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Show MAN OFJUSINESS But His Methods Were Bad, and Then Love's Young Dream Comes True. BY SELINA ELIZABETH HIGGINS.. "Don't stand in your own light, Hilda. Hil-da. Mr. Armitage is a rising man of business, and many a girl would consider con-sider herself lucky to receive the attentions at-tentions he has shown you." "Mother, his attentions are more than distasteful to me. I cannot bear to even have him speak to me." "There are a good many reasons why you should encourage him," declared de-clared Hilda Mason's stepmother. The girl's lips closed tightly. A worried, wor-ried, anxious look came over her face. She put on her wraps and left her humble home for her daily work. The worldly advice of her stepmother stepmoth-er had made little impression upon Hilda. Mr. James Armitage was practically prac-tically her employer. He was in full charge of the silk factory of Meserve & Co., one of several operated by that wealthy firm. Hilda's father had been engineer of the plant half his life time. Her brother, Bob, was in charge of the shipping room. A smaller brother was errand boy in the office. Hilda had light agreeable work in the sample department de-partment It was only recently that the Masons had felt that prospects were brightening brighten-ing for them. A strike, Bickness, the failure of a bank carrying away their savings, had brought about a hard experience. ex-perience. Now, with all hands at work, the future looked encouraging. Armitage had come to the plant about a year previous. From the first Hilda had felt repelled by him. He had a hard, cynical face. He was pitiless piti-less in his exactions with the workers. He was a widower, and Hilda had heard that his wife had died of a broken heart Armitage had seemed to take a fancy to Hilda, as the thoughtless Mrs. Mason put it In her shallow way. When on two occasions recently he had asked permission to take Hilda to places of entertainment, she had not enjoyed his company, and was glad to get home again. "I wouldn't wipe my shoes on the wretch," a discharged office girl told Hilda, meeting her on the street "He Is a snake, a tyrant. He discharged fit Armitage Slunk From the Room. me out of sheer meanness, and all the girls despise him. One good thing he won't be here long." "Why not?" asked Hilda. "I shan't tell you, but you'll see. I do hope you are not falling in love with him." Hilda protested indignantly. She evaded Armitage, and twice when he called managed to be out of the way. Hence her stepmother's advice. A new Interest came into the life of Hilda one day. Armitage passed through the sample department accompanied accom-panied by a bright-faced athletic young man. 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 was so pleasant she could not feel offended. "He is a Mr. Harold Macy," a companion com-panion told Hilda. "He has come well recommended to Mr. Armitage, and is going to be a kind of an overseer." Armitage waB absent for several days inspecting another mill. It was a happy week for Hilda. The new employe em-ploye passed through her department frequently. From the first he had a pleasant word for her. Then he began to question her about her work and its details. One evening he was strolling past her home when he met her. There was a band concert going on In the public square. The young man asked for her company there. Both enjoyed the concert. Mrs. Mason gave Hilda a great lecture lec-ture when she got home. "Spoiling her chances," "out of respect for Mr. Armitage," Arm-itage," were some of the pointed phrases she used. But Hilda could not help thinking of the manly young fellow fel-low whose bright natural ways had opened a new chapter in the book of her young life. A few evenings later young Macy called at the Mason home. But for the glum looks of Mrs. Mason, it was a second happy occasion for Hilda. It made her happier still when she fancied she noted something In his eyes, that told he was thinking of her with a warmer sentiment than of simple sim-ple friendship. Armitage, returned, came Into the room where she sat at work next morning. He was pale and stern looking. look-ing. He forced a smile, as if asking a welcome. Hilda reluctantly touched the hand he extended. He tried to retain re-tain it, but she arose to her feet. "I heard of your having quite a social so-cial time during my absence," insinuated insinu-ated the manager. "Hilda," and he came a step nearer, and his eyes had an eager, sinister glow, "the time has come when circumstances force me to reveal my feelings towards you. I have spoken to your mother; I wish you to become my wife." "Oh, Mr. Armitage!" breathed Hilda tremulously. "You must not that is. I cannot cannot ever marry you." "Because, I suppose," sneered the manager with a dark scowl, "you have taken up with this new employe, Macy ?" It was coarsely said. Words and manner were offensive. Hilda bridled. "Mr. Armitage is a gentleman and a dear friend of mine," she said staunchly, as though defending him from aspersion. "He shall not remain here long to cross my path!" cried Armitage savagely. sav-agely. "Come, Hilda, be reasonable," he added in a pleading tone. "At least consider my appeal. I truly love you. I can give you comfort, luxury, a sor cial position far beyond your own." He could not but note firm 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 my wife," he cried. "I am not used to being crossed in my plans. Girl, do you understand that I hold the welfare of your family fam-ily In my hands? I can turn you and your father and brothers out of your positions. Only love me, and they shall be well taken care of." In an excess of emotion the manager attempted to kiss Hilda. With a scream she beat his face with both her hands. "That will do," spoke a calm but masterful voice, and Armitage was hurled to the other end of the room. "You!" panted the manager, recognizing recog-nizing young Macy, his eyes blazing with fury. "You are discharged from my employ. Out of here at once, or I will have you thrown out" "Your employ?" repeated young Macy. "My man, I advise you to get to the office and be ready for an accounting, ac-counting, which will be demanded of you by my father, the owner of this business. I have telegraphed him, and he will be here tomorrow. A discharged dis-charged girl employe gave us a hint of your double dealings in dividing sales profits with our clients. I came here under an assumed name to get the details. de-tails. My correct name Is Victor Meserve." Me-serve." Like the craven he was, Armitage slunk from the room. With a slight twinkle In his eye, young Meserve turned to the astonished Hilda. "Miss Mason Hilda," he said, "judging "judg-ing from what you just told that man, you intend to remain a spinster. Still, recalling your kind words about myself, my-self, I must hope that you will allow me one favor." "What what is it7" faltered Hilda, red as a rose. "To ask your parents if we may become be-come engaged," was the earnest reply, and Hilda did not say him nay. (Copyright 1913. by W. Q. Chapman.) |