The Opelousas courier., 1885-10-03

to sit in state, and ar inner one, very
much smaller. where ! found Miss
Charity Landon. She looked desper-
ately industrious, a perfect model of a
secretary, in fact, when / first peeped
into the room, for she was seated at
the table, with a whole pile of papers
before her, and her pen vas skimming
rapidly along, while the orthodox little
business frown drew the pretty eye
brows nearer together.
"Good morning" and l walked into
the room.
Good morning, Mr.. Blake" said
the girl. She rose and held out her
hand. Il hope you will approve of
me. but perhaps you don't approve of
women secretaries ?"
mo, l DON'T" | said bluntly; ''but |
should be very sorry to cause you any
Inconvenience; so, suppose we say that,
for n month, things shall go on as
they are"
The girls face fell.
Business is business; l did not
want a girl in my Office, and / told her
so. Furthermore, I explained my
views of women's duties in general,
and finished by limiting pretty plainly
that l thought she would be far better
at home nursing her father.
I went to my room feeling thankful
to her that she had not tried to coax a
more gracious answer from ME. With
such a face-with such eyes, VINO
could resist her? Did she know how
beautiful she was? PshaW! every
woman knows that.
Our paper was simply chit-chat on
the topics of the day, and steered toll
erably clear of scandal. There were
science papers, and book papers, and
the only amusing column was one that
was devoted to miscellaneous gossip,
and was signed. 1.-THE Man About
Town." The style was clever and
easy and ] nourished a secret but
profound admiration for my unknown
contributor. Looking w his latest
article, it suddenly struck me I had
never been told his name, and ] put
my new secretary to her first use by
asking it of Miss Charity Landor.
"Hope," said the girl, "he never
calls. Mr.. Blake used to write to him."
"I should like to see him." l an
swered. "Do you not admire his
writings. Miss Landor?"
mot particularly" she replied. at
reads to me al if he put in a good deal
of rubbish by way Of padding"
For the first week or so l found the
girls presence was irksome, but as the
strangeness wore off, it seemed TO
make my work doubly attractive.
She was an immense help to me; but,
try as l would. could not persuade
myself that it was simply her assis-
lance that was so valuable to me. |
began to listen for the soft voice, and
laid many a deep plot to wiz from her
Il laugh or a smile.
One spring morning, when I was
working alone, an open envelope was
brought me, which ] knew to contain
the weekly effusion of 1.-THE Man
About Town." The address was writ
ten in his customary style, but when
the Ms. tumbled out, to my intense
amazement it was written in the we'll
known reather peculiar hand of my
secretary. Was it possible that Char
ity should be the author of these clever
papers?
Impulsive for once in my life, l
went into the inner room. laid the pa
per on the girls desk, and asked her
what it meant. Her answer was SO
eloquent that words of mine are pow
erless to describe it; she simply looked
up at me and flushed hotly.
81 am very penitent," she said.
though she did not look it in the very
least ''but it was SC easy. Father
used to write them first, and then,
when he couldn't, I took it as well as
his other work. Mr.. Blake did not
mind, but I knew you would. because
/ am a woman, SO my brother always
copied it for me. He copied it this
time, and must have posted the origi-
nal by a stupid mistake. Are you
angry? All, don't be angry-please
don'tr"
"Angry? Why am proud of your
l answered her. $50 happy. too, that
l want to tell you something else;
may !, Charity?"
.Yes. Mr.. Blake"
saw the sweet face as it half
turned from me, and seeing, | gained
courage to continue.
s.Charity means love-" I said softly,
Darling, am ] too vain or mad if /
hope The words failed me, and
| held out my arms. Charity. will
YOU not come to me?"
And then, with a new, bright light