South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-05-15

grapher in the National udnh. Ut
1 dinariIy her work was not particu-
IarIy hard, the officials were all
pleasant men and the hours no. too
long. No one complained IL the
time clock showed that she was a
little late now and then OF "A morn
ing. and no one objected If she left
early. occasionally, because of a
headache Elsie was given 20 head
aches. and the cashier had once re-
marked TO his assistant that a frail
little girl like that ought not 10 work
anyway.
shes a good stenographer," the
assistant returned. Certainly knows
her busine
But in spite Of the comparatively
easy work Elsie found the days a
little wearing on her. She was not
used 10 work of any kind, beyond q
little housekeeping and answering
phone calls for her country doctor
father. That was all ended now;
there wasn't any home 70 keep, or
any father either. For over a year
she had buffeted with Fate i'm the
city, but she hated every sight and
sound Of il. often. at her desk that
overlooked the busy street. or on the
crowded subway. she closed her eyes
and brought back visions of quiet
Main ST., the Old brown house in the
midst OF its quiet lawns and her own
room with the lilac bushes just out
side the window. Sometimes she
ached for home with every fibre OF
her being, but always there was the
city about her. hurrying. binding
flashes OF color rushing deafening
sounds; nowhere the peace for
which she longed.
That, however. was before she met
Alden Curtis. She met him. first.
( at a doctors office. That was the
day she was too III 20 go home alone,
and Alden. who appeared 70 be a
/ friend Of the doctors, had happened
in and offered to drive her home in
\ the doctors car. The doctor wasn't
/ in any hurry for his car, as il hap
pened. and the fresh air made Elsie
\ feel better, so Alden had taken her
/ for half-hour spin down a country
road. How much it reminded her
Of home, and the drives with her
/ father! Alden had not reminded
/ her of home. however. There were
no such handsome and gallant young
men back in Oldport. Indeed he
was quite the incest person Elsie had
ever met. and when he asked if he
might sec her again sometime-per-
l -, r,a.
| consented OF course. he must be
all right if he were a friend of Dr..
Aliens. They had been properly in
! troduced, too, so there was nothing
! irregular about it. Only she Won
dered a little what he did for a liv-
! ing. She thought he had said some
vague thing about being a clerk.
Clerks, she knew. had not very
much money. She set her little
mouth firmly and resolved that she
would not be like the other girls at
the bank who let the fellows
spend more than they could afford.
/ So when he came after her on
I Saturday in big car she opened her
eyes wide with surprise and some
thing like disapproval.
This old machine doesn't run
very WELL" he explained. 1T be
longs to a friend of mine who want
! ed me to try it out for him. guess
we can spin along fairly fast,
| though
They did spin along, not only over
the ground. but over the road to
/ friendship The afternoon was per
feet, just such a late winter day,
/ bright with the first traces of spring
sunlight. that Elsie loved II would
be spring in the country soon, just
such country as this
That Saturday was only the first
of many happy hours that Elsie
spent with Alden Curtis. They went
to the theater 10 little quiet restaur-
ants. to the parks. Elsies feeling
toward him grew TO be more than
friendship. and as for Alden, he was
deeply in love with Elsie from the
crown of her piquant little head 10
the soles of her sensible little shoes.
She was quite unlike any girl he had
ever known before, more simple,
straightforward, more like a breath
VI AlldA NuulAAA ali CAAE l0NEN ~ ~ Gil.
He told her once. rather vaguely
that his home was in the country,
too. Also that he worked in a law
office. But more tran that, and the
fact that she found him very dear.
Elsie knew little Of Alden Curtis
And then there came busy days az
the bank. People We're paying the
income tax Every official was over
worked and grew cross and hard TO
please. All day men and women
crowded into the bank 10 fiji out
their blanks all day Elsie was busy
as she could be, with no time 10
think of country excursions or even
Alden Curtis. She had 10 work late
several nights and once on Saturday
afternoon. A week went by with
out her seeing Alden.
But one noon she did see him.
I He was in a limousine beside a pretty
and expensive looking girl The
/ girl wore a huge bunch of violets.
+ they were laughing and smiling as
though very happy. Elsie noted the
/ liveried chauffeur. the immaculate
/ perfection OF the big car. and a
/ puzzled frown darkened her face.
| OF course. it wasn't his car. prob
/ ably IL belonged 70 the girl. And