The pioneer-review. [volume] (Philip, Haakon County, S.D.) 1920-current, 1920-09-16
AS OTHERS SEE US


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t@. 1890, by Mcclure Newspaper syndieate1
As Elsie Heath entered the Wilcroft
tea room a spirit Of peace and quiet
seemed to surround her. Here. after
long, tiresome day, was peace for the
weary mind and sore heart. No rau-
cous bare of jazz Jared tired nerves,
no loud laughter pierced the stiffness.
Even the serving was so quiet, hardly
dish was head to rattle
AS she waited for her order to be
brought, she was conscious of fa-
mlliar voice, coming apparently over
the low partition between the booth
she occupied and the next. 1t seemed
incredible, yet that surely was Rich
ards voice. Yes, his companion spoke
his name. Wonderingly, she began to
eat the food placed before her, paying
no attention to the conversation, until
her own name was spoken.
"lf 1t wasn't for Miss Heath, I'd
like 1t immensely" said the girl.
whats the matter with her. Mir
| iamT asked the man.
Why, surely, that was Miriam
Brown, the new girl she had hired
two weeks ago. AS if in a trance,
she sat and waited for the next word.
"She's worse than blue Monday
goes pussy-footing around the place,
looking as though she had lost her
| last friend. Her eyes are sad. Never
q smile or joke from her. Cross, If
the least little thing goes wrong.
The place has changed a lot In the last
year, the girls all say"
EIsi" continued eating mechanically,
until her food was gone, then she de-
! lihera'eIy set herself to eavesdropping.
'Pl"nty of talking and laughing in
those days, but plenty of work done,
too. Seemed like jolly family of sis
| ters. from I'll they say. Now, the girls
are delighted when the 80 closing
hour comes and they can get outside
| to do their talking and laughing"
Elsie seemed dazed. as one awaking
from trance. Mechanically she
| picked up her wraps, paid her bill and
started homeward. Once in her room,
| the healing tears began to flow, and
| memory recalled the whole story.
Elsie Heath had opened an office as
| public stenOgrapher five years ago.
Her location was good and her care
| full attention to work soon brought her
| more than she could do alone. The
| business had grown until she employed
| four girls, while she tended only to re-
ceiving the patrons and doing the
| bookkeeping.
Richard Ferris had been among her
| first patrons. They became more than
| good friends, yet no closer ties were
| made before he left to serve his coun-
| try. Just before he had left to come
| home he wrote declaring his love for
| her. For days and weeks after mailing
her reply she sang at her work. Her
laugh never was so ready, her jokes
so many or witty, nor the place so
gay.
| Two months, then three, went by.
and no word came from him. ShS
read Of his return in the papers. Each
day she looked for him every tire
the door opened
Then had begun the change Mlrar.
had spoken Of.
Elsie finally sat up, looked arr.nt
her, and thought what blessed rntng
1t Is to "see oursel's as ithers sea U.s."
| A card stuck in one corner of her ..lir-
rOr flashed out "Never too lsi* to
mend" and it's twin from the 0ther
corner sent the message Better late
than never" She got up, pattsd her
hair into place, bathed her flushed
face and whisked bit of powder over
IL and made resolve. No man on
earth was worth so many hot, bitter
tears. Then, too, she had made her
dear girls suffer in her bitterness. 1t
was "up to her." and she'd play fair
from now on.
She spent the rest Of the evening
searching the latest papers and maya
zines for new jokes.
Next morning she startled the girls
by arriving one-half hour late, greeting
them with an unusually CHEEKY good
morning, and then springing joke
on each of them. She noticed their
puzzled, yet pleasant glances, as she
passed into her small office, and for
the rest of the morning joyousness
rlled every inch Of the little room.
The girls We're all busy on hurry or
dels, so Elsie slipped on record and
started the dictaphone, used only fol
such emergencies, as she did not like
to use It. The door quietly opened
and she looked into the smiling eyes
of Richard Ferris.
No one knew just what happened
until the next morning. Miriam. look
ing for more work took dictaphont
record ald heard this:
Zone hundred copies circular for
James & smith to be ready tomorrow
morning as follows" "Dick ~ "Elsie
girl, oh ! my girl. And never saw till
last night just how selfish have been
As soon as received yonr wonderful
letter. dear. | was impatient to come
TO you, but luck was against me.
Thot III ,,.a,,nI haua, 10 hnfbar ~, In,