The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1930-06-13

X ter than anything else In the
- whole wide world. Maybe that
sounds selfish but Beth had
studied, toiled, sacrificed to get that
| job and she meant to keep 1t as long
as she could Not many young women
| of Beth's age were earning $40 per
week. She had tiny apartment
which her Aunt Mary kept spic and
| span. No man living could ever be to
her what her job was.
One afternoon when Beth came
| home from work she found a package
| on the living room table. Aunt Mary
said a messenger had delivered it. She
| removed the wrapping paper and
found a plain white box. Within the
| plain white box was an elaborate box
| bearing the name of an expensive
brand of CONNECTIONS. A card lay on
| top. Upon the card was scrubbed
these words: Every time you eat one
of these think of me-" No name.
who sent all that candy?" demand
| ed Aunt Mary, looking over Beth's
slim shoulder.
Haven't an idea. Help yourself.
auntie. There's plenty-three pounds"
Next morning Beth glanced from
her desk to the desks of her fellow
workers. Some were married. one at
least engaged. or the five remaining
men ii couldn't be Mr.. Lowe. Or Ed
| son MOffat Or John Hess. 1t might
| be Jerome Warren. 1t might he Amos
Wells. She hoped it was neither War
rem nor Wells. Conjecture got her
nowhere
That afternoon she found another
| gift on the living room table. A for
lists box. 1t contained pink roses. And
this nameless message: when you
look at these think of me-"
Somebody's after you" remarked
Aunt Mary.
Il wish you wouldn't say that ~
| fiared Beth. 81 think the mans a nut
| Or else he's ashamed to let me know
| who he is" But she couldn't take
! her eyes from the lovely roses. "NO
mans going to make me give up my
| job for the sake of having Mrs. on
| my tombstone"
"Of course" unused Aunt Mary
times have changed since my day
| But I still believe it's a lot better for
| a girl to marry and raise a family
| than TO be tied down to an office desk
till her youth and beauty are past.
I was seventeen when I married Tim.
We lived together for forty years. Our
| children are all grown up and mar
| ried I'm free to look after you. Put.
| my dear, can't stay forever. I didn't
come here with that understanding"
| Beth bit her lip.
"You don't seem to realize, Aunt
| Mary, that | am modern to the core
A business woman first, last and al
ways Aunt Mary. I've fought and all
but starved to get my present posi-
! ton. My job has cost me too much
for me to give it up for-for that
precious little thing called love-" she
| ended mockingly.
The third day Beth received from
| her nameless pursuer a beautiful
| framed colored photograph Of beau
| ty spot in the Pocono hills. "Wish
you were here with me-" was the
message.
The fourth day. A lovely, quaint
bit of jewelry.
"I picked up this amethyst for you"
accompanied the gift
The fifth day. book of poems
bound in hand-tooled leather. READ
the lines I have marked" she was
hidden. Each line contained a direct
| appeal to her heart She shut the
book. her cheeks flaming.
It was maddeningly mysterious She
| felt baffled Next night she raced
upstairs Her heart throbbed wildly
| as she opened the living room door
EXpectantly, eagerly her eyes sought
the living room table large Gift
| this time. basket Of fruit The
seventh day she received another box
of candy.
Expectancy had become such hab-
| it with her that on the eighth day
when she found nothing she nearly
suffered a collapse When she looked
in her mirror she found that she was
| pale. Her chin wanted to CULVER
"FOol!" she muttered.
A week passed A feeling Of dis
appointment, of depression weighed
upon Beth.
She Jagged upstairs one afternoon
Nothing to look forward to any more
On the table was box. Beth bounced
upon it. Her hands trembled. her
eyes were dim as she lifted the cover
and saw the red roses.
Next day three men were absent from
their desks. Vacation had begun
Late that afternoon a telegram was