The herald. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1905-1953, 1922-11-16
PendIeton's Waste
Basket
By CLARA DELAFIELD
observation-disclosures

" hdTTy Elsie ROSS.
Elsie Ross, who was Mr.. Pendle-
tons stenOgrapher. wrote the above
on piece of paper, read 1t six times,
and then, crumpling 1t, consigned 1t to
the office waste-basket.
If this was black magic and a tam
pering with astral forces, all that can
be said is that Mr. Pendleton had
kissed Elsie Once-five months before
II came about like this: Elsie was
q perfect jewel Of a stenOgrapher, and
they had taken to each other from the
beginning. There had been q terrible
business loss, for few days every
thing seemed to be going to the WALL
and then a hoped-for deal was con-
summated and things grew better.
Miss Ross, we've pulled through"
shouted Pendleton exultantly, and
kissed her.
Elsie, who had been dying to be
kissed by Charles Pendleton, gave no
tice Immediately.
I'm not the kind of girl whom q
man can do that to-" she said.
You don't mean-yOu can't mean
why, don't you see how terribly ex-
cited l was?" demanded Charley.
That's no excuse, Mr.. Pendleton,
for such-such perfectly outrageous
behavior. Why didn't you kiss Miss
Jonesr' s-..
Miss Jones, the bookkeeper down.
stairs, was swarthy, sour, and seven
and forty. Charles Pendleton smiled.
Il will-if you'll stay" he an
swered. ....
IF I stay. Mr.. Pendleton, II must
be absolutely understood that there
will never again be any breaches of
decorum"
Pendleton promised, and the cool
ness that fell between them after
that would have Kicked the neck Of
a gin rickey. Audit lasted. Elsie
hadn't meant to do more than assert
her dignity.
Alas, those girls who make too
much fuss about being kissed some
times find themselves going through
life kissless!
Not that Elsie wanted every Tom,
Dick and Harry to kiss her. But
Charles Pendleton well, she
loved him. And she did want to mar.
~ him.
Was 1t very wrong. then, II she
sent out those silent thought waves
every evening before she left the
office-not to speak Of divers thoughts
of similar character at other times
of the day?
Weeks passed; every night, before
bidding farewell to Mr.. Pendleton-
who stayed late at the office-Elsie
wrote her slogan on q piece Of paper,
read II six times, and consigned 1t to
the waste-basket. And nothing hap
pened.
Mr.. Pendleton was growing sterner
and colder every day. Elsie grew more
and more unhappy. The charm seemed
to be working the wrong way.
At last 1t became a matter Of now
or never. On May % Elsie deliberate
~ wrote down: Charles Pendleton,
you are going to marry Elsie Ross on
June 90"
And she read 1t twelve times over
that evening, and each succeeding
evening.
"If the blamed thing doesn't work;
I shall call 1t or for ever and-and
leave" said Elsie.
Nothing happened. and there was q
positive crispness In Mr.. Pendleton's
voice when he spoke to Elsie.
Elsie stuck to her guns, mainly out
Of obstinacy. Twelve times before 60
ing home she read that Hateful mes
sage. And the days passed. It was
June 10, 1t was June 10, 1t was June
20, 1t was June Is. 20. q. %
On the afternoon Of June % Elsie
broke into a flood Of tears at her
typewriter.
my dear Miss RossI" exclaimed
her employer.
At the words my DEAR" Elsie had
looked up hopefully. but at "Miss
Ross" she sobbed more bitterly than
ever.
"What is the matterr' ~
"N-nothing," sobbed Elsie.
Il think you must be run down. II
has been hot" said Mr.. Pendleton-
look here, little GIRL mean Miss
Ross, why not start In on ysur vaca-
ton sight awayf You won't be At for
much without q long rest
"w-what viii you do without me,
Mr.. Pendletonr inquired Elsie.
'Me7 Ha, that's a good onep ejac-
ulated Mr.. Pendleton. why. I'm 60
ing to take q holiday, too.
"Yes, sir, I'm going on a fishing trip
into the Maine woods. where the sun
forgets to shine sometimeA Didn't
you remember what day It is TONER.
rowr
mr.. Pendletonl" Elsie was flaming
scarlet.
$50 thought since It's got to be We
might a well start OF together, dar-
ling. rye got 'em all-every blessed
little note you put into that old bas-
kef for me. Say. that. baskets our
mascot, whatf And-mayn't ] kie
you nowr
Explorsps Disappointed Ambition.
ovl y = o1,sra - vidu II, fho c. Yow