The Delta independent., 1920-07-30
AS OTHERS SEE US
By HAZEL NJ. ROBINSON.
SSSSeSeSS SSSSSSS SSSSSgSgSSgSg'
t@. 1920. by Mcclure Newspaper syndie

SeSSsSSeSeSeeSSSS
&C. 1890. by Mcclure Newspaper syndicate.p
AS Elsie Heath entered the wilcroft
tea room spirit Of peace and quiet
seemed to surround her. Here, after a
long, tiresome. day, was peace for the
weary mind and sore heart. No rau-
cous blare of jazz Jared tired nerves.
no loud laughter pierced the stiffness.
Even the serving was SO quiet. hardly
dish was head to rattle.
r AS she waited for her order to be
brought, she was conscious Of IA
miliar 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.
IF It wasn't for Miss Heath. I'd
like 1t immensely" said the girl.
"what's the matter with her. Mir
tam?" asked the man.
Why, surely, that was Miriam
Brown, the new girl she had hired
two weeks ago. AS If in 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
a smile or joke from her Cross, If
the least little thing goes wrong.
The place has changed lot In the last
year. the girls all say"
Elsie continued eating mechanically,
until her food was gone. then she de-
liberately set herself to eayesdroppipg.
"Plenty of talking and lnughing In
those days, but plenty of work done.
too. Seemed like jolly family of SIS
ters, from all they say. Now, the girls
are delighted when the 4 80 closing
hour comes and they can get outside
TO do their talking and laughing"
Elsie seemed dazed. as one awaklng
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 Ave 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
flrst 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 30
gay.
and no word came from him. She
read of his return in the papers, Each
day she looked for him every time
the door opened.
Then had begun the change Miriam
had spoken OF.
Elsie finally sat up. looked about
her. and thought what blessed thing
IL Is to 'see oursels as ithers see u.s."
A card stuck In one corner OF her mir
ror flashed out Never too late to
mend" md Its twin from the other
corner sent the message "Better late
than never" She got up. patted her
hair into place, bathcd her flushed
face and whisked bit OF powder over
II 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
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 glnnces, as she
passed into her small office, and for
the rest OF the morning joyousness
filled every Inch of the little room.
The girls were all busy on hurry or
ders, so Elsie slipped on record and
started the dictaphone. used only for
such emergencies, as she did not like
to use II. 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 dictaphone
record and heard this:
"One hundred copies circular for
lanes \ Smith to be rendy tomorrow