Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1920-06-04
Uncluttering
a Soul
By FLORA A. MONTY

WV ny Nho nAS(AhhO ANoWe-
paper syndicate)
Isobel Newton deliberately rutfied
her smoothly coiffed hair with the
petulance of weary womanhood.
"Oh, I'm tired-tlred to death!" was
her involuntary confession to herself.
The room was cluttered; her desk
was cluttered; her mind was cluttered.
For the working place Of an efficient
young woman, the office was In sad
state, and 1t seemed to make a 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 waglng war on the
tangible dlsarray 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.
Isobel was working girl of the kind
that get paid for working. She con
tended that all girls worked-some at
the Job of earning salary, some at the
ungrateful task Of housekeeping and
some at the steady grind of society.
Isobel protested to loathe the latter
two kinds, but today the impatient de-
sire for physical action became doml-
nant In her mind and insisted on ex-
preston.
From the only little used drawer Of
har dash pha ohcfro ofad an onrou of
the coverall variety and cap that was
rakishly prim. They covered her bust
ness attire with 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
porary experiment of "housework."
Her efforts successfully dlslodged
the dust that the recent wind had
brought, and piece by piece she was
looking over the papers and letters on
her desk, grimly determined to destroy
every one that her for once elastic pru-
dence would allow.
With an almost reckless disregard Of
consequence, she tore paper after pa
DNlt liit NllbD iuhP bOOAAlilA AACA hNi
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 hummlng as
she worked.
An important contract, some re-
celpts, 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 unobserved
amazement as he paused by her door
a moment. The busy, efficient Miss
Newton, the unsentimental, indepen-
dent wage-earner; who ignored any
gallantries a 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 wisdom rare In q 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 IL 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 shrewd In a well-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 70
sented hugely the spirit of equality
she always managed to put into theif
relations. He wanted to look up to her
lie believed that a man should always
have to rise to woman, but In spite
of his dissatisfaction with her career
he felt his heart gradually going to
her, due, though he did not understand
It, to his subconscloIs recognition Of
her hidden qualities.
A sudden gust of wind from the open
window lifted the pile Of documents
that Isobel had placed ready for in.
spection, and gleefully flung them
about the room for a moment, then out
the door. and scuttling across the hall
into the Office directly opposite.
With an impatient exclamation Iso-
bel pursued them, madly waving her
dustcloth in wasted effort. Giving hur.
ried thanks that Mr.. Stoddard was
temporarily out Of his Office, she gath
cred up her papers, which were now
quite scattered and lay like tired
children at various places about the
room. They were all there but the I'm
portant contract. That she must baye.
as her signature was required befofe
the day was over.
In some perturbation she looked
around again, even venturing TO Mr..
Stafford's desk. And there 1t lay,
thrust by the force Of its fall, part
way into an open drawer. AS she drew
II out a picture, clipped from a news
paper, came with 1t, and huttered to-
the floor. STOPPING to recover 1t, her