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Mabel, earning $15, earned Lucinda's
hatred, she seemed blithely unaware
of it Her friendly greeting were gall
and wormwood to Lucinda's heart
Lucinda's Paris gown was the sen
sation of the office. It was a modest
gown enough, but it had no business
there. A suddenly acquired hauteur
was also a marked feature of Lucinda
in those days. However, envy as
much as mirth was aroused by her
P appearance. And so she set forth to
the conquest of Mr. Dixon.
Mabel Kearney had an attack of
pneumonia in the early days of win
ter, and Lucinda was promoted to her
place. It almost took her bream
away. The salary was the same, but
the presence of the manager was a
constant inspiration. For the first
few days she almost cried when she
left the office. But afterward things
began to go swimmingly. Dixon, who
yfas a kindly man, insensibly adapted
himself to the girl's nature; they got
along very well, and even discussed
things in that afternoon interval
when office routine begins to slacken.
"You're doing very well, Miss Bar
rett," sad the manager encouraging
ly. "And now I'm going to tell you
something. When Miss Kearney
leaves next month I'm going to ask
to have you made by secretary in her
place, at the salary."
"I didn't know -Miss Kearney was
going," faltered Miss Barrett
"Oh, well, it's a sort of secret,"
said the manager, smiling, "but she's
going to be married. I'm glad she's
on the mend, poor girl."
"Yes," said Lucinda. And she al
most danced out of the office that
night Mabel's leaving was nothing
to Dixon. And he had resolved that
A she should fill her place. He had
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had all meant nothing!
It happened that that night Tom,
nable to endure his treatment any
nger, came to Lucinda s boarding
use, resolved to put his fortune to
final test
"See here, Lucy," he said, taking
her hand in his. "I guess you don't
care for me any more. I've tried my
hardest, but if I can't make you love
me, why, of course, I' let you go. Do
you think there is any chance for me,
dear?".
"Tom, you are so absurd."
"But you've never answered me."
"Why should you pester me? "
Tom rose with dignity and took his
hat For the first tme he was really
angry with her. Lucinda, seeing his
face, felt a new awe of Tom.
"I won't pester you any more, Lu
cy," he said. "But I'm going to wait
one month just one month, for you
to find out if you can care for me.
I think when you don't see me per
haps then you'll be able to know bet
ter. Good-by, dear."
He was gone before Lucinda could
recover her breath. She stamped
when he had gone, and cried. How
she hated him!
And the days passed. There was
no doubt that Mr. Dixon really cared
for her. It was true he had been even
more animated with Mabel, but then
he cared nothing for Mabel, lively lit
tle beauty that she was. Lucinda
felt that she had a great deal in com
mon with Mr. Dixon. They drew very -close
together in that time of Mabel's
illness.
When the day came for Mabel to
resume her place and Lucinda was
relegated to her old desk, she antici
pated the time when she would per
manently be Mr. Dixon's secretary.
She felt that a love such as she hoped
to inspire must be of slow growth.
But when she smv Mabel, less ani
mated now, taking Mr. Dixon's notes
she pitied her. She had tried and
lost Lucinda omitted the Paris
gown, which, she had gathered, was
thought too stylish for business. She
could win on her merits now.
About a week after Mabel's return
the manager called Lucinda to his
desk.
"It's all right about that position,"
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