Vashon Island news-record. [volume] (Vashon, Wash.) 1919-1954, 1927-08-19
MANY Flowers in
Her Office
BY HELEN FIELDING


attractive, and yet be the place where
successful business was carried on.
She surveyed the room in which
she sat. French gray walls, anne
thyst rug and hangings made a
background for the gray desks and
chairs, the small gray tea-wagon with
its purple china and silver.
She had started this employment
business on what her brother called
"a shoestring," but little by little her
business had grown until she was
known, far and wide, as a most sue
cessful woman in her line.
She was still young, and many who
came in contact with her wondered
that she had not married.
They did not know that the only
man she had ever cared for had been
married and that Fate had kindly
taken him out of her path. No one,
not even the man himself, had known
how deeply she had cared.
Absorption in her work had healed
the hurt, but nothing had ever come
along to take the place of her early
romance. Sometimes she accused
herself of having hired young Frank
Barlow because he reminded her in
certain expressions Of the other
man. Frank was only two years
her junior, but she had taught him
nearly all that he knew about the
publicity and advertising end of her
employment business, and she felt
a superior attitude toward him, in
years.
Their work brought them very close
ly in contact. They had long con
ferences together; they frequently
had lunch together.
Agnes always had flowers in her
office. In II lavender vase on the
tea-wagon there were Il rose or two,
sweet peas or daisies. In IL howl
on her own desk there were always
fragrant blossoms. And always.
about the persoI. of Agnes, there
seemed to be u subtle fragrance as of
many flowers.
One spring evening when the
day had been very busy and there
had been little time for quiet, peace
full, concentrated thought, Agnes had
a fancy that she would like to 20
down to her office, There was no
place In the world in which she fell
so much at rest. SO completely ut
home in her business environment
where she had Mt last surrounded her.
self with the things and colors that
radlate happiness.
"Wly shouldn't | have a lovely Of
fce?" she would usS, II SPEND The
greater part of my day in 1t. it is
home to me-
She entered the outer hall quietly,
and looked into her own sanetum
through the open door. \ silver cres
cen moon was framed between the
soft amethyst hanglngs of the west
ern window. a perfume from the
flowers greeted her. 1t was warm
and soothing. She stood drinking In
the beauty and peace of 1t all. a
strange loneliness caught at her heart
strings and n sigh escaped her before
she stepped within the rooin.
Then she started back. Sitting hi
her chair, his head buried in The
smock she always left hanging III
the office was-Frank Burlow. Whit
could be wrofig7 Why was he here
She felt herself breathing quickly,
Could II be tint he'll G cared for herr
He seemed always just the business
associate, friend, companion.
She heard him move. Had he
heard her?
She switched on the light In the
outer Office and he quickly rcse to his
feet.
"AIlss @ .5aea,' ie nmered.
Are you worklngf4 She asked, as
calmly az she could.
"No-not yet, ! cnme down be-
cause I felt that perhaps | might do
n little work. There seemed nothing
else so Interesting as
He couldn't go on lie knew, from
the wny In which She was lousing
at him, that she had seen him with
his face buried In her smock.
Agnes sat down In the big gray
leather chair near the dek
DO you care so mucli a~bant--the
business, FranLl" she nskri.
lie did not reply ~ once, bui his
fingers frightened IN the folds Of the
garment he had tried Ia conceal
81 Gilght as well tell sou That | hnye
been trying for months TO keep from
loving you SO entirely, so completely,
so utterly" he said. ~ have ON
down here. night after night, just 10
touch the fragrant garment that Is 80
much a part Of you. to sit In your
chair, TO breathe IN the personality
Of yon that makes this office q
heaven"
"Frank-Frank,' was all Agnes, the
business woman, could say.
II know I have no right, J realize
that you look on me only as a bust
ness help that
THAT | depend on you, entirely
That, unco%nsclousiy, you have been
making me lean on y0u," added
- az All 80 F4..n uvffi asr