Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1924-06-06
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
60. 1924. Mcclure Newspaper syndieatS)
"Fares, please"
The street car conductor held out
his grlmy hand and waited.
"Why, paid when we got on" Jim
Wellington explained.
YES. l know; but we've come to
the end Of the line. Going back to the
city now"
Barbara Forth jumped and caught
up the little box Of lunch that lay on
Wadlington's knees.
"We wanted to get off there" they
said In chorus, rising and starting
toward the end of the car.
only two squares to walk back"
the conductor smiled as he pulled the
bell cord and had the car stopped.
bad case" Barbara heard some
one say as they passed out.
"Bad case Is right" Wadlington
agreed when they were on the street
once more. "rd lost all track of
everything"
ION, this is wonderful |" exclaimed
Barbara joyously. Smell the fresh
things. There's honeysuckles here
somewhere" She took long whlffs Of
the fragrant air like dog on the
scent Of prey.
They wandered along until they
came to little brook that ran beside
the road.
Lets follow the brook" Jim sug-
gested, and they turned and picked
their way along the grassy banks Of
the little stream.
'Thls is going to be the greatest day
of our lives" said Barbara when they
at last sat down for lunch, "and I've
been keeping the best news for now,
and you'll never guess what II is
81 couldn't, but know It's some
thing great. can tell by the way
your eyes dance and by the pink glow
in your cheeks. Bah, you're actually
excited"
II am-it's the greatest thing, and
I'm so happy. Jim. they've made me
manager Of my department. I no
longer work for wages, I now draw
salary, II you pleased"
Jim was strangely quiet when he
heard the news, and somehow Bar
bara felt disappointed. She had
thought he would be so proud Of her,
and so happy.
He looked at the worried. childish
eyes and the tousled bobbed hair In
front Of him and shook his head as II
puzzled. How could anyone who was
so dainty and VINO looked so ire
sponsIble be so effcientP he asked
himself. Love and protect P--what
protection did she need7
II suppose you're making almost as
much as l am now" he said aloud af-
ter a while.
Fifty a week." she answered. hurt.
81 get seventy.hve," he said in
tone she could not understand.
Jim, are you-are you jealous of
my workT she asked after moment.
mo, no, not at all, May / have
another sandwich He dismissed the
subject, and Barbara was forced to
talk Of something else In little
while Wadllngton was mis- happy, care
free self again, but Bah could not so
easily forget For her the day was
spoiled-the day she had looked for
ward to for so long-and II was with
a sigh Of relief that she finally settled
down in the homeward-bOund car. She
made no further attempt to keep up
the conversation, nor did he, and 1t
was with difficulty that she managed
TO keep the tears back.
At last they were In town again,
and he left her at her door without
asking for another engagement. as
was his custom before leaving.
One second she told herself that II
was an oversight, the next that II was
Intentional, and for days and days she
drifted back and forth In an agony Of
suspense.
The promotion that Bah had been
30 proud Of at FIRST had lost its charm
for her. and what was once a pleas
ure became drudgery How different
II would have been II he had only en-.
tered into her work with her and ap-
proved Of It He had never acted that |
way before
After n week OF unbearable silence |
he telephoned and invited her 10 the |
movies" and when he came he vas |
the same happy Jim he had always
been-as tactful and considerable as
ever, but somehow he seemed more |
lmpersOnal No mention was made OF |
her work, and she returned the com
pliment by failing to inquire about his
az she usually did.
The next morning Mr.. Bliss, her EN-
ployer, summoned her to his private
office.
Miss Forth" he began without any
Dreliminaries, you haven't had all the |
papers on the Watkins case filed. |
When ] sent for them yesterday they |
weren't to be fOund-and several i'm |
portant letters dictated to you have
come back because they we're improp-
erly addressed. These are not the
hrst errors that have come TO me
either. I evidently made n mistake In
promoting you. I'm very sorry, Miss
Forth, but I'm afraid I'll have to ask
you to resign. I'm quite surprised at
ny own error Of judgment, and for my
'wn satisfaction ! wonder whether
you would mind telling me something:
% there a man-are you-er--in
over"
The quick flush that rose to Bar
'ara's cheeks answered his question,
md smile Of relief overspread mis-
ace.
jim Wadllngton was amazed to get
telephone Gull from Bah begging him