create the impression of indifference now that the employees were
coming back to their desks.

For there was a forked road for Trudy as well as for Mary Faithful.
Women are no longer compelled to accept the one unending pathway of
domesticity. Trudy's forked road resolved itself into either marriage
with Gay as a stepping stone to marriage with someone else, or a smart
shop with society women and actresses as patrons, being able to live
at a hotel and do as she wished, inventing a neat little past of
escaping from a Turkish harem or being the widow of an English officer
who died serving his country. Trudy was not without resources, in her
own estimation, and whether she married Gay or achieved the shop was a
toss-up. Like the rest of the world she considered herself capable of
doing both!

Hearing the scuffle of feet Mary opened the door and forced herself to
ask about the wedding. Presently the excitement died down and the
round of mechanical drudgery took its place. An hour later someone
knocked at an inner door which led to steep side stairs connecting
with a side street entrance. Wondering who it was Mary opened it, to
find Steve, very flushed and handsome, a flower in his buttonhole yet
no hint of rice about him.

"Sh-h-h! Not a word out loud! I want to escape. Mrs. O'Valley is
waiting round the corner in a cab. I forgot the long-distance
call--the one we expected yesterday."

"It came while everyone was at the church. I stayed here in case it
did. They will pay your price, so I closed the deal."

"Hurrah for Mary Faithful! But I wish you could have been there. It
was like a picture. I never saw her look so lovely. Well, that's
settled. Wire me at Chicago. I think that's everything. Oh, you're to
have fifty a week from now on. What man isn't generous on his wedding
day? Good-bye, Miss Head of Affairs." A moment later he was climbing
down the rickety flight of stairs.

For a long time Mary sat watching the hands of her desk clock slowly
proceed round the dial. Someone knocked at the door and she said to
come in, but her voice sounded faint and far away.

Fifty dollars a week--generous on his wedding day! She ought to be
very glad; it meant she could save more and have an occasional treat
for Luke. It was good to think that women had forked roads these days.
How terrible if she were left in the shelter of a home to mourn
unchecked. Besides, she was guarding his business; that was a great
comfort. The Gorgeou