Henderson daily dispatch. (Henderson, N.C.) 1914-1995, 1940-12-14
CHAPTER ONF,

CHAPTER ONF,
FROM THE first hour 1 stepped
foot in Purple Beeches, felt the
weight Of cloud of mystery and
growing sGerror hanging over me.
have wondered if had known
all that l was to undergo there
whether 1 would have accepted the
position when it was offered to me.
But in all probability I would, for
hunger is a ruthless master. Not
that was actually hungry when I
became Cary EsseX's secretary,
but I could see its shadow looming
ahead.
When the long lean years of de-
preston became a reality, the
Deane money took unto itself
wings and sped away as that of
countless others had done. From
the prospect of winters in Pine
hurst and summers at Bar Harbor
with their attendant gaiety, I was
rudeiy jolted into the realization
that if I would eat I must work.
There was just one thing to do,
and I did it. I took my remaining
few hundred dollars and enrolled
in the Gleason Secretarial school.
1t wasn't All easy year, but felt
that fate was reWardinc. me highly
when, just before my course end
ed, Miss Gleason called me into
her Office.
Miss Deane," she began in her
brisk businesslike tone, II have the,
filling of position think is just
the sort for which you are look
ing"
But am 1 the sort of person for
the position ?" I faltered. I wanted
a job, any job, but the prospect
doomed ahead of me more breath
taking than any hurdle I had ever
faced following the hounds.
Miss Gleason smiled.
Don't rate yourself too low,
Miss Deane.P she encouraged me.
Il think this position was made for
you and you for the position. 1t is
to work with a man who is COM
piling a genealogy, and he par
ticularly as IS for some one who
can be accepted as member of
his family.
LAS you know" she crisply con-
tinued, Il never send my girls out
without thoroughly investigating.
I have done so in this case, and
the family is of the highest social
and financial rating"
If Miss Gleason so highly ap-
proved, there was nothing for me
to do but prop up my wobbly cour-
age and thankfully accept. Which
did, hoping my training had en-
tirely eradicated my butterfly ten
denotes and turned me into the re-
sponsible secretary the man had
right to expect.
If I onl..' had gray hair, wore
glasses or were even cross-eyed, I
mourned, as the train roared
through the New England villages.
How could anyone expect to find
brains and ability under the curly
thatch of that dimple-cheeked brat
reflected in the mirror opposite?
Not that any man would ever
leave his happy home for the face
pictured there! But I certainly
looked more the sort of person who
would dance all night and laze all
day than a sober-minded soul who
had mastered the intricacies of
shorthand and could make a type
writer properly perform. Yet r
knew I was thoroughly competent
IN that respect, and I could only
hope Cary Essex o.: Purple
Beeches, Wetuxet, Cape Cod,
would judge me by the perfection
OF my work rather than by my ap.
pearance.
IL was splitting snow when the
Train pulled out of the South Sta
tion in Boston. It was showing
harder by the tine we were half
way to the Cape; and when we
fumbled over the canal bridge the
>NS a olHOlllSI VI WIlllG.
smoothed down those curls
Whlch never lie fiat, rubbed on
powder and rubbed it off again
ia better go easy on that until /
learned the prejudices of the Essex
tamlly-and looked hopefully in
the glass. But what can you do
win mouth which smiles when
there is nothing to smile at and
eyes which even Ola Man Depres-
sion has failed to soberize
At the train steps & girl Younger
than l way waiting. A girl whose
black eyes danced mo-: than mine, /
girl whose lins smiled swectlv al
me and whose laughing voice said:
Miss Deane? I'm Save Could
Welcome TO Wetuxet Il d.Gn't tax
a ouija board to identify you! Tn
willing to bet you're the op;v
stranger in town. This Is my biz,