The Monmouth inquirer. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1865-1933, 1925-07-23
1t Was Time to
Act
By FRANCES E. GALE

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succeeding-to help me succeed"
"That's not fair. We were not con-
sidering the question of my caring.
That was settled long ago"
They had left the towering office
building where both were employed
and turned into quiet streets.
81 know how it looks to you Hugh
calculating and unwomanly and all
that-but I'VE been Independent for
ten years, / started supporting myself
at eighteen, and I've got to see my way
10 something better, bigger, before !
give it up"
Hugh Douglass walked on in silence
for some moments. Then:
"I'm not going to beg you to do
what you feel wouldn't be for your
happiness, Marjory, but this will say
1t may be good while before can
establish myself Independently.
firmly believe that with you beside me
could do 1t sooner than without you'
but that's not the point. I'm not ask
ing you to work for me; I'm asking
you to work with me- to be my partner
In the real business of both our lives.
II that business, the real, the important
one, fourished, the money-making
would, believe, be sure to flourish,
too. But I'll not urge you any more.
l wouldn't have kept it up so long II
l hadn't honestly believed it would be
best for us both, and If you hadn't
told me that there was never anyone
you liked better And / wonder, some
times, If you're not placing too high
value on the sort of independence
you talk of. No, l won't 60 in today"
Marjory paused upon her boarding
house doorstep.
Hugh, you are splendid. l almost
wish were braver-or more foolhardy
than l am
Marjory Graham, at her desk, ar
ranged the tools of her trade, mapped
out the days work of an assistant, and
finally rose in answer to the bell sum-
moning her to her chiefs office. There
continuously for an hour her pencil
flew with amazing speed, and later her
fingers flew over the keys of her ma
chine. Upon her return from lunch
she learned that a directors meeting
was to be held, and that she would be
required to jot down the proceedings.
Half dozen men sat about table,
and Marjory, at desk aside, took
notes. After an hours hard discus
sion regarding the ACCESSIBILITY of open
ing a branch house under the manage
ment Of new man Marjory was in
structed to transcribe her notes. Re-
turning with her completed work she
found the atmosphere charged with
the electricity of clashing Wills. AS
she entered one of the disputants was
saying:
MY experience has invariably been
that it is men that count, not capital,
nor backing, nor even opportunity.
It's the man-stuff, the human element,
that makes the success or failure of
any enterprise. We've got hold of the
right man now and we may not find
him again in lifetime. The secret
of success is knowing the time to act"
Marjory presented her typewriter
sheets, hoping her task to be done,
but awaiting further Instructions The
appointments of the room were lux
urious, and directly opposite her long
panel mirror reflected her own figure
and the group about the table. AS she
gazed into it, suddenly the glass
seemed to reflect another group-a
woman, seated at the head Of her
table, surrounded by the loving sub
jects of her home domain, a full partner
in the business for which every other
business exists the creation and de-
velopment of home
Obedient to q word of Dismissal she
returned to her own Office, but turned
the revolving chair away from her ma
chine and sat with hands clasped upon
her lap.
What was it that man had said?
"It's the man-stuff. the human ele-
ment, that makes the success or failure
of any enterprise And those other
words, spoken two days before: s.I'm
not asking you to work for me- I'm
asking you to work with me-to be
my partner in the real business of our
lives"
In her neat, rapid hand she wrote a
dozen words, and, calling the Office
boy. instructed him to give the en-
velope to Mr.. Douglass in another part
Of the building.
Near the entrance to the park that
evening she was Joined by Hugh. but
as they walked through the summer
twilight, passing lettering couples
frankly lovesmaklng. Marjory fell ST
lent. searching for the words she had
come out to say. 1t was with tremor
in her voice that she asked as they
turned into deserted by-path and
paused beside a blossom-brimming
urn:
ssDo you still want TO enter into that
partnership we were talking about,
Hugh7"
The young man started and seized
her hand. bending his head to look