Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1922-04-06

With something like horror she 70
nembered thai Arthur Bridges mad
said he would leave that brief of his
with her to be copied Arthur Bridges,
the man who dictated letters TO her
svery day and fed her work as though
she we're well-oiled machine!
I've got to have some practice" she
puavered, and stood up suddenly, Icy
of finger tip and fiuttering of pulse.
She heard her footsteps ring down
the unexpected stairs. she could all
most fancy they betrayed her fright,
but when she pushed aside the por-
there's in her aunt's stiff sitting room
she was neryed to desperation.
How do you do, Miss Post. /
brought YOU" then the man with
the broad shoulders and the grim face
stopped suddenly and stared at her
as though he had made a mistake.
Melita tilted her head back and lift
ed her eyebrows.
'oh. yeS, that--that work. never
think of work after its all over" she
said in a voice that shook in spite OF
her.
The grim young man in the chair
by the window made no move, how
ever, to go.
Melita, leaning forward, so that the
earrings dangled audaciously, lifted
the cigarette box from the table at her
side. She passed it TO him silently
and chose one herself, lighting it with
tngers that were none too steady. and
took slight pun that almost stran-
gled her
Il won't keep you if you're going
out"
Just to dinner" Mellta said airily
with sidewise glance at the door.
She almost fancied she had heard her
aunts step in the hail. 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
you'll never thank me, but I've got
TO say il. You've been working for
me now for almost a year. / admired
everything about you-your dignity
and your quiet charm and your differ
ence from other women. 1t always
rested me 10 come to the Office to
see you, and yet you were always so
aloof I-I-youll think NE an awful
bounder but | wish j could think
of one girl as being simple and sweet
and oldfashioned You're too lovely
10 descend to this sort Of thing" and
he brought his hand down on the
cigarette box with crash
You meanY
II mean that | admired you more
than any woman | knew. That l
was going 10 try" Ire lifted his
nat and gloves from the chair be-
side him.
Meita saw him stand up. Her
heart began to pound in a terrifying
way, she tried to speak but her voice
sounded hoarse.
Tomorrow is New Years" he said
slowly, Tots OF people begin all
over"
~ almost believe whispered Meits,
'.that IL 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. "WouId
your he asked tentatively, have
dinner with me at my mothers? It's
out in the country; very different from
all this sort of thing
II might" said MeIta with the
trace Of hesitation.
She heard his words, then his plans
for the morrow while she smiled faint
ly, wondering if any of 1t could be
true.
But when the door had closed after
him she sank down weakly on the
couch apd laid cold hands on her
burning cheeks.
"And yet I'm sure he wouldn't ever
have asked me If he hadn't thought
j was really a vampW She snatched
off her earrings rubbed the back Of
her hand across her mouth and told
the star-eyed girl in the gilt mirror,
I'm going to keep my resolution,
think !"