Barr parted company, and for bust
ness reasons Tim was retained by Barr
instead of Jenkins. All that happened
before Tim was two and twenty.
Now, with anyone but Tim it might
have been simply passing memory
that little experience with the gold.
en-haired Madge. But to Tim it was
much more than that. 1t was even
enough to account for the fact that he
never took more than a very passing
interest in the girls he met. At twen-
ty-six or seven, when the sign over his
office door read Barr & Austin" he
had earned for himself the reputation
of being immune so far as pretty girls
were concerned.
"Is this Mr. Barr?" She, the one
who asked this question. was quiet
ly dressed little person who had been
ushered into Tim Austin's presence by
his Office boy as a young lady looking
for a job" Austin was somewhat an
noyed by the intrusion, but as matter
Of fact, he needed a new typist and
made a rule always to interview per.
sonally those whose names went down
on his pay roll. This time, however,
Tim scarcely looked up at the young
woman. Something in her general ap-
pearance and in the tone OF her voice
treasured him that she would be a
satisfactory employee"
For week or so Tim saw little of
the new typist. Once or twice he
heard Barr say that she was pretty,
but the idea of prettiness In any. en-
ployee interested Tim not at all. II
any interest did come to him with re-
gard to the new typist it was because
she apparently wanted to avoid him.
because she found an excuse always
to leave any room he happened to
enter.
1t was in March when the big snow
storm of the winter occurred that
year, and Tim Austin was not espe-
cially surprised that out of the four or
five members of the entire establish.
ment who ventured out that day and
arrived at work on time. the new
typist was one. Needless to say, Tim
was also on time. His own stem
ographer had not arrived and it &C.
Cured to him that the new typist
might be able to take his dictation.
Hurriedly he made his way into the
large, light room where she did her
work When he opened the door she
gave a little cry OF alarm. She was
| standing before the radiator somewhat
the worst for her encounter with the
storm. She had spread out her coat
, to dry and was holding her hands to
the heat. But what Tim noticed and
what had caused the cry Of alarm was
that the new typists hair was hang
ing, disheveled and moistened by the
| snow, over her shoulders.
Tim stopped with sudden surprise
| For the first time he looked searching
| ly at the girl. Yes, 1t really was. 1t
| was the same hair, those were the
same eyes, and that was the same
voice. 1t was actually Madge jenkins.
Il have always been faithful to the
memory of the only girl that ever
charmed me-" he said as soon as he
could trust himself to speak. Il sup
pose it is always that way when man
really loves, even if he is only cal.
low Office boy at the time"
but why did you never let me
know" she asked, with the same
voice that had charmed him so many
years before.
SO long as you had money and posi-
ton | never could have told you
loved you." Tim said. but now it isn't
so very difficult II seems strange
that should be glad of your apparent
misfortune. Perhaps / can do some
| g. l. L0z 60 14l