The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1920-05-31
TIE DAILY
SHORT STORY
Buttons anal Bachelors.
BY CORONA REMINGTON.

at The reflection In her mirroi
~ and ~upbraided herself severely a
she put the finishing touches to hei
hair.
@He may be the loveliest and most
considerable employer a ste~nograpnei
ever had, and he may be killingly
good looking TOO, but that's no reason
for going crazy over him, especially
as he's probably married and has a do'
en- children"
She had said the same thing to her
self perhaps forty times during the
past two months, but It had bad little
effect in changing her feeling toward
the charmingly irresistible individual
who dictated letters to her all day
and once in q while confided his bus
mess anxieties.
With a gesture OF impotence she
jabbed a final hatpln into her soft
brown hair and started downstairs
Halt an hour later she had reached the
office and was glancing over the morn
mail. There were several letters thai
she could not answer without Mr.,
Thompson's advice, SO she rose and
went over and placed them on his
desk as usual. AS she did so her eye
fel! upon a handwritten letter lying
there, and before she realized 1t she
had read It.
Ny dear Margie, Ut began
/ hope you won't feel I've been
neglecting you by my long silence
but everything has been at SKIES
and sevens in the office lately and
I've hardly had time to sleep.
Things are getting Strengthened
out at last and henceforth you will
hear more often.
Miss Langston Is the most won
derful stenographer | ever had
absolutely efficient and thorough
\ ly charming. I'm sure its too good
to last.
Too bad little Jacks had the
measles. Look out for his eyes.
I'm sending $500 to the National
for you to check against. Let me
know how things are coming along.
Love to the boy and yourself:
JACK.
Elizabeth sank family into the near.
est chair while the desk and type.
writer seemed to jump up and down
IN front Of her. It was Just what she
had expected and just what she had
told herself all the time. Yet when
Il came to facing the fact she found
that she had not really expected any
thing Of the sort. A moment later John
Thompson walked into the office and
Immediately noticed that something
was wrong.
aWhy, what's the natter" he asked
with concern. You're as white as a
sheet. / hope its not bad news"
-No-you-that Is. Oh, ! can't tell
You. Really It's nothing much after
al, she ended bravely.
well, whatever It Is" he said, plac-
ing his hand gently on her shoulder,
siust remember that l sympathize with
you and only wish | could help you! II
you ever feel like telling me, and
there's anything | can do-I'm right
here"
His concern and sympathy made 1t
III the harder to bear, and Elizabeth
had difficulty in controlling herself,
but she dragged through somehow and
at last was able to 80. home. Reach
Ing there she made a hasty excuse 10
her mother and said that she would
not be down to supper. She rushed up
10 her room to thlnk it over. BY next
morning she had decided to resign al
any cost, and In the dark she rehears-
ed her little speech to her employer
over and over but when, later on in
the morning the moment arrived, she
had forgotten every word Of It.
sMr. Thompson" she began, her
voice trembling, "Tve-Tve-lm 60
ing to resign" she blurted out at last.
"Ye gods!" he exclaimed. knew
something went wrong yesterday and
Il I'm to blame, | apologize. Do tell
me. ] can't let you go like this"
.You haven't done a thing. wish
! could convince you, but I'm afraid
you'll Just have to take my word for
IT.
You're simply all worn out That's
what's the matter" he said soothing
u. Take a months vacation in the
country; then you'll be fit as q fiddle
again; but don't 80 100 far away be-
cause | want to watch over you and
zee how you get along"
You're too good to me-" said Eliza
beth, gratefully, "but I've really dectd-
to resign"
sWell, anyway, l won't accept 1t un-
n you've had q months rest"
They argued back and forth for half
an hour or more, and Thompson won
IN the end. He chose the place and
even engaged the room, ana insisted
upon her leaving the next afternoon.
During the following days he was
'untiring in his attentions, and often
abe wondered whether she was doing
right to accept so many Hndnesses
nom him; yet he did nothing that she
could actually criticize. He was sim
ply q most c~onsiderate employer, and
rom his letter to his wife she knew
how much he valued her services. It
was doubtless his self.interest that
prompted him to take these actions.
When the time finally arrived for
her to leave the country, Elizabeth de-
dded naturally enough that she could
not possibly desert him after accept
ing SO much from him, although dur.
ing the entire month he had never ey.
en- once mentioned her returning to
work for his firm. That evening as
the two sat alone on the old fashioned
reranda, Elizabeth decided to breach
the subject
FL think III go back to the office
tomorrow" she said rather ~unevenly.
mo, you won't" he declared, to her
amazement. Il know that, somehow,
you didn't want to continue there, and
the only reason ! didn't let you sever
your connection was because-be
cause I've loved you ever since the
first minute l saw you but | was
afraid that II l proposed to you then
you'd think you didn't know me well
SPfOpose!" exclaimed Elizabeth
Yes; he said losing his last vestigs
Of self possession. TOR the last two