The Omaha morning bee. [volume] (Omaha [Neb.]) 1922-1927, 1922-11-19
can find some place for you to work


small and sluggish stream whence
its name comes mcanders between
low banks through the towns out.
skirts; and the railroad cuts
through. straight az n ruler. bisect.
Ing the lower end Of Main street.
Farther up. main street " over.
looked by a certain law office as
different ms possible from that on
the top floor OF the Belknap build.
ing; an office comprising but two
small rooms, with an aged air
peryaded, when the windows are
closed. by a faint. musty. dusty
smell as OF accumulated years. The
calfbound volumes that line two
sides Of the front room. the thread
bare mating on the floor. the worn
black walnut desk all bespeak long
use. The fading sign on the doors
says. william l.. Llscomb. at.
torney and counsellor AT law"
One April day this Offices open
windows admitted soft. moist
wind that sent young blood to the
head. Within three days the big
maple tree beside the Griggs house.
across the street, had put forth
world ~ tender. fcathcry leaves.
JUICE J.iscomb's stenographer paus-
cd mt tho middle window, yellow
lawbook In the crook Of her arm
for she was reading law. too. Her
very bones were aware or the
mighty song OF invitation which the
soft wind bore. She was mechanic.
ally aware OF the dingy. musty
-xoom which enclosed her; OF the
1ramshackle and mostly empty main
street OF n country town. But she
was not rebelling Mt anything; not
thinking about anything in particu'
lar-just pausing. abey0nt, a dream,
hardly aware Of the familiar scene
before Ter eyes. ~
Then her attention abruptly
focused upon new object in that
scene--namely. n long, shiny tour
ing car which had drawn up In
front OF the GrIggs house. IL had
not been there two minutes before.
The stenographer got n foolish
little thrill out OF that vehicle. 1t
was the one make OF car, besides
Ford that she could tell at a glance
"a make famed for its costliness.
That particular kind Of automobile
aroused a curiosity In her mind
something like that with which, at
the age OF 3, she would have stared
at veritable Cinderella coach.
There was an actual fairyland for
whose inhabitants the money never
gave out at "A wave Of whose wands
houses, servants. jewelers., process
slons Of obsequious, dressmakers
sprang into being; who had only to
say Europe" and all the means or
transportation Immediately arrang-
ed themselves. She often tried to
imagine what 1t would be to live
that way--instead Of having to be
careful Of ones two-year-old best
gown so that next year 1t could be
made. over for younger sister,
Kate. SO she got foolish little
thrill out of the long, shiny ma
chine across the street.
She was still idly gazing at 1t
when the hall door opened, and she
turned to look at the handsomest
man she had ever seen--in spite OF
gray threads at his temples-and
the best dressed. She had time to
connect him with the machine
across the street and to wonder.
Can he be-?" for the office was
expecting distinguished company
that day.
He was taking off his hat and
asking, with pleasant briskness,
"Is Judge Liscomb in?"
"He will be in a minute she re.
piled. She was smiling at him,
like door tentatively held open.
She hestiated only an instant and
put the question, "Are you Mr..
Harwood?" And when he answered
"Yes," she dubbed, as though con
graduating herself. II was sure
of itm OF course, ] knew about
your telephone message. You
wouldn't remember me; but perhaps
you remember my father-Frank
Madden-and my mother; she was
Betty Tilden. I've often heard her
speak Of you"
Crank Maiden! And Betty Til
den" he exclaimed, as though the
memories stirred his heart. He was
shaking hands with her. warmly,
and she was shining at him.
The names she mentioned meant
little enough. But when she turned
by the sunlit window the man re-
ceived poignant impression of
young grace and beauty. 1t thrilled
in his nerves now as he held her
hands. taking her in-lithe figure.
nearly as tall as himself; dark blue
eyes under a square brow, with
abundant dark brown hair; beauti-
fnl1v raDIaIad chin