The Lamar register., 1917-07-25
BY HI AKERS
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Copyright. by W. G. chapman)

iAE AhlSluht uOl u uCCtpl MI bEuu
bury.
II think" answered Jean, II shoult
be making a bigger mistake to marry c
man l didn't love"
well, you certainly can't help re
specting him. The love will come ir
time. He is steady. energetic, II hare
worker, and is getting along finely II
the Hardness firm"
Yes, 1 know all that" said Jean.
"And just because you do know al
that. you1l throw him over for somt
snowy spendthrift who isn't half tn,
man he Is"
Don't you think all this is rather
premature. inasmuch as Mr.. Bradbury
has not yet proposed?"
'Wcll. you know he will. It's fore
gone conclusion"
Yes, he seems to look at 1t thai
way" said the girl. That's part OF
his colossal concelt."
Il have never noticed any conceit,'
said Mrs. Martin with considerable ir
ritrtion.
She was silent for u minute or two
then she added: Jean, have neveI
said much to you about our circum
stances. For a girl of nineteen, yoI
hive seemed rather Indifferent, might
say, almost oblivious to the condition,
Of things"
why mother I" exclaimed the girl IL
II sudden alarm, "what has happenedT
"Oh nothing, especial. Only yoI
know the rates of interest have de
creased so that our income has gon,
down one-third, the cost of living has
gone up about one-half. n things gel
any worse"
II see" said the girl thoughtfully
Il wonder l didn't think before. must
find something to do. What can
earn money at, do you supposeT
Il don't know I'm sure" was the ex
tremely discouraging reply.
you remember" said Jean, before
father died, used to type things foi
him. Now there's the typewriter IL
the storeroom. 1t is a good machine
and 1 can start in and practice so as
TO get up speed. Perhaps l can get
a place In an office"
Here Mrs. Martin put up wall, even
lapsing into tears at the thought OF
her daughter becoming. as she called
1t, "a shopglrl." But Jean was deter
mined, and the clicking OF the type
writer keys began to be heard for sew.
eral hours each day.
Mr.. Bradbury one evening found Mis-
Jean at the machine, and Mrs. Martin
conhded to him her wilful daughters
determination to help with the family
income. Mr.. Bradbury seemed a trifit
surprised that such a course was neces
snry. Mrs. Martin explained vers
much as she had to her daughter.
II should hate to put a mortgage on
the property" she said. 1T was my
husbands wish that the home should
always remain unincumbered."
"Oh, by all means I" exclaimed the
young man. He had for some time
looked with a longing eye on the fine
old house with it's pretty grounds. De
cidedly there must be no mortgage
He concluded he must bring matters tc
n crisis. But Jean persistently side
tracked his endeavors, SO the next best
thing was to help her to position
He was quite sure she would soon tire
of the hard work, and be willing to be
come Mrs. Leon Bradbury. To throw
her into the numerous temptations Of
an office with all kinds of men, per
haps those who would make themselves
agreeable TO her was out Of the Ques-
ton, so he watched his chance, and
when one Of the girls In Mr.. Hark.
ness office left, got for her the vacant
place. Harkncss was a bachelor over
forty, and seasoned and confirmed in
single life. Bradbury had no fears of
him as rival. Besides he would have
Jean quite under his eye; and as he
told her mother would 'look out for
her"
The first day Jean took dlctation
from Mr.. Harkness she made several
mistakes.
II am sorry" she said. 81 will try
not to have It happen again. But II
1 make you too much trouble, you can
discharge me-"
But Jean was not discharged. She
seemed so anxious TO please, and i'm.
proved rapidly In her work.
One day when Bradbury was walk.
ing home with Jean he asked, How
do you get along with the old man?"
Queried.
"Why, of course"
II don't call him an old man. he
can't be forty; and at any rate his
heart and soul are young"