The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1917-12-21
tort Of . husband she thought n

gort Of Q husband she thought Mr..
Harrow would make.
i could be his stenographer all my
life and enjoy it." explained Nancy.
but could never endure him as a
husband. But with girl like you, 1t
would be different. You would col.
lapse after day in his office; but with
all the little feminine witcheries to
fall back on you, or a.girl like you, I
should say, might find him perfect
husband"
zone thing Mr.. Harrow's wife would
have to remember, thought" added
Nancy, land that is that she should
never once let him take her for grant
co. 1t would be like tanning a lion
oncethe beast knows the power, the
tanner is last. Some women are cut
cut for Just that sort of thing. you
know, and never in lifetime let their
husbands know what meek, tame
hearts they have"
Nancy and Clarice thus discussed
Mr. Harrow over the chocolate cups
one day at luncheon, late in December,
when Clarice had gone downtown for
Christmas shopping.
That afternoon Harrow gave the
switchboard operator gruff orders to
the effect that he was too busy to be
disturbed" and then sat at his desk,
with no one but Nancy sharing his
Take this" he threw at Nancy.
Memo, for the cashiers office-'owing
to war conditions and necessity to cur.
tail every possible expense, we shall
give no gold pieces at Christmas"
Nancy took the words down in dot,
curves and dashes, and recalled as she
did so that in the firm of which Har-
row was president war conditions
lad meant 25 per cent. greater profit
than usual.
Take this" he threw out again. at
1s for my houskeeper, Mrs. Hawkins.
Owing to war conditions, have
found it advisable to dispense with any
additional money in the wages to the
servants this year. And when you
Rave done that write personal letter
to my sister, and another to my cous.
in the one with six children-and ex-
plain to them that as an act Of patriot
ism we ought to refrain from gift-giving
this year. It's just an exchange of a
lot of junk" he went on, more to him.
self than to Nancy, between lot of
people that don't care two straws for
each other. Then write letter to the
Ilatron of the orphan home-the one
my mother used to be SO much inter-
ested in. I've previously ordered a doll
or book for each child. Tell them
that feel that would be needless
ctravagance. If they are absolutely
without necessities let them notify me,
and I'll send them a check. But now
is no time to waste money on mere toys
Let the youngsters make dolls out of
sticks and things. They will enjoy
them as much"
Nancy wrote these and a dozen or
SO similar letters that MIR. Harrow die
toted, and gave no inkling of her own
attitude toward the contents of the
letters. That night. when Harraw had
left rather earlier than usual, the let
tiers were still on Nancy's desk, and
when she left, little later, the letters
were lying in small basket where it
might seem that they had been forgot
ten. but where, as q matter of fact,
there was no danger of their being
mailed. Nancy hurried from the office
to the narest public telephone booth.
called up Clsrice and told her she
wanted to see her at once and would
board the next car toward her house.
She hurried to Clarice's room and talk
ed with her for a short ten minutes.
end then hurried home, leaving Clar.