The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1918-09-13

copyright, 1913, by the Mcclure NeWspa-
per syndicate)
Percy GroSscup. the handsomcst
man of the whole force, came iauntily
into the room. smiled patronlZingly at
the stenographer and proceeded 10 the
desk of his chief to see whether any
collections had come for his depart
ment. His CHIEF was out, but lying
open and spread uut on his desk was
the following remarkable. but self-eX-
planatory telegram:
"Dnu't let Grosscup go pay five
thousand worth IL appearance as
set of Office"
As his eyes devoured II and the sense
of It soaked in he could hardly hold
himself together "Why, why-fivc
thousand Is twice what / asked for
They have at last realized what | am
worth to them. All Percy, YOU hand
some dog--thiS means" and chuck
ling to himself. he ran his hand through
his curly hair. gentle flush over
spread him and, glancing slyly at the
Stenographcr, he hurried out
Getting into his coat, hastily catch
Inc up his hat and Swagger stick. he
hailed the down elevator. Smiling at
his cNultant cOuntenanCe i'm its little
mirror. he threw back his head 10 get
n refractory curl out of his eyes,
Straightened his hat. and half audibly
chuckIed to his reflection ZAP,
pearances asset of office"
"Aw, wot's eatln' ye? Pretty Percy.
Must he a klssin'-bug the way we're
lookin at ycrself." snecred the eleva-
tor boy.
A blush spread over Percy's face. at
the howl of derisive laughter from the
boy At another time he probably
would have given him a good shaking
but now he was busy formulating his
plans which must be executed quickly,
40 ne had no time to teach the boy
manners to his hetterS. That could be
attended to later; there was other and
p!aasanter business on hand.
The telegram was as good as actual
money. The firm was never known to
go back on n pledge. He would go
and bind the bargain with little down
payment on Il certain bungalow that
he had admired-and so had She
then he could speak of 1t as his; also
he would have set aside for him n GER
tain suite of Tving-room furniture in
a downtown window that he had had
his eye on: then he would 20 and tell
the girl and ask her to name the day.
II is quite wonderful how smoothly
business runs when the man who has
the price sets out to buy. He was so
iubilant that he was almost beside
himself. but he managed either to sup
press the outward signs, or to grin be-
hind his hand, so as not to provoke
any more such coarse and unfeelinE
remarks as those indulgcd in by the
elevatOr-hOp.
NulIicent Beauchamp lived with a
widowed mother in a little cottage at
the edge Of town and helped out a
small income by teaching primary
music classes. She was a wholesome
modest girl with sterling womanly
qualities. So when she saw Percy
coming. she wisely decided that she
would not run away to change her
dress. but would meet him as she would
any other caller ut that hour in the
morning. Very sweet and winsOme she
looked as she swung the door open and
asked
And what brings Mr.. GrOsScup out
so early? Do we owe that firm OF
yours anything? And were you afraid
we'd mOve%'
Be it said TO the credit Of Percy
that despite arrogant egotism, he ap-
preciated her worth. and for just n
minute the question almost formed it.
self in his mind as to whether he was
really good enough for her He an
swered her laughing question.
''If you do owe us anything" he re-
turned ioyously, that pink gingham
dress would just about settle it, Then
almost before he realized it, he was
asking her to throw herself into the
bargain.
"Are--are you proposing to me?'
breathleSSly asked MiliCent. And
Percy swept ner lnlo HIS drIHS W "S-
sure her at closer range that he was
The patter of staccatO steps in the
hall brought the people down to earth.
Disengaging herself, Millicent in n
hushed little voice half whispered:
ITS mother"
But Percy was in one of those ex-
ultant impetuOus moods that carries
all before it, and turning hastily, he
caught Milhcent's rather chubby little
mother in an ecstatiC embrace and,
kissing her on the cheek with all the
air Of a happy, teasing son, repeated:
ITS mother" Then releasing her a
little ruefully, he begged pardon, neatly
apologized and blamed his impetuos-
ity, and the fact that he had not asked
her consent at first, all to the pink
gingham dress.
Mrs. Beauchamp, very much per-
turbed. and with two tears that threat
ened to overflow their banks in spite
of much winking to force them back
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Cons Stand the Strain