Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-11-06
A Maid and TUO Men
The Story of the Girl Who Vas Left Behind
BY H4ZEL DEYO BATCHELOR
Lcdosr Co

LXIN
TTELEN avoided her father as much
II as possible after the conversation
at the dinner table. Il was not possible
to- avoid her mother, who dogged her
footsteps constantly and asked questions
until Helen was weary In spite Of
everything, however. Helen felt a sense
OF freedom that she had never possessed
even In her early married days after
Jim had left for the front.
She never ate breakfaet with either
Of her parents Mrs. Brg nder never
rose at all until 10 O'clock Therese car
ried in rolls and coffee at about Q, and
some time after that Mrs Brander took
a elsurely bath. made leisurely toilet
and her day had commenced. MIR.
Brander cte breakfast at o'clock, and
Helen waited these days until she was
sure no was finished before she went
into the dining room for her own meal
One morning she encountered her father
In the hall as he was getting into his
overcoat and lie stopped her with "A curt
good morning.
"Fd like to have a talk with you" he
said shortly. Can you come down 10 the
Office at about II this morning.
Helen. taken completely by surprise,
assented and then az she ate her break
fast wondered why she had done so.
After all. what could her father possibly
have to say TO her that she would want
TO hear?
Eleven o'clock found her In the ee-
vator of the big downtown office build
ing where her father had his offices She
had been here only once before I'm her
life. Always her mother had served as
buffer between Helen and her father
and there had never been any playful
visits to the office for the purpose of in
Weighing extra money or anything of
that kind
This morning there was decided
thrill about everything, about the power
her father seemed 10 possess about the
handsome reception room and the tiny
god letters on doors that opened from
u, the doors behind which sat the diff
ferent members OF the big concern Of
which W. X. Brander was president.
The Indifferent girl who sat at the
desk outside took Helen's card with alb
solute nonchalance The card told moth
ing at all II was engraved Mrs James
Worth Townsend"
Have YOU an appointment with Mr.
Brander? she quericd susp.cioUsly, eye
ing Helen closely.
yes"
Then Helen sat down TO wait for per-
mission TO enter ner fathers office
The boy came out after a few min
ules and btoioned 10 her, and Helen
followed him through the glass door
INTO another small room where sat her
father's secretary, n slim, efficient look
ing person in dark blue. who did not
look up ana then on through to her
father's private Office, so beautifully
safeguarded.
over the expanse Of the polished ma
hogany desk Helen saw her father in
The clear morning light. His sleel, head
wrs streaked with gray and fine lines
had spread n network of wrinkles at
the corner of each eye But he looked
the successful business man. every inch
OF him. and Helen thrilled inyoluutarily
somehow he seemed more human seen
here in the clear light Of the morning
sun that streamcd through the large
Windows.
He beckoned her to seat and then
swung around in his chair 10 look at her
she met his eyes te9rlessy. and a faint
smi,e twitched at the corners OF his
mouth. a smile that added SO much TO
his face and so successfully disguised
his habituGly stern expression that
Helen was astonished at the change
How much salary are they paving
you 10 go across?" he asked abruptly.
Eighteen hundred dollars" Helen re-
turned promptly.
That includes everything"
YES"
And you think you can live on that
after what you have been accustomed
TO here?'
Z other girls are doing n. some are
doing II for much less. am lucky"
''if your mind is made up 10 60 across
J don't want you to feel that I am
against YOU In this Your mother gave
ME 10 understand differently from the
nrst ! had no idea you erred like this
for Jim Townsend"
Mother doesn't understand. she never
AID. She thinks I'm crazy about ro-
nance. She cart believe that anything
1&onts but money