The Leavenworth echo. [volume] (Leavenworth, Wash.) 1904-current, 1920-05-14

You must take him away from this
troachcrous climate IL You wish him
To live"
In the private office of the : lver
Stream Mills, Margaret Grants fingers
flew mechanically over the typewriter
keys, While through her mind throhbed
the dociur's command to her concern
ing her father.
Suddenly as though 1t had some
bearing upon the troubled state nf her
mind, line in the letter which she
was answering caught and held her
attention. The letter was to Robert
Ea.cu. owner Of the Silver Stream
Mills. from his only son:
"'rhe country climate of Aronville IL
magical" he wrote. "lIcre the weak
become strong. and the strong become
veritablc SamsOns."
1t was This last remark that had
awakened Margaret's interest, and she
read, fascinated:
81 have almost finished my last pie
ture," went on the letter "and am
looking for n model Just now"
Seized with n sudden wild Impulse,
Margaret scribhled the address Of the
young artist in her memorandum book.
and crossing the room to the mirror.
she regarded her beautiful face very
soberly.
Hurriedly finishing her letters she
stopped into the inner room occupied
by her employer.
"Wcll, Margaret, what have you dc.
cidcd to do about your father? Gncs-
toned Mr. Eagcn, signing letters rap
idly.
81 am going to take him to Aron-
Vile" she said. slowly.
Mr.. Eagen hlottcd his signature in
a speculative manner, and when he
spoke his voice was unusually kind !:
at is Il good idea, Margaret and I
hope he will improve" Then after a
pause: "The magic of Aronvilc has
so gotten into that young sramp's
blood that 7 don't think he will ever
want to take mp the management Of
the mills. It's great disappointment
to me-" he added, as he gathered up
his hat aud cane.
John k,agen had never seen his faith.
er's secretary. and when Margaret ap-
pcared in answer to his advertisement,
he was delighted with his model al
though to her he appeared simply sat
istied. Day after day, as Margaret sat
ar stood before Johns easel, she
planned for her fathers future. He
must stay there in ArOnvilIe. where
he was already improving, while she
would return to her work and explain
to the min owner how she had grasp
cd the opportunity in order to earn n
little extra money for her fathers
sake.
On Margarct's first morning back
ton. awaiting the arrival OF her en-
ployer. Sealey. the head booEkeeper.
entered the room.
BEG pardon, Miss Grant" he said,
respectfully; but Mr.. Eagen telephon-
ed he would not be down today. He
said to tell you that his son had come
home and was on his way down here
to the Office. When he arrives you
are to go over the contracts with him."
He went out. closing the door softly
behind him. and Margaret tried to still
the beating Of her heart, and to think
coherently. With John Eagen even
now on his way to the Office there was
no escape. She repented having with
held her identity. AT the time II seem.
cd to her nothing more than merry
lark. ont there under the sunny Aron-
Vile skies. But now, with the plain,
matter-Of-fact, practical air of the
business world resuming Its grip up
on her there came to her awakened
senses a realization of what the re-
suits might be. She saw now how she
might he misunderstood her motives
suspected by the elder Eagen. and
worst Of all she saw the months Of
misery which she had needlessly
opened for herself; months in which
she must 90 away and strive tn forget
the delightful companion Of those days
In Aronvllle. who had come to mean
so much to her. In the midst OF her
reverie the door behind her opened and
closed again softly. Her heart beat
suffocatlngly for moment. stood still.
anu ih'h t'iitiih'h It's b'dliHS III
swift, nervous rush OF humping
blood
"Wcll, Margaret Aronvile is great
place, but business is business, sup
pose"
When the realization that he already
knew her cane To Margaret the sun
shine became normal again and little
spirit of mischief born of her relief.
bubblcd up within her.
With flushed cheeks and nervous
little smile tugging at her lips she
turned toward him. and as John Eagen
caught sight of the downcasl eyes he
threw back his head and laughed n
deep, hearty laugh of pure enjoyment.
"How-how-did you know" she
stammered.
"Why | knew the first day | saw
you he explained in great amuse-
ment. Father wrote that you were
coming and suggested hunting you up
rs n possible model"
Suddenly he became serious. IA.
Their is delighted with my coming hack
to the mills" he said, "and when he
spoke about our going over these CON
tracts ] suggested that you and draw