The Lamar register., 1919-08-20

could she. she had told herself often,
and she rather gloried In her stick
to-itiveness."
A few minutes before she had been
ready TO go home for a rest, and sh"
had felt the need of It. but now III"
prospect of working on II story that
might develop into something good
made her feel as fresh as II the day
were Just beginning.
She was in too great a hurry to walt
for the elevator to take her down III"
four stories that separated the repor
torial rooms from the business office.
but started down the stairs. tacklin.
them as briskly as she had seen rh-
city editor take them time and again.
When she arrived At the bottom she
didn't feel quite so spry. hut she
wouldn't acknowledge 1t 10 herself
The girl in the business ofice hand
ed her the usual filled-in card with the
address Of the man who advertised as
BOX 1856" Mona looked at the name
and gasped. She could feel her cheeks
redden and her hair seemed to be ris-
ing from her scalp.
The name written on the card was
albert Smith" the name of her
hance. II couldn't he her Albert. she
thought wildly, but the name of the
hotel that was given as his address
told her II was.
Albert had just taken a suite at that
hotel because the rest OF his family
had zone South and their home had
been closed mp for the winter. She
did not stop Ia look at the number OF
the suite, for she could feel that the
girl was staring st her: but she knew
II without looking.
She was on eler way to the hotel
before she realized II. but stopped
when she recollected where she WAS
going and what she was goiug for.
How would she have the nerve to In
terview Albert on such q subjectf She
was sure he had Just inserted the nd-
vertisemen: because they had quar-
relied and she had broken on their en-
gngement. Albert nad said she would
he sorry. and this was the way he WAS
going to make her sorry.
But she wouldn't - ssrry and sho
would tell him she wouldn't. She had
independence as he had to his. Al
this point of her inward rage she dis
covered she was standing still in the
middle of q very busy business block.
She started to walk sgain, but her In
dignation kept up. in a cooler form.
however. Her thoughts went hack
over their quarrel OF a week before.
II had all come about because she
had stood up for the Independence of
women TO earn their own living. Al
bert had been so stubborn In his dis
agreement with her views that she had
given him back his ring by way of
prociaiming her Independence for life.
II can support myself and be happy
without any man TO bother over" she
had told him.
Mona sat In the sitting room Of The
hotel for II long time before she could
gain courage To call IN Albert. She
mapped out the speech that she would
make TO him IN the most professional
tone possible. II hnye come. Mr..
Smith. TO Interview you and 10 learn
Of your bride-the one you secured
from your advertisement In our pa
per.
THE whole city Is waiting eagerly
to hear of your success. How many
society mothers with wall-nower
daughters sent imploring letters 10
YOU? And will you give me n picture
~ the lucky young lady you have cho-'
en-; also picture Of yourself. to use
in our Saturday special edition.
There Mona stopped. She had not
thought OF that before. OF course she
would have to use Albert's picture and
his name to make the story worth
while. Nobody knows better than Il
journalist how that kind Of publicity
cheapens a person. II would ruin Al
bert's business career and cause his
family annoyance aud unhappiness. II
would even cause her to be ridiculed.
Why hadn't Albert thought Of these
things? Perhaps he had lost his senses
over her treatment OF him. oh. he
must have II was all her fault. She
had been selfish. and was as bad as
the type Of women she had condemned
that afternoon. II wasn't q womsn's
place to be Independent or wealthy II
she wasn't first OF all a woman. That
IL what Albert had meant. and now
she realized It, She dashed for the
elevator. too exhausted to attempt the
stairs.