South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-12-24
Lucky Beggar
By Vincent c. Perry

acquired. amons other things. an
extra syllable 20 her name and "A
taste for eXtravaeJnt spending tina,
would soon ruin a man with an in
come as small as Benson's.
Il hate TO propose 10 her right
out. for fear she viii laugh at me. -
Benson confdeG TO his stenogra-
pher. 'T can't risk writing to her
either. I'll dictate the letter to you.
ana YOU type it for me, Blanche
ike a good soul"
Blanche sighed regretfully as she
poised her pencil on her pad Ben
son started 10 dictate.
Dear Little Girl" he started out.
Il love YOU" came the next words
Blanche moved easily in her chair.
II seemed almost as II Benson were
proposing TO her. but she controlled
the futtering Of her heart with an
effort When ne fingered on the
last word she had 20 check IN an
swer of acceptance that had formed
on her lips. She sat down 70 type
the letter and sighed again A pro-
posal from Benson would never be
her good fortune she felt sure.
As she wrote the letter her soul
rebelled. Here was Benson, to her
the finest man in the world. throw
ing himself away on a cheap, mer-
cenary girl. who was not worthy
to black his boots. OF course, this
Coretta would accept him.
After Benson had signed the let
ter Blanche slipped it into a drawer
IN her desk instead of into an en-
velope AT first she really intended
to mail it later. but after thinking
IL over she decided it would be bet
ter for Benson If she left it in her
desk.
Two days later she was glad she
had. Benson bounded into the Of
fee with what he considered
tragedy on his lips Coretta had
married another man while he had
been waiting for her answer to his
proposal II looked very much as
if he were going to be sick over il
and Blanche advised a vacation.
Early one morning n month later
Benson came back TO the office with
Coretta out OF his mind and eager
to tell Blanche all about his trip.
She had not arrived His private Of
Zee looked lonely and empty with
out her in her accustomed place
10 smile mp at him. As he waited
he walked up and down impa-
tiently.
Stopping before her desk. Ben
son saw a letter on il. Dear Lit
tie Girl" was the salutation. then
followed Il love YOU He read
on between gasps. The signature
had been torn off So at laS
Blanche had met the right man
and he had proposed. Benson
thought. Who was the lucky beg
gar?" He would have 10 be a prince
TO he worthy Of a girl like her.
What if he wasn't worthy What
if Blanche was throwing herself
away? Wouldn't the office be
drearv without her? Wouldn't
everything he worthless without
herr What if she was going some
place where he would never see
her again? Then his life wouldn't
he worth llN1ng WllnOuI nei- w ny
hang it all he loved her, and he
iust realized it. What a fool he
had been to let another fellow get
in ahead OF him.
But had she accepted? There
was the answer to his question on
Blanche's desk beside the other let
ter. Boys Of Boys" it began. II
love YOU, to; now I know it. dear
heart. it will make me so happy
TO be your wife-to be the wife of
the kindest. most sympathetic AMI
dearest boy in all the world
Benson" Blanche had discov-
cred him there. He turned 70 greet
her. the letter still i'm his hand.
Blanche. dear were his first
words. cit is up to me to congratu-
late YOU. but 7 don't know what to
say. I guess I'm a poor loser. little
girl. bat it's mighty hard to give you
MP when I have Just learned that II
is YOU love and YOU are the only
irl. and always have been, though I
have been too much Of an idiot to
realize it,
why" she started i'm amaze