Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1931-07-10

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10. 1891. Mcclure Newspaper syndleSte1
(WNU service.l
G OMETIAIES Tom sat tensely ut
" the little writing table for IN
hour or more writing to his beloved
Edith. Sometimes he just sat
sprawled out in an easy chair before
the fire idly dreamlng-of Edith, who
lived eight hundred miles away and
whom he saw but seldom.
This keeping bachelor apartments
with man engaged was beginning to
get on Jim's nerves. For weeks, even
before Tom was engaged, he had been,
as Jim thought, mentally unbalanced,
Perhaps the worst feature of Toms
malady was his apparent jOyOusness.
He sat there with such an idiOtic ex-
preston Of happiness on his good
looking face. He whlstled like can
airy bird when he dressed in the morn
ing. He always thought the weather
was fine and he always felt tlptop.
In way Jim envled him.
Kate Fenwick had worked In the
same office with Jim for two or three
years. Nice girl, Kate-was what he
thought about her If he thought any.
thing. He saw her and talked with
her every day. She usually took his
dictation. Sometimes she showed him
little things she had bOught-weddlng
presents for girls who were getting
married, little toys for her nephews
and nieees.
Business was extremely brisk to.
ward spring and 1t was apparent one
Saturday that some special reports
would have to be put through on Sun
day. The president OF the concern
asked Jim to attend to them and in
cidentally suggested to Kate Fenwick
that she meet Jim at the office to take
dictation.
They began working that spring
Sunday at nine o'clock and Jim was so
interested in his work that he never
once thought of Kate as anything
more than an automaton until 1t was
past twelve. That was one thing that
made Kate such a good stenographer
She was never obtrusive-didn't use
perfume or wear dangling bracelets or
bright colors.
They finished their work al about
the same time and for no reason In
particular Jim asked Kate what she
was going to do next. Kate looked
I'D, blushing a llttle and Jim felt that
perhaps he had been abrupt with her
She had worked like a little steam
engine and he had never thought OF
her as being even human. That Is why
he asked her to have luncheon with
him. There were SO few places open
downtown on Sunday and she lived
far uptown. After luncheon he asked
her again what she was going to do,
and again she blushed and said moth
ing. I'm going to take ferry across
the river and then take walk along
the river bank on the other side, "
he told her Kate said she envied him
and so Jim asked her II she would
care to go with him.
Spring in the air made the river
bank very beautiful that afternoon,
and as Jim and Kate climbed up and
down the steep embankments Jim held
Rates round little arm to keep her
from slipping. He made no effort to be
agreeable or otherwise to this girl
whom he saw every day but he began
to realize that It was very good to
have her with him.
Then they sat on an embedded
boulder that looked out over the river
below. Jim felt as If he were a thou
sand miles away from the city. lie
looked at the shapely hand stretched
out on the rock beside him and stu
died those fingers that had worked
so efficiently for him that morning.
It seemed the most natural thing
in the world to lift that hand up In
his and as It felt very doclle he lifted
1t to his lips to kiss 1t. Suddenly Jim
felt awkward. He felt us If he had
arrived somewher, without knowing
how he had come. He began to won.
der whether he could trace OILS steps
back again. Then he wondered wheth
er he really wanted to.
"You aren't angry with me, are
you-Kate?" he asked.
"Of course not, jim" she said, and
he noticed that tears cleaned In her
pretty brown eyes. "You know ! have
always like you, jim"
"And have always thought you the
best stenographer in the world" said
jim, feeling suddenly that perhaps he
had better find his way back again
But Kate took her hand away from
him and turned, trying in vain to hide
a falling tear.
~ think much more than that" said
jim, feeling suddenly very forlorn
without that little hand In his. lie
took It back again and kissed II.
"Tm so happy, Jlm-dear," said
KaIp, and then without knowing how
1t happened Jim realized that his arms
we're around Kate and that her smooth
little head was resting on his shoulder
When Jim got back to the apartment
at six that night he found Tom sprawl
ing in an easy chair before the fire
place In which glowed a few fading
embers. Jim took Off his light cont
and hat and dropped down In a chair
on the other side Of the fireplace. Fol-
an hour the two men sat there-the
same rather foolish, contented expires
sion written on both faces. Then when
the last flicker Of light died from the
embers Tom reused himself lie suR
gested having something TO eat
Something to eat--ihnts right II
forgotten" sinmmered Jim. you see
old pal, I'm engaged
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Old Post Road
The Boston Post road, originally M