Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1923-07-20
Ann Adams
Conquest
BY HARRIET BRUNKHURsT


Ann Adams looked her usual charm
ing self as she sat at her desk beside
the window. Her fluffy light hair was
dressed as prettlly as ever, her blue
serge froek was faultlessly pressed
and brushed, her white collar and cuffs
immaculate. Nor did AIMS fingers
lag as she transcribed her notes. Yet
Ann was detected, confused, uncertain
as never before in all her short, CHEEKY
life
Ann did not look at the man at the
big desk In the center Of the room.
She did not need to, for she sensed the
moody, brooding aspect of him. He had
worn 1t for three days now, ever since
he had abruptly checked himself in
the middle of what appeared to be
proposal on Monday. This was
Wednesday.
An extraordinarily good new posi-
ton was offered to Ann, and while
she regretted leaving Lester Sawyer,
to refuse the opening would be folly.
Ann told Mr.. Sawyer on Monday.
Lester Sawyer had hesitated, said
that he must not stand in her way,
then, lighting into most appealing ten
deness, he had asked her to marry
him, but before he finished his SEN
tence he drew himself up shortly and
reverted to his usual office manner.
well, think the matter over" he
said; "I'll meet their offer If possible.
We can't spare you here"
Ann was puzzled. She was not deep
ly in love with Lester, but she knew
that she could be. However, the pres
emit situation was impossible.
Mr.. Sawyer" Ann suddenly whlrled
in her chair and faced him, II think
it best to accept the Hudson peoples
OFFER"
Sawyer looked up, surprised, but,
had he known It, scarcely more sur
prised than Ann herself, who had
spoken without any clear intention Of
doing so. She found herself immeas-
urabiy relieved once she had spoken,
smiled naturally and termed back to
her desk without awaiting an answer.
Lester left his desk and went over to
AIMS side.
Come out for luncheon with me-"
he pleaded. There Is something I
must say"
"All right" said Ann, cheerily, al
though she ordinarily found It best to
refuse all invitations in business
hours. only have quite decided
that 1t would not be fair to ask the
firm to meet the Hudson's offer. I'm
not worth that salary here"
well sawyer's tone was doubt
full, II don't know about that. But
there's something else"
All Of AIMS briefly banished con-
fssion ard sndecision returned, but
she conceded 1t under smiling nod,
and dismissed Sawyer by letting her
hands fall upon her typewriter keys.
At the coy little table In far
corner Of the restaurant Sawyer was
delightfully."- self-possessed as he per-
formed his duties Of cavalier and host.
But when he approached the matter to
be discussed all his ease of manner
disappeared.
II must have seemed cad the
other day." he began without pre-
amble. II started to ask you to
marry me, and I didn't give you
chance to reject me. But 1 acted as
II I thought you were going to accept
mel had absolutely no reason for
thinking you woodland withdrew the
offer as impulslvely as made 1t. I'd
like to make 1t clear that was think.
ing only of you"
Ann smiled into his troubled eyes.
ut is all very well put" she said,
"but 1t really doesn't make sense"
81 suppose not" said Sawyer. "Did
you ever notice that I'm a grouchT
Never to me-" said Ann, gently.
That's just It," the man answered,
bitterly. Never to you, because I'm
not married to you. That is what has
fooled every last man In my family and
equally deluded the girls that have
married into the family. You can
smooth me over In any business crisis.
you can take care Of that imp of an
office boy and adjust all the little diff
dculties, avert the annoyances Of the
days routine. That is why you are
worth an increase in salary to the
firm, because I'm no good without
you"
you were valuable man when I
came to the hrm," reminded Ann,
oddly moved nevertheless.
But you have no idea how much
you have Increased my value" he
said, with a tlght-llpped smile. "Well
that is the firms side Of it. My
own side takes only an explanation.
The men Of my family are beasts In
their homes, my father, my uncles, my
grandfather. There's only one thing
to be said for any of them-they don't
display their dispositions in public.
But don't intend to bring to any
woman's face, least of all yours, the
hunted, beaten, fretted look the wOm-
en- who have married into our family
wear"
I'm not afraid Of YOU" said Ann,
sweetly, suddenly leaving the safe
ground whence she could retreat or
advance at will. "You have always
shown your real self with me-you
always would"
Lester shook his head.
"If you'd ever heard my mother
eXcusing this or that or the other
grouchiness Of fathers by quoting
some charming incident Of their pre-
nuptial days, you'd lose faith. Those
Old stories are worn pretty thin, but
they prove conclusively that the fam
d irritability doesn't appear in court
DIP. Apd I don't intend to make
Gny woman, least Of all you, miser-
able"