The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1919-11-22
THE ALLY
sIOR STORY
Uncluttering a Soul.
BY FLoRBiA. MONTY.
Copyright 1919, by tho Mcclure
NeWBDauef Syndicate.)

Newspaper syndicate)
TsoBEL NEWTON deliberately ruff
fed her smoothly coiffed hair with
The petulance Of weary woman
a5cd.
ooh, Pm tlred-tlred to DEATH" was
3 her involuntary CONGESTION to herself
The room was cluttered; her desk
was cluttered; her mind was clutter
ed. For the working place Of an eff
Client young woman, the office was In
q sad state, and 1t seemed to make
q mute appeal for the relief Of broom
and 5dustcloth.
Tine busy disorder of things seemed
TO cEaInp her soul, and she had vague
{ Feeling that by waglng war on the tam
gible dusarTay aWl allnIi1aEiuE as
much as she couid " things she would
regain the mental freedom 50 neces-
sary to the wise carrying on OF her
business affairs,
Isobel was a working girl OF the kind
that get paid for working. She con-
tended that all girls Worked-some at
the job OF earning salary, some at the
ungrateful task of housekeeping ana
some at the steady grind of society.
Isobel protested to loathe the latt2r
two kinds, but today the impatient de-
sire for physical action became domi-
nant in her mind and insisted on ex-
preston.
From the only little used drawer Of
her desk she distracted an apron OF
the cover-all variety and a cap that
was rakishly prim. They covered her
business attire with completeness
that seemed to invest her with a new
aura, and she beganto be pleased with
herself for INDUCING in the very tenn
porary experiment Of Homework"
Her efforts successfully dislodged
the dust that the recent wind had
brought, and piece by piece she was
looking over the papers and letters on
her desk, grimly determined to destroy
every one that her for once elastic pru-
dence would allow.
With an almost reckless disregard
Of consequence, she tore paper arter
paper, the crisp rasp soothing her
nerves like magic; and she worked
faster and faster, tossing the torn bits
high, for the pleasure Of watching them
float softly to the wastebasket. Iso-
bel laughed softly, then began hum
ming as she worked
An important contract, some re-
ceipts, a bill or two and several or
ders we're placed on top the desk, as
they required the first attention of
her clear thinking mind when she
should settle back once more to her.
orderly routine.
So busy was she that Austin Stat
ford, whose office was across the mar
row hall, gazed at her in unobserved
amazement as he paused by her door
moment. The busy, efficient Miss
Newton, the unsentimental, independ-
ent wage Garner, who ignored any gall
lantries' a man might offer as coolly
as one looked through space, seemed
vastly remote from the dusty maid
who was flushed and smiling and sing
ing.
With wisdom rare in man, where
the worshiped woman is concerned, he
refrained from speaking to her, and
went quietly on with his errand before
she could detect him watching her.
Out from the depths of his big heart
crept a tiny seeding of hope ThN
sight Of Isobel in human garb," as he
mentally classified her apron and cap,
was like the mellow warmth OF the sun
on the desire he had buried deep. Not
that he would require her to be
drudge IL he married her, but he want
ed the assurance that his wife would
have the instincts of real womanhood.
The Miss Newton with whom he had
had business associations was prac-
tical and shrewd in a well-bred but
manly" way.
Stafford always reproached him
self when he thought Of Isobel as
manly, for her manner, under every
Circumstance was quiet decorum; but
he resented hugely the spirit of equal
tty she always managed to put into
their relations. He wanted to look
up to her. He believed that a man
should always have to woman, but
in spite OF his dissatisfaction with her
career, hei felt his heart gradually go
ing out to her, due, though he did not
understand 1t, to his subconscious rec
bgnition OF her hidden qualities.
A sudden gust Of wind from the
open window lifted the pile of docu-
ments that Isobel had placed ready for
Inspection, and gleefully flung them
about the room for a moment, then
out the door, and scuttling across the
hall into the office directly opposite.
With w. impatient exclamation Iso.
Del pursued them, madly waving her
saustcloth IN wasted effort. Giving
lanrried thanks that Mr.. Stoddard was
temporarily out OF his office, she gath
sred up her papers, which were now
quietly scattered and lay like tired
children at various places about the
3toom. They we're all there but the
important contract. That she must !
ave, as her signature was required
5efore the day was over I
IN some perturbation she looked /
Etuund again, even venturing to Mr.. |
stafford's desk And there it lay, |
thrust BY the force of its fall, part way
INTO an open drawer. AS she drew 1t |
nut q picture, clipped from a newspa-
2er, came with 1t, and futtered to the
aloor. Shopping to recover 1t, her
breath shortened, for the picture was
,ne Of herself which had appeared
hort time since in a local paper that !
vas featuring the suffrage canse.
MISS lsOhe1 Newton Who Proves