Show offin A N 0 F BUSINESS but his methods were bad and then loves young dream comes true say MY SELINA E LIZABETH ELIZABETH HIGGINS HIGGIN 9 dont stand in your own light hilda mr armitage Anni tago la Is a rising man ot at bt business falness rind and many a girl would con alder herself luck lucky y to receive tile tho attentions tent ions lie he has shown you mother alother tile his attentions aro are more than distasteful to me I 1 cannot bear to even have him speak to mo me thoro there aro are a good many reasons why you should encourage him declared hilda masons stepmother the girls lips closed tightly abor A ft or tied ried anxious look came over oer her face sho she put on her wraps ond and left liar her humble homo home for liar her dally daily work tile tho worldly advice of her or lind had made little impression upon mr james armitage was vaa practically her employer ila ho was in full chargo charge ol of tile the silk factory of A 4 colono co one of several operated by that wealthy firm hildas father had been engineer of tile tie plant halt lits hla ufa life time iter her brother dab bob was in charge of 0 the tha shipping room A smaller brother was waa errand eriend boy in the office hilda had light agreeable work in the sample department part ment it was waa only recently that tho the masons had felt that prospects were brightening for them A strike sickness the failure of at a bank carrying away their saving had brought about it a hard ex perlinie per lInce now with all hands at work tork tile the future looked encouraging armitage hid had corpe come to tho the plant about a year ye ar previous prom from tho the first hilda atilda had felt repelled by him ito he had a hard cynical face ile ho was pitt gesn 1683 in his exactions with tho the workers ile ho was a widower and hilda had heard aicard that his wife had died of a broken heart armitage had seemed to take a fancy banc fanc to hilda as tho the thoughtless thought lesa mrs airs maon put ut it in her shallow way any when alien on two occasions recently he biad li ad naked permission to take hilda to places of entertainment she had not his bis company and was waa glad to ret get homo home again 1 I wipe my shoes on the wretch a discharged office girl told hilda da meeting her on the street ha is a snake a tyrant ila he discharged L r sos slunk prom from the room me out it of sheer meanness and all the girls des despise p ise him one good thing he wont be here long why not asked hilda 1 I 1 shant tell you but see I 1 do 40 hope you are not falling ailing in love with him hilda protested indignantly she evaded armitage and twice when he called managed to be out odthe of the way hence her stepmothers advice A now new interest came into the life of hilda one day armitage passed through the sample department accod by a bright faced athletic young man inan the latter seemed interested in everything he saw something about the neat graceful hilda held his glance she noticed it and flushed but his look wasso was so pleasant she could not feel offended he Is a air harold macy a companion told hilda ile ho has come well recommended to mr Aruil armitage tage and Is ia boing soing covingto to be a kind bind of an overseer armitage Arrol tage was waa absent tor lor several days inspecting another mill it was a happy week for 1111 hilda da the new em am aloye passed through her department frequently from the first he be had a pleasant word for her bar then he began to question her arouther about her work and it its details one eve evening ning he was strolling pasi bei bee home when ho he met her there vas wasa a band concert going on jn ja the public square the young man asked tor for her company there both enjoyed the Ms mrs maron gave hilda a great lec ture ahen rhen sile she got home hoiu spoiling her ier chances ll 11 1 oat out ot of respect farmr tor mr arm itra w were ere some of the pointed phra gos she bine used but hilda could not of the manly young fellow whose hose bright natural ways had bad opened a nov new chapter in the book ot of her young life A few evenings later young macy called at the mason bom bome p but for the 0 mrs mra mabou alafou it va was s a bee pr 9 d happy be occasion casion for hilda it made anad her happier still alien hen she lanced eha in his bis Mt told ha be was thinking of 0 her witia wt watib tib fprmer sentiment than ahn n ot of sim bim ji i c r 1 I into tho 0 room abero she etie mt at woric ineat next morning ila iio was palo pale and stern looking lie ile forced a smile as it if asking a welcome hilda reluctantly touched the hand he bo extended ile ho tried t tp to p retain it but she ebo arose to her feet 1 I heard of your having quite a so caal time during my absence insinuated the manager hilda and he ha came a stop nearer and hla his eyes had an eager shi sinister later glow tho the time hat has come when force mo me to reveal my feelings towards you I 1 have spoken to your mother I 1 wish you to become my wife oil ob mr air Armi armitage tagel breathed hilda tremulously you must not that is I 1 cannot cannot over marty marry you because I 1 suppose sneered the manager with a dark scowl you have taken up with this now employed emp loye macy it was coarsely said words worda and manner were offensive hilda bridled mr A tr armitage Is a a gentleman and a dear friend arlen d of mine she said eald staunchly as though defending him from aspersion ila ho shall not remain hero here long to cross my cathl cried armitage savagely como come hilda bo be reasonable lie ho added in a pleading tone abreast at Ab least consider my appeal I 1 truly love you ican I 1 can give you comfort luxury a social position tar far beyond your own ila ho could not but note firm dental denial in her eyes more than that positive aversion it maddened him armitage sprang towards hilda and threw an arm around her you shall become nay my wife he cried 1 I am not used to being crossed in my plans girl do you understand that I 1 hold the welfare of your family in my hands bands I 1 can turn you and your father and brothers out of your positions only lovo love me and they shall be well all taken caro care of in an excess 0 emotion tho the mat manager iager attempted to kiss hilda with a scream she beat hla his face with both bogli her hands that will do spoke a calm but masterful voice and armitage was hurled to the other end of the room you I 1 panted tho the manager recognizing young macy lit hla s eyes blazing with fury you are discharged discharge di d from fro ln my employ out of here at once or I 1 will have you thrown out your employ repeated young macy myman I 1 advise you to get to the office and be ready for an accounting which will be demanded oi of you by my father the owner of 0 this business I 1 have bavo telegraphed him and lie he will be here tomorrow A discharged girl employed gave us a hint gintof of your double dealings in dividing sales salea profits with our clients I 1 came here under an assumed name to got get thed tho details my aly correct name la Is victor e like the craven ho be was armitage stunk slunk from the room with a slight twin lile in ili his eye young turned to the astonished hilda i miss mason hilda lie he said judging from just told that man you intend to remain a spinster still recalling your kind words about myself I 1 must hope that you will allow I 1 me one favor what what Is it faltered hilda red as a rose to ask your parents it if we may become engaged 11 was the earnest reply grid and hilda did not say him nay copyright 1313 1913 by W Q G chapman |