Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1918-07-26
Gloria

By RAY ALTON BELL

you're slipping Bardon," announced
Mr.. Paul BranscOmbe, efficiency man
ager of the great mercantile house of
Terhuane & Co. 1.-TWO days work be-
hind"
Il realize that" replied Irving Bar
don, ''but the extra work was delayed
a week in the revision department and
am shy an assistant"
"You must have your desk cleared
by Saturday-invariable rule of the
house."
Impossible" replied Bardon, with
decision.
1--WE don't favor that word here"
and the man who treated his under
lings as machines passed on his way.
Irving Bardon gazed out of the VIM
dow.
"I'm through" he decided, and
looked around for Branscombe. In the
hall outside he made out the object OF
his search, obsequiously bowling to-
Miss Gloria Terhuane, daughter Of the
principal in Terhuane Il 90.
II have decided to resign my posi-
ton, Mr.. Branscombe," he spoke. "Of
course I won't leave until you find
some one to fill my place"
'That's easy" declared Branscombe.
"You needn't wait minute"
For over year Bardon had been
contributing an article each month to
a magazine named ''The Garden" All
| his efforts covered flowers, field in
which he excelled, for he was an ex-
pert botanist. About month previous
the publisher of the magazine had
| made him an offer to give his time ex-
| clusively in his service. Half an hour
later he was seated opposite the editor.
II have given up my clerical posi-
| tion," Bardon announced at once. rs
the work you offered still open for
| mel"
Essentially, and I hope you will
! come with u.s." replied the editor heart
| lily. "The regular articles at double
the old price and the weekly salary
| until you have finished your work. It's
| a living, anyway, Bardon, and you love
! the work. You shall have a twenty per
cent interest in the book when it is
published and third share of the coll
lection feature"
A week later Bard0n left the city.
Specifically, he was to gather material
for a book on the wild floral treasures
Of Wisconsin. In addition to this he
was to so map out the state that on
demand he, with assistants, could gath
! er up large quantities of the different
| flowers, which were to be pressed land! and
SET in albums to be sold to lovers Of
flowers. Never did an enthusiast en-
ter more joyfully into congenial work
than he. The first month on his tour
he discovered four new varieties Of Or
chids unlisted in the fora Of the state:
To one of these, a velvety mass Of
daintily streaked and striped color, he
, gave the name q Gloria, He smiled
. At the whimsicaiity Of naming the flow
, er after Miss Terhuane, Whom he had
!: seen only tYiGe r. BIS b Me, 1t q dis
, fance. She had SO completely filled his
ideal Of lovely woman, however, that
he felt the honor worthlly bestowed.
He had come across q Wild glen one
, afternoon and had sat down too. enter
memoranda in his note book, when Re
discovered a small dog acting strange
] ~. The dog would plant itself direct
, ~ before him, bark furiously and pluck
, at his clothing Bardon arose and al
lowed the little animal to guide him
through a stretch Of woods. At its
edge was an abandoned gravel pit,
There the dog halted. Bardon ap.
preached nearer to gaze into its
! gloomy depths. The ledge gave way,
he slipped, slid, and landed over thirty
feet down in sort of tunnel.
'Why, what's this!" he uttered, as
; his eyes made out feminine form ly-
ing prone. Then he understood. The
owner Of the dog had ventured too
near the yielding edge Of the pit and
, had preceded him into it.
Bardon Jared match and illumined
, the face of the victim Of the fall. He
/ stood transflxed. He had seen those
lovely features before-they belonged
| to Miss Gloria Terhuane!
Bardon pressed his canteen Of water
to the bloodless lips. His charge soon
recovered consciousness. There were
mutual explanations and he thrilled at
the grateful recognition of his services,
as at last after arduous efforts he sue
ceeded in reaching safe ground.
Miss Terhuane told him Of being a
guest at summer resort hotel two
| miles distant and he escorted her
thfther. Their conversation developed
that she like himself was interested in
the collection of natures free gifts.
She was deeply interested as he told
her the names and history Of some Of
the rarest varieties in her specimen
book.
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