The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1918-03-15

PED and shatted Win her "A . rsf1sr
Shy hut friendly way. asking v1gue3
questions about her work
After each ofhfs chats With ABBY
Yates Barlow vas more than ever
convinced that she vas oTerworked.
Not that she ever gave any indication
Of this state Of affairs by anything
that she said. But how could charm
ing girl like Abby, he thought sit Tor
nine monotonous hours making con-
nect1ons for thoughtless tenants,
without feeling oyeTworked?
Yates took to calling up the apart
ment on mythical business matters.
Just to make sure that Abby's voice
sounded as fresh and unfaSged as
ever. Then spring came After a
hard week at law school. Yates was
GETTING ready one Saturday morning
to motor out to a weekend house
party in the country. The day was
one OF those warm and tempting days
that sometimes come so early that
they seem to be out OF season. All
his Eoyish hatred OF indoor work
made Yates look forward to the two
days IN the country with enthusiasm
And then he thought OF Abby-coun-
try bred Abby-ussd no doubt to wan
6eriuS about the fields and hillsides
at wilI-tied \ to that monotonous
I'll STAY home myself" thought
Yates. THAT girl certainly deserves
a Saturday half holiday. can't ask
any OF the elevator boys to run the
switchboard. but can do it myself,
and am going to-"
Yates concocted a hurried telephone
excuse to his hostess and then with
n e In
Castles. He could visualize the hap
nv smile that would come into Alb
bys eyes when he told her that she
could take the afternoon off, t1a
looked forward. too. with no small
pleasure to the ten or fifteen minutes
Of instruction that he knew must take
place while she showed him how to
work the switchboard.
and If / do make mistakes, he
thought. land the tenants get mad
nobody can fire me-
He got up TO the apartment house
about eleven o'clock and found ABBY
as fresh and smiling as ever.
IT have nothing to do this after
noon, Miss Sarter," he began. and
it's such corking day. thought per-
haps you'd be wanting an afternoon
off. So / thought I'd stay here and
run this switchboard and you could
have a little vacation. 1 don't just
know how but think maybe you
could show me, couldn't you"
Abby looked at him in auazeH1ent-
"Thy, I don't want vacation, Mr..
Barlow. couldn't possibly do any
thing that would give me as mach
fun as running this switchboard.
But I mean a chance to 80 some
place-out in the country. you know
or something like that" said Yates.
But I've lived in the country all
my life. Mr.. Barlow. And this-she
waved her hand inclusively about the
SPACIOUS hall-this is SO wonderful.
I should think just to own place
like Kings Castles would make you
happy"
Barlow looked at the girl before
him with new interest For months
he had been growing fond of her. but
mixed with his liking there had been
a feeling of pity that she should be
forced to do uncongenial work Now
he felt a new admiration for her. She
was doing the work she liked and
getting a full measure of happiness
from each day at the monotonous
switchboard. Just to own place
like this"-her words rang in his
kings Castles? He could give it to
her for a wedding gift il that would
make her happy. he knew now that
it was Abby who could make him
happy and perhaps he with Kings
Castles thrown in could make her
happy.
wei" said Yates. 'Tet NE stay
with you this afternoon, anyway, and