The L'Anse sentinel., 1919-05-16
OVER The WIRE
BY ELIZABETH BARKER DAY.

4 D Inc She was pretty In q
quiet sort Of way but so modest was
her opinion of herself that she gave
the other girls credit for far higher
aspirations to beauty.
Why the junior member of the firm
had singled her out for marked atten-
tion she could not understand since
Madge Crane for instance had loads
more pep" and style.
At first Mary accepted John Dins-
mOre's courtesy and attention very
shyly. Gradually she realized that she
had more than a passing interest In
him; but she tried to stifie 1t for she
felt that little $15-a-week stenog-
rapher had no business to even look
at so distinguished person as the
junior partner of so prosperous a firm
as N K D. Inc.
John Dinsmore did not intend to
have his friendship with Mary confined
to Office hours. One evening when 1t
was necessary for the whole office
force to work late on particularly
important contract he asked her to dine
with him in a nearby restaurant.
Mary accepted and had a thoroughly
enjoyable time and when John Dins-
more left her at the door of her un-
pretentious boarding house she had
given him permission to call the next
evening. And so 1t happened that these
two saw each other very often In the
months that followed. ;
John Dnsmore knew all the time
that he was falling in love with Mary.
but he wanted to; so he kept right
on. Mary was afraid she was going to
fall In love- but did not like to ad-
NIT Il.
"Of course, he doesn't mean any
thing" confided Mary to her mirror |;
''he'd have to marry girl with money.
Foolish girl. you're having good time
with him. just being pals, now be
sensible"
And yet Cupid would have his way.
and Mary finally admitted to herself
that she loved John Dinsmore as she
never had or could love anyone else.
When he asked her to marry him she
did not even ask for time to think 1t
over. for she had already done her
thinking, but said Yes"
Joyously she set about. spending her
noon hours shopping instead Of eating,
and never had she been so happy.
One day the telephone girl was Ill
and Mary had to take her place at the
switchboard.
"Hello," said very sweet feminine
voice. "is Mr.. John Dinsmore there?"
"He's at lunch just now." answered
Mary. whose voice was equally sweet.
"Tell him to call his home when he
comes in. please. This Is Mrs. John
Dinsmore speaking"
"I'll tell him." said Mary, abruptly.
and her world turned upside down.
Indeed. married man flirting with
her, asking her to become his wife.
| She'd show him; she'd give him her
opinion.
Then reaction came, and by the time
| John Dinsmore returned she was ready
| for him.
| She made her way to his private
| office. and icily greeted his expectant
| smile.
''Mrs. John Dlnsmore would like to
have you call at once"
Mary took particular pains to enun'
cate each word clearly, lest the lump
in her throat should get the best of her
| self-control.
John looked at his wife-to-be In as
tonishment.
MARY"
"Miss Lowering, please" said Mary.
icily.
"But Mary-Miss Lowering. what?''
Then the storm broke.
"You don't deny 1t; you'd try to ex-
plain, you brute"
Listen. dear"
"Don't you dare call me dear. hnte
you and never want to sec you ngnin.
Tell Mrs. John Dinsmore | would not
be in her shoes for anything In the
world. resign my position here and
now-this minute"
With this parting shot. she turned to
leave the room.
John barred her way.
"Mary. you are going to listen to
me-"
The authority In his voice, the splen-
did bigness of him. compelled Mary's
attention.
ut was not my wife who called. She
Is my cousin Johns wife, who, with
her husband. Is visiting at my home.
Mary. you must believe me. for swear
I never asked another woman to be
my wife,
His honest eyes. his firm. square
chin, the direct manliness of him, all
succeeded In convincing Mary OF his
sincerity. for she wanted so much to
believe him.
The lump In her throat was altogctls-
er too big TO swallow now. and she did
not even try. t
"Oh. John. dear" she said. and went
into his arms gladly.
That evening happy group dine1
together In one of the most beautiful
homes In the city. Mr. and Mrs. John
Dinsmore ard Mr.. and Mrs. John DIns-
more-to-be made a very charming
quartet.
"I,ve been tensjnr cousin 70 bring