The Wahpeton times., 1918-08-08
AND IT. H!APPENEDl
T. ...sgl - . NJ : f5 I3.
BY HELEN n. RYAN. -
Copyright, 1918. by. Che Mcclure Newspa-
per Syndicate)

Copyright. iisls. by. Che Mcclure Newspa-
per syndicate.)
Our smoothly running, efficient Of.
dee was in the grip Of romano0-
youthful. exuberant, rose-colored 70
mance-an.i it was most discomfort.
Ing. There was Virginia, quite the
life and fun of the place (when the
presidents back was turned), leaving
as to join her young husband, who
had just been given a commission
and was stationed somewhere on the
coast. -'.->-
Then there was Blanche Hodgkins
our capable and always dependable
head bookkeeper, who was soon to
follow virginia's bridal footsteps. We
had some wonderful lunch hours to-
gether, Blanche and L
Ned Sullivan had passed in his res
tgnation and was going to an avia-
tion detachment down south some
where and little Mae Clement told
me in strictest confidence that they
had lately become engaged.
Nell and Joe. who though peally In
love with each other. were always
falling out" had made up and life
was like a sweet love song again for
them.
Even our middle-aget collector,
who was twice a widower, had sig
! aifled his Intentions of marrying his
landlady.
Romance, romance everywherel
But not q breath Of 1t touched my
life.
Here was I, Nora Monahan. first
assistant to the president, around
whom nearly everything had always
revolved, outside the pale of it ALL
Just then Mr.. Maglone. the president
! of the firm, came out and stood by my
desk.
Much work, Miss Monahan?" he in
luired with his usual brevity.
| "Why, yes, I'm really swamped," I
confessed.
i OF course he had to come out at the
precise minute when wasn't occupy
ing myself. That always happens to
the. / might be working like Tro-
jan all morning and stop for just a
seconds hilarity-and get caught. The
others, for instance, have all the fun
they want when "the cats away" and
when he appears on the scene every
thing is serene and quiet. OF course
l really don't care, but it gives one a
wrong impression sometimes, you
know. Anyway, I've always consoled
myself that confession is good for the
SOUL" so remarked very casually,
1--WE really mountain of work ahead
of ME, but somehow I can't seem to
concentrate today.
"NO WONDER" he said, half under his
breath, with all the excitement and
pandemOnium that's existing around
here these last few days. don't think
i ever struck such thoroughly roman
tic place in my life!"
! L looked up rather in surprise. Mr..
Maglone is usually very brief. He is
one of the finest and keenest business
men I have ever met, and he never
mixes business with sociability, so
was even more astOnished when he
cried, glancing at the flowers on my
desk. "Don't tell me that you are fol-
towing in the wake of all the others.
Has some gay Lothario sent you
thOse?"
! Mercy, not" laughed. "Flowers
are my one extravagance. Haven't you
ever noticed? l have always at least
one posy on my desk, even in the dead
of winter"
"Sure they don't come from anybody
else?"
''Of course not! I've wrapped my
self up in my work so much that I've
| never had time to think of anyone
even If anyone had shown any interest,
which they haven't!"
'I'm glad of that" and he left me
abruptly and went back to the pri-
Vate office.
"Seltish brute!' I cried to myself,
although I have always held an udmi-
ration and respect for him, which has
amounted almost to reverence. >"He's
afraid if go he won't get anybody to
plug as hard as have for his paltry
$1S perl"
But was mistaken, for when was
putting away my ledger after the 9TH
ers had gone, he said to me quietly,
almost gently, "Don't you ever grow
! weary of the perpetual grind of your
w0rkY
''Oh. sometimes" I answered. care
lessly. jabbing my pin viciously into
my hat.
you seem so much Of home-body
that I'm surprised somebody hasn't
captured you long before this"
"Nobody has ever cared enough"
answered truthfully enough. as I
thought. ''and never let it bother me-"
Somebody has cared very. very
much," he said seriously, and then to
my utter astonishment. there he was,
telling me what lonely. life he led, de-
spite his luxurious. exclusive clubs and
how much he had always longed for
simple, unpretentious home with
somebody who really cared.
And quite before I knew it 1 was
telling him how utterly weary l was