Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1931-05-15

NCl 1881. Mcclure Newspaper SYnQtca0l
CwNU Service.l
X ATE HICKSON overheard two
= older women who sat ahead of
her on top of the bus as she rode
toward her office in the city that May
morning.
"It's my firm belief" said one, that
any girl can marry any man she wants,
If she goes about 1t in the right way"
"Oh, of course" said the other.
."Only providing that the man in ques-
ton is free" p,
"Of course" Kate heard the other
woman saying. $50 If man is not
married it Is because no woman ever
wanted him. II women aren't married
1t Is because they never wanted to
enough to make the necessary little
effort" "Ua
To Hates regret she had to alight
from the bus at this point. To be sure,
the women whom she had heard said
nothing very original Kate had heard
some such notions expressed before.
Still the conversation set her thinking.
She wondered whether II were true
that the men who were not married
were single because no one had ever
wanted to marry them. What about
Morton Cox and Mr. Hampton In the
Office for instance
Kate was still thinking about this
as she sat at her desk arranging her
pencils, notebooks and other parapher-
MALTA of her trade as secretary to AIR.
Standlsh when Mr. Hampton came into
her room The theory must be all
wrong. reelected Kate Surely, there
must have been plenty of women who
would have been glad to become his
wife. There was old Mr.. Standish, who
had survived two wives and was mar.
rled to II third. Certainly his success
in matrimony had not been due to any
personal attractions.
"Say Miss HicksOn." said Tom
Hampton with little embarrassment,
there's something I've been wanting
to ask you. You know MI. Standish
so we'll" Tom Hampton drew chair
rather close to Kate as If for greater
privacy of speech, and Kate. noting the
detail of his dress and careful groom
ing again reflected to herself that the
theory she had heard In the bus must
be all wrong, at least in this case Of
Tom Hampton.
"lt's funny thing" said Tom Hamp-
ton hui since rye been here I've
just about doubled the amount OF bust.
ness I've bfOnght in, but ! haven't had
one raise. And there are four or five
of the men who aren't doing nearly so
well who have had raises several
times OF course. II is Nj. Standish's
affar, not mine. But | wondered II
you knew why II is that he never
thinks of giving me any more"
LET'S see" said Kate, dropping into
her purely business manner There
was Jones and Gripgson and Laid and
Inniss They had raises and you and
Henley ami Jackson didn't You and
Henley and jackson aren't married.
the others are Mr. Standish always
gives the men raises when they marry,
and he keeps on raising them It's only
fair"
"NOt really fair al all, said Tom
Hampton "A bachelor might have re-
spOnsibiities. widowed sister or
blind aunt, or a or something like
that. Besides. It isn't any of his busi-
ness. He should pay us what we are
worth
Kate Hickson had never seen Tom
Hampton So fervent before The mood,
she thought became him well but she
said nothing
"Somethng ought to be done about
It," he said. .~U
"OnIA one thing to do about It," came
q voice deep hut trifle tremulous
from the doorway Enthusiastically that
Of Mr. Standish. the mnch-married
"boss" only one thing, and that Is
to get married Bachelors don't de-
serve TO get what they earn" ,o
Old Mr. Stnndsh laughed as Kate
thought. n little unplensanily. Then he
and Tom Hampton went away and
ate SAT ihcir thinking. Perhaps those
women on the bus top had been right
perhaps any woman could marry any
man she wanted to, providing he were
free. with these Thoughts was the I'M
preston of the strength and g,md M
ture and the good looks Of Tom Ilamp-
ton II is small wonder II Rates
thoughts wandered little from her
work tint day. nnd II strange new
iden- halt impulse half rcsolve--iO0k
form In her mind.
.ltan nj
counterrd Tom Hampton MS he came
into her office she looked NJ him with
a rather arch smile.
Good morning, Mr. Hampton she
said, and Tom commented to himself
that II was an odd thing that he had
never noticed what trim and pretty
stenographer Mr.. StaDdish had After
that he felt a species Of self conscious
ness whenever she passed him. Always
she looked at him little arcl1ly. Mr.
IIampt0n had to admit to himself that
the girl really seemed to like him
When he talked now she listened al
tentively. Doubtless she found him en-
pertaining. Well. he was rather enter
tanning, thought Tom to himself, and
the next day he asked her 10 have
dinner with him -
Three weeks later Tom Hampton
asked Kate to marry him. and Kate
said she would.
"Funny thing Is" said Tom, II all
began after what Mr.. Standlsh said
about giving raises only to the married
men. OF course, III be glad to get the
raise" he added, "but think | would
have wooed you anyway. When man
finds the woman be wants nothing
stands In the way" rIt
And Kate murmured: Il think 80.
too" rt