Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1920-01-02
Unclutteriing
a Soul
Copyright. 1919. by tie McClur. News
paper SyEdicatc)
By FLOR! A. MONTY

"Oh. I'm tircG--tired TO death" WAS
her involuntary confession (" herself.
The room waS cluttcrcu: her desk
was c!uttercd: her mind was cluttcred.
For the working place of An efficient
young womnm. the office was in q sad
state, and it seemed 10 make Il mute
appeal for the relief of broom and
iustclotli.
The busy disorder of things seemed
10 crnmp her soul, and she had u vague
feeling that by waSing war on the
tangible diSarray and eliminating as
much as she Cou,l of things she would
regain the mental frccdOu So neccS-
snry 10 the wise carrying on 0r her
business affairs.
lSobcl was workin. girl of the kind
that get paid for working. She con
tended that all girls worked SOME at
the job of earning. salary. some ut the
uUgratcful task Of houSckcc;1n" and
som" 1T tn" steady grind OF society.
Is"bcl pr"icsscd To Ioathc the latter
two kinds, hut to-day the impatient de-
sire for physical II ;ion became domi-
nant in her mind and insisted on az
preston.
From the only little used drawer Of
her desk She :,bstracicd an apron Of
tho cnvcrnil variety and cap that was
rnkishly p.im. They covered her b.lsi-
ness attire with completeness that
seemed to invest her with n new aura.
and she began to he pleased with her
self for indulging in the very tenn
rorary experiment OF "housework."
Her efforts successfully dls!odgcd
the dust that the recent wind had
brought. and piece by piece she was
looking over the papers and letters on
her desk, Erimly determined 10 destroy
every one that her for once elastic pr,l-
Lcnce would allow.
With an almost reckless disregard of
consequence. she tore paper afiri. pa.
per. the crisp raSp soothing her nerves
like magic: and She worked faster and
faster. tossing the torn bits high. for
tho pleasure of watching them noat
softly IL the waStchnSkci. lSohrl
laughed softly, then began humming us
she worked.
An important contract, some re-
re!pts, bin or two, and several or
ucrS were placed on top the desk. rs
they required tho first attention of her
clear thinking mind when she should
settle back once more TO her orderly
routine.
So busy WAS she that Austin STAFF
ford. whose office was across the mar
row hall, gaZcd at her in unObscrved
iIl a. h., 49,,
n moment. The busy. efficient Miss
Newton. the unsentimcntnl. indeuen-
dent waSc-cHrner. who ignored any
gallantrieS Il man might offer as coolly
as ono looked through space, seemed
vastly remote from the dusty maid
VIII" w:iS flushed and smiling and sing
ing
with 81 Wisdom rar" In a man. where
The wnrshipcd wnInun is concerned. he
refrninpd from speaking &" her. and
went quietly on with hiS~errand before
she could detect him watching her.
Out from the depths Of his big heart
crept tiny Seeding OF hope. The
sight Of !Sohe! IN human garl." as he
mentally classified her apron and cap.
was Xix" the mellow, warmth Of the
sun OH the desire he had buried deep
Not that he would require her TO be n
drudge If he married her. but he want
ch the assurance that HIS wife would
nave me instincts OF real womanhood.
Inc Miss Newton with whom he had
mao BUSINESS associations was prac-
ticHI ana SIIrewd IN a weil-hred but
h'"h'H way.
stafford always rcproached himself
when II" thought "f ISobcl rs manly"
for her manner. under every circuIn-
stance. was quiet dccorum but ne re-
scented hugely the spirit of equality
she always managed TO put into their
reunions. lie "hnled 7" IooN up I" her.