Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-06-22

| IcuLleIucI1
II resign.
Got that? Right! Now:
Don't send anybody in my place.
+. If you do I'll bust him. over the head.
Yours truly.
That's all. Let's see. Here-I said
CAST not burst Change it. There
Stats correct. Now address an en-
~oiope. Thanks And now put in an.
other sheet"
Constance did as hidden in terror Of
the mailman.
Take this:
Henry Wellington Hedge,
Dear Sir:
mo; wait a minute Scratch out
the Dear Sir That's it. Now:
Dear Henry:
did you hear me say Dear Henry
Write it, then! Young woman. who's
debating this letter? All right then.
Dear Henry:
Il resign my job as secretary to
take effect as soon as can write my
name under
Yours affectionately-"
Constance's cheeks famed and her
fingers became paralyzed after the
Yours"
Go on! Write faffectionately,'. he
ordered menacingly. "You take orders
until you sign that. You're still my
secretary Write!'
I'm not your secretary" she de-.
clared passionately, at last finding her
voice. "You've-you've resigned your
self"
Not until l. sign it," he cried.
write affectionately'!'
With trembling fingers she wrote
-Affectionately.
Good" exclaimed H. Hedge as he
dragged her back to the big desk.
Nov sign"
He dipped pen and thrust it into
her hand.
Sign"
She signed.
He snatched the pen from her
fingers and signed the other letter. in
a bold. scrawling hand.
There! That ends the business
the efficiency part. You resign; re.
sign. It's all off, Now we're ready to
take up the other matter. Here
where are you going? Not much; sit
right where you are-Connie. Don't
forget that you're mine 'affectionate-
ly.'"
Constance sank back and stared at
him. As she did so, the wild look fad
ed from his eyes. and he smiled at
her.
Nov, Connie )" he said, seating
himself on the desk and looking down
at her, "I'm sorry If / scared you. but
It had to- be done. I'm not crazy; I've
Just become sane. I've chopped six
years of efaciency out Of my life and
I'm beginning all over again"
She was simultaneously relieved
and alarmed.
last night said H. Hedge. you
turned the lights out one me. l don't
blame you. was still an efficiency en-
gineer. I'm just plain Henry now, and
as such I'm entitled to a hearing.
love you"
Constance watched him curiously.
He was utterly unlike the efficiency
man. Somehow, his dark eyes had car
ried an appeal that even his voice
lacked.
Eyes, Connie, love you. OF course
I had to. Everybody has to. I suppose
that's one of the things. I'll have to
put up with after we're married"
She gasped and turned pink.
Certainly; after we're married.
We're going to be, you know. No; you
mustn't run, dear. You must listen
minute or two. I love you. That's three
times I've said it: 1t proves I've cast
economy to the winds. Doesn't it? I'll
never economic again. especially on
that. love you'll love you"
And Constance. for all her bewilder-
ment, could see that H. Hedge meant
it.
II think must have loved you at
the start, in a scientific sort Of way"
he went on That's not much of way
to love, but 1t was the best ! knew
how-then. There's nothing scientific
about it now; there's NO rule or form
ula or stopwatch. IT'S Just honest-to-
goodness love-the only kind worth
while
She turned her gaze from his and
tried to gather her wits.
Efficiency is not much of a bust
ness" he added lightly. 81 tired Of it.
I've been fooling myself about it for a
ong time. Oh. yes; I was fooled, all
right. But I didn't wake up until
found that it vas interfering with
getting YOU"
Constance flushed anew. She felt
hat she ought to be angry. but she
was not. Getting her, indeed! Pres.
emily she would show him how mis-
aiken he was.
so, as soon as realized that eff
cheney stood between us, why l cut
,ut efficiency. What else could I do?
I loved you, didn't I? Don't love you.
CONNER"
The question. she thought. was not
only embarrassing. but ridiculous.
Why should he ask her? II he thought
hat he did, why seek confirma ton?
Don't I, Connie?"
IL How do I know"
Because I never told lie. Of
"Oh"
$50 there's no possible Doubt love