The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1921-10-22

Maybe IL won't De any use, Sne re-
torted to herself, but how can you
know till you try it? Granddad's an
swer might have been right, or 1t might
have been wrong; he couldn't tell till
he put down the last figure. And any
way, why don't you want to do it?
Too shy?"
"Of course not" declared Susanna
Indignantly; "but I've never talked to
Judge Bruce; and he's such a silent,
gruff- when-he-does-speak sort of man
that IL just hate to-
What's that but shy" she gibed
at herself. "You might as well get
over it one time as another. What If
Judge Bruce does remember you as
wearing pigtails? You're not wearing
pigtails now; so you might as well go
and talk to him and show him that
you're grown up
very well,' agreed Susanna. .'Pll
do it, and then maybe after that you'll
stop bothering me. I'll talk to them
ALL" she finished magnificently.
She went to the telephone. "Give
me GAS. Is that Judge Bruce's resi-
dence? May I speak to him, please
Judge Bruce, this is Susanna Dryer,
Miss Rosemary Weston's assistant at
the library. l wonder if you can give
me- a few moments of your time-to
talk over a matter of business" she
| added desperately. Except to her own
ears her voice was quite composed.
"At seven? Thank you, Judge Bruce.
Doggedly and with burning cheeks
she called the rest of the four mem.
| bers of the library committee and
made similar requests, arranging mat,
tiers so that she could see them all
that evening.
| "And get it over" declared Susan.
ma, trying to laugh.
At seven o'clock she was ringing the
judges doorbell. The judges wife
greeted her kindly. "Come right in
The judge is expecting you, Susanna
How is your mother?"
Very well, thank you, Mrs. Bruce
ISusanna replied mechanically, but her
thoughts ran swiftly That's it,. she
told herself forlornly; "it's because
they all know me. Who wants to ask
advice about books from a girl they
saw in her go-cart?"
Right in here, DEAR" At the sound
of Mrs. Bruce's tranquil voice she
Strengthened herself. "The judge has
sent for the other members Of the
committee. He thought probably you
wanted to speak about your work at
the library; SO to save time he had
them come over here"
Four of them, solid citizens who had
watched her grow up and who regard.
ed her as not yet fully grown! Why,
oh, why, had she come? If they want
ed her, they would have told her
They would think she was too for.
ward.
Anyway" declared Susanna stern.
ly to herself, ''granddadll be glad ]
put down the last figure, even if /
don't get the right solution" And
she threw up her head CALAMITY, with
real Blair gesture" granddad would
have said, and walked into the judges
study.
Good evening, gentlemen" she
said. She was as composed and as
formal as if it were her first visit to
Meadville, and the judge had never
seen her skirts an inch less than their
present length.
How do you do. my-how do you
DO. Miss Dryer. The judge rose and
held out his hand.
"Er, nice evening, Susanna" doomed
Mr.. Fairbanks, clumsily extending his
hand. Even old Mr.. Willis, who was
old enough to have sat in the presence
of any woman, made acknowledgment
of the pretty womanhood of Susanna
Dryer.
Then Judge Bruce found her a
chair. 81 assumed he remarked
comfortably, "that you wished to talk
about the library; so we are all here.''
Yes" agreed Susanna, II did" She
was amazed at her assurance-the as.
surance of desperation, she guessed.
Il wished to say that should like
VERY much to be permitted to take
Miss Rosemary Weston's place. Not
fill it," she continued hastily; "it
would require a long time, think, be.
fore Meadville could find anyone to do
that. But l am sure Miss Weston will
tell you that / am competent to do
the work. I like it very much, and
I'd like to be allowed to try"
| With her hands folded in her Ian
she sat very straight. A great weight
had rolled off her mind, and she found
suddenly that she hardly cared
whether they decided in her favor ,or
not. She had put down the last fig
ure. Perhaps she could be the new Ii
brarian's assistant.
Miss Buyer" said the, judge, "I'm
going to be frank with you" Susan
mas heart sank a little, but she smiled
I've have talked with Miss Weston
and she recommended you strongly fol
her position; but we felt that you were
very young, and that the importance oil
this town in the summer season made
it necessary to have some one with
Experience and poise in the library. In
short, Miss Dryer, we were a little
afraid that you would not have ,suffi
cient dignity. But Think he paused
and glanced at the others, "and be
lieve that my fellow board members
will agree with me, that you have
lerased that impression. Your bust
Inesslike directness in making appoint
ments with us and coming straight