The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1919-07-12
MIR. DOOLING
BY ELIZABETH SMITH.

Mary Greeley sat knitting at her
desk in a private office of the Wood
worth Manufacturing company. where
for ten years she had typed for the en-
gineer. Through the opened sliding
windows in the partition, which sepa-
rated her sanctum from the counting
room. she could plainly hear Paymas-
ter TrueSdale and Mr.. DoOling, the
bookkeener. Strengthening out the pay
roll. There was also an occasional
word from the travelling man. Ne.
Bangs.
oh, dear" unused Mary signing. as
she caught a glimpse of herself in the
large mirror over Mr.. Robey's desk
across the room. I'm surely getting
old. yet I'd do il over again Just the
same. Anyway. mother had every COM
fort while she lived. If we did live in
two rooms. There'l always be COM
fort for me in the remembrance Of
that. No. have no regrets, hut | can't
deny that | am very lonesome"
Mary was getting old. She had just
ripened into full wOmanhOod with no
more plumpness than that which be-
longs to the well-rOunded curves "
twenty-eight. Always attractive. with
her perfectly matured grace and pOise.
she was now positively beautiful.
And so the young men in the count
ing room must have thought. for all
of them had proposed during her years
at the plant. On being refused. they
had one by one found life partner
elsewhere
NO" Mary had told them. while
mother lives my sole duty is to care
for her" And she had cared for her
most tenderly until the end. which was
now a year hack.
Miss Greeley" called Truesdale
through the partition windows, have
you heard whether we're to have time
off TO see the president? believe he
Is to land at eleven at Commonwealth
pier"
Yes" smiled Mary sweetly. But I
hear Mr.. Robey talking just outside
our door. He has just been to tell the
department heads. Here he is-he'll
tell you himself"
The engineer. who enjoyed the same
princely salary as the general manager,
was, owing TO the absence Of the lat
ter. in full charge. He opened the door
and announced:
They are goiEg TO knock of at IL 80.
l advise that you go to the other end
Of the works. You can see the presi-
dent plainly from the windows there"
"All right. thank yeu," came from
Truesdale. But we have a little more
TO do"
Mr. RObey. a short, stout. austere ap-
pearing little man, with steely cold
blue eyes and a closely trimmed van
dyke, now busted himself with a blue
print.
what a pity" thought Mary. her
eyes running casually over him. What
a queer person he is. TO be sure-rving
in a lovely house with no wife-Only a
man for cook and hOusekeeper. And
no golf. no tennis. no club, except the
yacht club. and only speed boats for a
hobby. Well, he is a bachelor at thir-
ty-five. suppose he'll always stay
single"
well, it is IL 80" announced that
gentleman rising, watch in hand. II
think I'll move down to the other end
of the building"
When near the Office. Mary met Mr..
Robey. who smiled at the coincidence
of their both returning. 81 am going
for cigar" he explained. Then he
courteously opened the door and they
entered. Crossing the soft carpeted
floor they went to their desks for the
sought-for articles.
Mary had picked up her knitting
and was rising to go, and Mr.. Robey
had just found his cigars. but sat
glancing at blueprint when:
"Robey is boob" 1t was Trues-
dale talking.
Nothing less" agreed Bangs.
The engineer and his secretary both
held high ideals. Although they alb
horred eavesdropping. their surprise
held them spellbound.
"why. just think of IT," expatiated
Truesdale, as he struck light for his
cigar. Here is a man thrown into the
daily companionship of the lOveliest
and warmest-hearted girl in all Boston
and he hasn't known enough in all
these years to make love To her. Ugh
I'm disguised with his blindness"
"Same herel' offered Bangs. He
sees no beauty in anything but a con-
founded old enginei"
IF I were he" came from Dooling,
II wouldn't wait a minute. I'd say.
Mary. will you marry meT"
SLAM, went the door.
As the young mems footsteps grew
fainter down the corridor. Mr.. RObey
looked up from his blueprint and
across the room at Mary. who had
slumped into her chair with her head
bent forward and her eyes resting con-
fusedly on the desk.
Crossing the room the dapper. little
man laid one hand very tenderly on
Mary's shoulder; with the other he
took her right hand and raising II
TO his lips declared.
at was pretty queer, Miss Greeley.
but il was true. You heard what Dool-
ing said. I'D say. Mary. will you marry