Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1920-06-10
Unclutteriing
a Soul
BY FLORA A. MONTY
Copyright 1919 by the Mcclure News
paper Syndicate)


her smoothly coiffed hair with the
petulance of weary womanhood.
"Oh. I'm tired--tired to death :" was
her involuntary confession to herself.
The room was cluttered, her desk
was cluttered her mind was ciuttered.
For the working place Of an efficient
young woman, the office was in sad
state. and it seemed to make mute
appeal for the relief of broom and
dustclOth.
The busy disorder of things seemed
to cramp her soul and she had vague
feeling that by waging war on the
tangible disarray and eliminating as
much as she could of things she would
regain the mental freedom so neces-
sary to the wise carrying on of her
business affairs.
Isobe 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 a salary, some at the
angrateful task of housekeeping and
some at the steady grind of society.
Isobe professed to loathe the latter
.wo kinds. but today the impatient de-
sire for physical action became domi-
lant in her mind and insisted on ex-
preston.
From the only little used drawer of
ler desk she distracted an apron of
he coverall variety and cap that was
akiShly prim They covered her bust
leSS attire with a completeness that
seemed to invest her with a new aura,
and she began to be pleased with her
self for INDUCING in the very tenn
)orury experiment of -housework.
Her efforts successfully diSlodged
he dust that the recent wind had
brought, and piece by piece she was
looking over the papers and letters on
her desk, grimly determined 10 destroy
every one that her for once elastic pru-
dence would allow.
With an almost reckless disregard of
| consequence, she tore paper after pa
per, 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 Isobel
laughed softly, then began humming as
she worked.
An important contract, some re
ceipts, a bill or two, and several or
ders were 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 unobseryed
amazement as he paused by her door
a moment. The busy efficient Miss
| Newton, the unsentimental, indepen-
dent wage-earner. who ignored any
| galantries Il 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 a 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 The
| 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 If 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-
teal and sbrewd in a wel-bred but
manly" way.
Stafford always reproached himself
when he thought of Isobel as "manly."
for her manner. under every circum-
stance, was quiet decorum; but he re
/ sented hugely the spirit of equality
she always managed to put into their
relations He wanted to look up 10 her.
He believed that a imam should always
have To rise To a woman but in spite
Of his dissatisfaction with her career.
ne felt his heart gradually going 70
her. due though he did not understand
IT, TO his Suhconscious recognition Of
her hidden qualities
A sudden gust OF wind from the open
window lifted the pile OF documents
that lSohel had placed ready for in
spection, and cleefnlly lung them
about the room for a moment. then ont
the door, and Scuttliug acroS, the hail
into the office directly opposite
With an impatient exclamation ISo-
bel pursued them madly waving her
dustcloth in wasted effort Giving hUI-
ried thanks thar Mr. Stoddard was
temporarily ont Of his office. she gath
cred up her papers. which were now
quite scattered aug lay like tired
children az various places about the
room They were an there but the i'm
portant contract. That she must have.
as her signature was required before
the day was over.
In some perturbation she looked
around again. even venturing to Mr.
Saifori's desk And there IL lay.
thrust by the force of lis fall part