The Meeker herald., 1923-01-27
REAL LIFE
BY Jsss.s A. pAAsoMs

WI hvSssVs ouoVOy VSOeesSp'
She had reached the gate leading =
her train just three minutes too late.
Her feet. numb from the hard pave
ments, now ached pAthe<icaliy after
her days work.
A ci,ara ctesistic sf the bookshop was
it, modesty. While its rich relatives
saunted their showy wares behind
plate glass on the avenue, 1t contented
itself by putting In . second-story win
dow on A street. near BY, q placasd
announcing to those who had time to
raise their eyes, that here was likely
place to meet first editions.
Scholarly hermits emerging from
their lalrs would at regular intervals
pursue their beaten path to the little
shop.
On Tuesday came the benevolent old
man with CATERS. Had he come In the
morning. all would have been well. but,
methodical rs time itself. he never devil
ated by q grain Of sand from quarter
past four.
After fondling the broken-backei
volumes whose worn sheep bindings
stained his coat with pollen-like dust.
he happened to pick up book as out
Of place among the archaic tones as
six-cylinder self.starter would bs In an
exhibition Of onehoss shays. He
turned the pages, chucklinG at the ga
gacities Of Mr.. Perlmutter. unmindful
that the clocks were Ginning nve.
when q pert voice inquired whether she
should wrap the book for him to take
home. The old man apologiEed for
overstaying the closing hour.
As her, wrath essled, Madse whiled
away her wait At the station with .
story which chronicled the remarkable
progress Of Sadie, the Shsp psiri, from
Counter to Countess:
had been selling books At Turnsra whom
one day . book agent made annoying re-
marks which were overheard By ths heir-
ess Of half the Poole fni1ltons- Miss Helen
Poole. gensrous-heartsa aAA impulsivs.
Immediately employed sadis as hsf sec
retary. A month later her nephew came
from Italy On Q VISIT flfs tttls was
Count Luigi Farrari di Noncrivslle. Al
though the count wAs charmed with Da-
dies grace and beauty, he pufposed 70
return TO Italy unaNcumosrsd with
protegss Of his aunt Fate. however, led
him Into tho music room when . thrsb-
bling contralto voice was pleading:
''OveP the world aud under the world.
And back At last to you"
The counts capitulation was then com
plete. and the happy couple had the bless-
ing of Miss Poole. A. well ~ comfort
able million for . wedding present.
That" exclaimed NadEe. "is real
life! won't stay in q horrid boek-
shop forever. so now!"
The magazine containing the story
had also an Advertisement for Q pef'
vate secretary. After week Of cor
responding and Interviews Mades
found herself installed In q studio
apartment only two blocks from the
hated bookshop.
She not only answered Mrs. Black
wells notes. but also eatalogued the
library lining the walls Of the studio.
Madge was charmed with her sur.
rOundIngs. and in particular she loved
Tuesdays. Tuesday was the day that
Hannah, the nurse, had elected for her
half holiday. and Madge was allowed
to care for little Margaret, an allurfng
bit Of babyhood.
One day as Madge was answering
Mrs. Blackwelrs Invitations. and lost
in q reverie Of imagining herself at
many Of these social functions, she
was brought back to the present by
the voice Of her employer:
"Madge, I've had such news! Ny
nephew, Jack, II back from Italy"
I'm % glad for you." responded
Madge. enthusiastically.
As Jack made his hrst few calls In
the evening. Madge didn't zee him for
a week. Mrs Blackwell had asked her
to stay with Margaret one evening
when she was entertaining q theater
party.
While Madge was eating the daInt'l5
served dinner in the studio. she could
hear from the dining room, Mrs. Black
wells staccato voice and the hearty
laughter Of Jack. Then there was
third voice, lifting with happiness. Ike
q bubbling brook. Two persons came
oc. of the dining room. while Mrs.
blackwell remained behind to give d.
rcctions to the cook. A slight figure In
fiame-colored crepe poised before the
hall settee sent challenging glance to
the young man near the stairs. When
Jack began 70 place about the gieam.
Ing shoulders 4 white brocaded wrap.
Madge heard the words:
"Do. please, he careful. Jack! I'm
sure there's someone in the studio"
"Nonsense. you little tantalizer: and
n there is. it's nobody but Aunt Delfa
secretary"
Later Madge took her embroidery
and sat In the gallery running around
the studio. A harsh, raspinE SOUND
made her run quietly to Margaret.
The servants had left for their homes.
aid in terror Madge summoned doc
tor from the next apartment building.
She nearly forgot her fright in her
saverness to follow the pflygtciAn'N 4