The pioneer-review. [volume] (Philip, Haakon County, S.D.) 1920-current, 1922-05-11

With something Ike horror she re-
nembered that Arthur Bridges had
said he would leave that brief Of his
with her to be copied Arthur Bridges,
the man who dictated letters To her
every day and fed her work as though
she were well-oiled machine
| 1--WE got to have some practice she
lmayered. and stood up suddenly, icy
If finger tip and huttering of pulse.
| She heard her footsteps ring down
| he unexpected stairs, she could al
most fancy iney betrayed her fright
| out when she pushed aside the por-
.ieres in her aunt's stiff sitting room
she was nerved to desperation.
How do you do, Miss Post. l
,rought yoll---" then the man with
he broad shoulders and the grim face
stopped suddenly ana stared at her
as though he had made a mistake.
Melita Tilted her head back and lift
I'd her eyebrows.
ooh. yes. that--that work. ! never
.hnk of work after its all over she
said In a voice that shook In spite Of
1er
The grim young man in the chair
oy the window made no move, how
aver to 60.
MpIita, leaning forward SO that the
.arrings dangled audaciously. lifted
he cigarette box from the table at her
side. She passed it to him silently
and chose one herself, lighting it with
fingers that were none TOO steady, and
took a slight puff that almost slran-
gled her.
Il won't keep you if you're going
out"
Just to dinner" Meita said airiiy
She almost fancied she had heard her
aunt's step In the hall. She was quite
aware that the man opposite WAS
studying her from the flash of her
sparkling comb to her really exquisite
ankles.
Miss Post" he said abruptly. I'm
going TO say something for which
youll never thank me. but I've got
to say it. You've been working for
me now for almost a year. | admired
everything about you--your dignity
and your quiet charm and your differ
ance from other women. 1t always
rested me to come to the Office to
see you, and yet you were always so
aloof. I-I--youH think me AN awful
bounder, but / wish | could think
of one girl as being simple and sweet
and ld-fashoned. You're too lovely
to descend to this sort of thing" and
he brought his hand down on the
cigarette box with crash.
You mean?''
I. Il mean that l admired you more
was going to try" lie lifted his
hat and gloves from the chair be-
side him.
Melita saw him stand up Her
neart began to pound in a terrifying
way, she tried to speak but her voice
sounded hoarse.
Tomorrow Is New Years" he said
slowly, lots of people begin all
over
II almost believe" whispered Melita
shat 1t would be nice to begin all
over just to be simple and--and-'
A new light flashed into the steady
gray eyes.
He held out his hand. "Would
your" he asked tentatively. have
dinner with me at my mothers? It's
out in the country; very different from
lall this sort Of thing"
Il might said Meita with the
trace Of hesitation.
She heard his words, then his plans
for the morrow while she smiled faint
~, wondering If any Of it could be
true.
But when the door had closed after
him she sank down weakly on the
couch and laid cold hands on hel
burning cheeks.
"And vet I'm sure he wouldn't ever
have asked me II he hadn't thought
I was really q vamp" She snstche6
of her earrings, rubbed the back et
her hand across her mouth and told
the staF-eyed girl in the gilt mirror
"Tm going to keep my resolution,
thinkw
| aVuhv Har<a;nIv