The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1923-05-02
There Was
A Bridesmaid
BY METTIE MILLER



typewriter desk when Bob RayneI
came into his office that Saturda,
niorhing. She rammed a salmon-pinB
sweater she had been knitting down
INTO lower drawer, regardless OF
dropping stitches. She beamed and
Kept on beaming.
we didn't expect you in this morn
ing" was what she said.
10 on with your knitting" said
BOD Rayner testify, unnecessarily so
even. I'm not here officially. !
shn't look at my mail and don't want
anyone to speak to me about business. -
1T is the day of the wedding, isn't
itT asked Miss Venn, looking a little
alarmed.
Yes, my sister Is to be married this
AFTERNOON at five-Miss Venn," Bob
snapped, and Miss Venn, who had al
ways designated him as "the easiest
Doss she had ever worked for" d.dD't
know whether to weep or give notice
She did neither because Bob didn't
give her chance
How tall is that new girl in the
stockroom?' he demanded. How much
do you think she weighs?"
Shes not quite as tall as I am"
conJectured Miss Venn. II should say
she was heavier, though"
Il don't know how much you weigh"
was the curt reply. "Is she over 1852"
Il should think So" Miss Venn said
But she is very punctual, and 1 know
she Is going to night school and she
supports her grandmother"
Il don't care about her grandmother
or what she does nights" growled Bob
Rayner. "How tall is Miss Boyd in
the filing room? Is she over 1857
"Oh, rhat Miss Boyd, she's given no
tice. She's going to be married in
June"
"Cut out the footnotes," demanded
Bob. "All l care about is proportions.
I'm looking for a girl about five feet,
weighing not over 100 She needn't be
pretty, but she mustn't be trump"
I'm" began Miss Venn with a coy
grin.
you're too heavy" Bob interrupted.
Besides, dads friends and some of
mine have seen you. They met you in
the office. We want some one who
isn't known. Say, Miss Venn be good
enough to get a list of all the girls
in the oflice-there must be twenty of
them-and jot down their heights and
weights for me-approximately"
Still in the dark, but used to taking
orders from Rayners, senior and junior,
without questioning, Miss Venn did as
she was told.
This disclosed the fact that there
were two girls of the requisite height
and weight. One was the switchboard
girl, Pansy O'Grady, and the other was
Susan Sears, the newest addition TO
the office personnel who copied rec
ords all day long for fifteen dollars a
week. Pansy O'Grady, on being asked
If she wanted overtime work that aft
ernoon and part of the evening to the
tune of ten dollars, replied that she
had a date with gentleman FRIEND
that couldn't be broken.
So Susan Sears, with smooth olive
cheeks and smooth brown hair, rather
demure young girl, who didn't seem
quite in her element in an Office, was
told that it was really imperative that
she consent to do the work. She ac-
copied with pleasure. Then Bob Ray
ner called her and Miss Venn into his
IN %AII
to sit down.
my sister is to be married this
afternoon. At the last minute one of
the bridesmaids from out Of town de-
cided she wouldn't come"
"Was it Miss BROOKE gasped Miss
venn, who knew great deal concern
ing Rayner family history and who
had an idea that Rob was engaged to
Miss Brook. She had accidentally read |
many a telegram that he had sent to
Ter from the office. SIS she sick?" she |
asked.
mo, she's not SICK" said Bob. "She's |
lust changed her mind. The point is |
Ter dress is all ready and everything
S planned for four bridesmaids. My |
sister couldn't ask any of her friends
o be stopgap at the last minute that
way, so this morning they told me 1
,eedn't come back until found q girl |
Who would fit that bridesmaids dress.
They seemed TO blame me because of
he failure of Miss Brook to come. I'll
all a taxi and we'll start home in
alf an hour, Miss Sears" said Bob,
Ioting with satisfaction that the i'm
romptu bridesmaid looked well bred
nd as we'll born as the aristocratic
Hiss Brook whose place she was to
axe.
Bob had nothing much to say on the
rip home and Miss. Sears was either
90 embarrassed or too wise to break
nto the silence.
"Of course the family'll know who
GU are" he commented In a brief
,pse from silence. "But nothing is
ding to be said about the failure of
he other bridesmaid to come on. She
mt known here and If you don't mind
ell lust introduce you as Miss Brook
1T doesn't really matter to you, l