Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1921-10-22
A Postponed
Proposal
BY JANE OSBORN.

9. 1891. by Mcclure Newspaper syndicate
II had been dull executives meet
ing-seemlngly to Rodney Blaine
great waste Of time. MIR stewart. the
president OF the concern. WAS going To
Europe and Mr.. Stone. Of the Chicago
office, a siXty-year-old contemporary
II Mr.. stewart. was coming To take his
place in the New York office. The
meeting had been called to make iinal
arrangehuIits-ar arrangements which 1t
seemed to Rodney could have been
made as well without his presence.
But when the six other executives
were making their departure from Mr..
Stewards office and Rodney was try
ing to escape the usual threshold
parley Mr. Stewart stopped him,
placed fatherly hand on the young
mans shoulder and asked him to whit.
The others gone, he turned back To
his desk, requested Rodney to close
the door and then to sit down beside
him
There Is something want you to
do something simple, but very i'm
portant." began Mr.. Stewart. 81 have
the greatest respect for Mr.. Stone
and know that his coming here may
he frauGht with many Inconvenience
and anxietlcs. Now. I'm having the
office turned about a little TO please
him. He rather likes n rocking chair
in his office, | don't know whether II
Is Chicago custom never noticed
but I've ordered n couple of them to
he put here. and I've had two addi-
tional electric fans and by the way.
that reminds me
"Of what you wanted me TO dof"
asked Blaine. somewhat bored by all
these considerations for Mr.. Stone.
"onIy this" Mr.. stewart hesitated
and then plunged ahead. IT'S about
Miss Drew. II would be a tritlc diff
ticult for me, you see Shes an ex
cellent young woman and invaluable.
We couldn't get along without her.
That's why II will need someone with
great deal Of tnct. Dear me we
couldn't get along without Miss Drew.
You will be tactful won't you?
"YOu see" Stewart continued with
out waiting for a reIoindcr, Miss
ness. We couldn't possibly have her
90 She is to be Mr. stones sccre-
tary. I'm used to her, hut Miss Drew
is. well, rather"
yes" agreed Elaine. calling TO view
the swapping black eyes and vigorous.
waving black hair Of Mr.. Stewards
secretary "She Is triile.'
quite - don't mind II now.
Though must confess She rather
upset me nj first. And Of course. II
one | imagine she would be- Il tartar.
It is her temperament. We spoil her.
here TOO. llcadstrong. fine looking
girls like that usually are spoiled
when they hay" unusual brains.
and ="
You surely don't expect that ! can
dun the edge Of her temper or tame
he untamcahlc. do you?"
oh. no. no. JUST suggest that ~
Mr.. Stone is stranger. and not very
young. nor in exceptionally good
health and possibly little slow in
some respects for She is especially
impatient of slownesS that she might
treat him with GcnilenesS We dccid
eel before you got To the meeting that
someone would better suggest this 10
her and for reasons We decided that
YOU would best be able To do H."
"But have 50 lIttl" business a.
ISOLATION with Miss Drew protested
Rodney.
'''That Is one Of the reasons why We
thought you could undertake the mat
ter. Then YOU are young"
Mr. Stewart paused and II kindly
smile came into his eyes. Really. She
is not i'll naturrd When she has
called me down H. il We're. have
always deserved it, When | hay"
been playing better Soii than business.
feel like Il email boy who has been
playing hnoky She is the sharp
tongu"d Schoolma Vet | believe
She = barely twcnty-on". II don't
care how you 20 about II, Blaine"
said Mr.. stewart with an air Of final.
liy. hut | depend an you TO breach
the mnttcr and | know YOU won't fall
down
This was III. hardest assignment
that Blaine had ever had in his as
ISOLATION with Mr.. Stewart. The fact
that lie always did, and did promptly,
what he was asked by his chief, was
the cause Of his rapid advancement
In the firm.
Rodney had never taken much mo-
tlce OF her before. hut now he delhi
erately studied her face and her ear
rlage when she was not looking. lie
had made up his mind that the only
vuy 10 20 about II was to become