Potosi journal. (Potosi, Mo.) 1894-1929, 1922-12-06
SECONDHAND
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B666oooeoora3cs5rHeodR1oos
q. ssaA " Ascssss Ms.spss.s s,ss,eass.l
Her Mvacsous littis frisnd ehss,sred
- - she busted herDsif with the chat.
Ing dish. and With svery word she VA
tsmbling The bright <nsstes thss EstAcs
Henley had bees bSiidsng through the
m0ntha.
And you knsT- the eager vcics
went - -the. reason for your transfer
EstAes. frvfn the head Office was that
Raines said you seninded him Of q
girl he used to know. Lansins. who ID
Raines' special pal told NE So, you
knOw-said that Hainex was ready to
marry this yiri-esen told me where
she lived and what her name is !; then
they quarreled. and Raines never mar
ried and she nessr did Quite a ro'
Esther agreed with u serene reply,
but there was q tornado within her.
She held 4 responsible position with
the great importing nrn, and then
suddenly she had been moved to
Raines' departmesf. Her salary was
equal TO his. but he was the senior
member Of the executives in charge Of
the department work. Then his quiet.
strong personality had begun 10 win
her. and she had been conscious more
than once that his brown, kindly eyes
were following her with pleasure and
bit Of longing: and. In spite of her
self, she had begun to hope dirnly that
he cared for her.
Now that hope and that dream went
with the careless words Of her friend.
After all. his interest In her had been
for another's sake; when Ills eyes
rested upon her they were seeing an
0ther--a vanished lore Of other y,srs
She went TO her. work tie next morn
ing with differeat emotions stirring
her heart His eyes Frightened as he
saw her with the quick light So wei
come in the eyes Of tisose We love aud
he seemed TO make Il q roin; to stop
to chat with her KaowlHg whs, she
did, she could lock at him hravely
enough now. and even as she recalled
that his regard for her was second-
hand In 4 way she could be jus, a little
sloof. He In turn seemed TO sense the
distance that was growing between
them.
Esther came to her final decision
tha, night. and the decision IN rnsny
ways was q rash enc Psrs,. she wen;
to her little friends room and using
diplomatic tactics managed 10 ce, the
address OF the girl tha, Rsines had
lcyed-a little village In the northern
part of the state.
There is 10 use in three os us be-
ing unhsppy--nnd I might as well try
the iniSsionsry's scheme as anyone" "
she argued with herself.
So a letter went or.. carefully writ.
ten. with emphasis upon the rs'spons..
bIlity iha, Raines carried 40 sIlen-
didly: upon the regard that af, had
for him. Esther huil; M word by word
an eloquent and moving picture Of the
man she frankly confessed ths, she
loved: and at the end she gave the res.
200 for the letter; he had seen 70 II
that she was kept In his department,
because OF the girl Of whom she re
minded him.
~It II rash az me and foolish, per
haps. but missionaries sometimes do
rash things. I've hearti. for sake " a
good cause WAS her tinsl commen,
Two days went ty--dayx fraught
with some anxiety for Esther, for she
did no, know jus, what the c'fec,
would be upon the ahsen, girl or what
the latter might write TO Rslncs
Destiny. however. takes care Of all
human hop~s and fears In sofne sr.
pointed hour Al the end Of the week
Esther. goirR 10 Raines' oflace on a
business -rrand. found him chatting
with q golden .hsirys, giri. Nhose hue
gray eyes hrigh,enet with recognition
but who said nothing
"Jux, 4 moment. Miss Arnold. I can
pee you" Raincs said. an odd note In
his voice; and I, suddenly dawatd upon
Esther that here was the unknown stri
who r~senhi~t her.
A bit dared by the shock ct the
realization, Esther. hesitafins said: Il
can wait"
ma, I must g,s" the fairhalrs,d etri
said; Il have been violating the rule
prohibiting visitors anyway. Good
by
With q smile tbs, Included bath
Esther and Raines she departed
Esther turnesi-and her hear; slowes,
It's rhythmic beat Of excitement. lie
had turned from the decr and Was
leoking At her with eyes that seemed
q deeper hrUwn than they had ever
appesred to her before. Something in
them frightened her . hit
Il really mus, not linSer-" size be-
gan
Esther. for better or for worse I
am going to tell you sornethins--~
~Pieasc don't ecsld me. I was foOi-
ixh In vhai I did Ton see. have
guessed who she is-and I am srry
but TIT seemed the he>, way ,sae
said brokenly.
-Year letter hroaShs her he-e. but.
ny dear xiri. sSs is nst the oae love
in facs. sse,i to love hee and she =
married ncw. hcsade& Year--ar
sfepped clcspr tp hee 1atil his tau
tpsD seusrsd abVV~ hse---yoa are the
aas bese,-
-tsns yoa sssused to - gsc~inx Vha
esadse tAesr dayA" Als tsad<r veie'
wsos o.
I'll shsusht yoa likea Ne becansr
rsmlsosd yss sf se~.- sAs sAid vitA
aislacuAty.
sss Nm . .srsas Am draw her essss