Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1921-01-21

HIS ueSh-top anu
hard. In the outer office the sharp,
| insistent note Of the buzzer reverberat-
ed. and Garrick's private secretary
sprang from her little desk, where she
had been copying letters. to answer the
summons. Gnrrick greeted her with a
curt Good morning. Miss Carter" to
which she returned q discreet Good
morning, Mr.. Garrick," as she sat by,
his side and prepared to take his die
tation.
"Ahem!" Garrlck cleared his throat
noisily. ID. ii. Green and Son. Utica,
N. Y.-Gentlemen- yours Of the twenty
fifth to hand-" Stephen Garrick
was off on his days routine.
AS she automatically recorded the
lines and angles that would later he
Transcribed Into the utterances of the
great Garrick. railroad mugnate and
captain of industry. Miss Carter let
her gaze wander through the broad
window Of the Office over the outline
of roofs and towers that presented it.
self to her gaze.
II was brilliant spring morning;
the sky was deep blue in the SUM
shine. and the white buildings. each
capped with its gay little plume of
steam, like the white feather in the
helmet of some knight. stood out
sharp and clear against the heavens.
The air blew soft with the promise
or the coming summer; through the
hnlf-opened window came the myriad
sounds of the street. muff1ed and con-
fused by the height into one organ
tone Of sound. Miss Carter let her
eyes rove out over the blue waters
OF the bay, specified here and there
with the block hulls OF ferries and
lighters.
Il beg your pardon" She aroused
herself with n start, aware that the
steady monotone of Garrick's dicta-
tion had changed to n sharp note Of
inquiry; Miss Carter was uncomfort-
ably aware that she had been day
dreaming. 81 beg your PARDON" she
repeated. 'I-Tm afraid didn't get
thar last sentence"
Usually an admission like this from
the invariably accurate Miss Carter
would have caused Stephen Garrick
TO make some sarcastic remark; but
today he merely looked ut her sharp
ly. His face relaxed into a smile.
"Dreaming dreams. Miss Carier?"
he inquired. We'll. l can't say that
! blame you. Eve been doing a little
dreaming myself Of late. It's really
n frst-claSs morning for dream or
so, hut unfortunately this sudden de-
preston in Great Western won't allow
us to stray too far 3rom the unpleas-
ant realities Of life: Lets see--where
was II"
Miss Carter suddenly transformed
from girl with her thoughts into an
exceedingly practicar Business woman,
consulted her notes.
"-regarding the proposed mer-
ger of your lines" she read.
"Oh. yes Regarding the pro-
posed merger Of your lines, would say
that at present 1t seems iradvisable.
Yours truly That's alf for the pres
ent. Get those copied asts bring them
In to me to sign as soon ns you can"
Miss Carter left the office. She
walked out without turning her hesd,
SO that she did not see the hook that
Garrick sent after her.
Perhaps It was the spring breeaes;
perhaps It was the consciousness that
he. the youngest man 10 the country
TO hold such position as ne herd,
was bit lonely sometimes; perhaps
II was the fact that NESS Carter en-
bodied oil that was sweet md win
some. despite her business connection
with him; but the fact remains thst
stephen Gnrrick sent after her a hook
thnt could by no possibility be COO
Strued as one OF business.
And the little vngrant bFeezes con-
tinued to fit into tho room and stir
the papers on his desk as. they whis-
pered to him. You're in love. Stephen
Garrick-you're in loye--lnd you
dnren't ask her Aren't yos ashamed
of yourself. you great big man, your
You-one Of the biggest railroad men
In the country, eyan If you are only
thirty one-you're afraid to ask heri
"By George, l Will ask her." said
Stephen Garrlck aloud. And then he
looked guiltlly around the room an
though ashamed Of his statement.
But there was no one there to hear
him unless you counted the framed
picture OF the directors Of his priDci.
pal road. which hung over bis desk,
and they looked straight ahead Of
them as they always did, without
seeming to be In the least affected by
his unbusinssslike outburst.
But the little spring breezes were
right. Stephen Garrick had been in
love with Resale Carter for a long
time, and had been afraid to voice
his feelings. 80 ..
Every day, when she came IN 10 take
his dietatioD. looking so fresh and