Charlotte messenger. [volume] (Charlotte, Mecklenburg Co., N.C.) 1882-18??, 1886-12-18
THE REPORTER.
BY ELANoR coRBET.

Df ELANOR CORBET.
Ten o'clock on Tuesday morning,
and one of the busiest days in the week,
IN the Office of the Weekly Record-a
journal dealing largely with society's
doings and sayings, as we'll as with all
the literary, musical and dramatic hap
penings of the day. The editor and his
assistants were up to their ears in work.
but the chief had but just arrived, and
with pleasant word of greeting had
passed on to his private sanctum. An
elegant and distinguished man, this
Ernest Warren, the proprietor, general
director and handspring of the flourish
ing weekly which his father had left to
hin as part OF his inheritance and,
moreover, had supplemented it by a
very pretty fortune which at once lifted
this dear, only son from the ranks of
struggling journalists, and made of him,
had he so chosen, a gentlemen of ele-
giant leisure. But this was contrary to
all Ernest's inclinations At no time
was he disposed to life of mere idle
luxury and though he had the entree
into the best society of the city, and was
by no means ayerse to en- Ioying the
same, he had never, in the five years
since his fathers death, neglected the
interests of the Record, nor withdrawn
himself from the general supervision. OF
all Its details. See him now, as he
stands at his desk, running over the
mornings correspondence. A man not
much under forty tall and strongly
built, with steady gray eyes, dark hair
and mustache, and general air of
vigor and determination about him
which at once inspires confidence in the
beholder, and makes women and chill
dren feel that in him would be found o
very seryiceable protector, should occa-
sion arise.
On this busy morning the letters did
not seem to require much consideration,
and when the last one had been con-
signed to the waste basket, Mr.. Warren
stepped to the door Of the outer office,
and inquired:
"Hanly, has Miss Ogden been in this
morning"
"Not yet, tir."
every well. Ask her to speak with
me as soon as she comes"
Ten minutes later, and brisk, bust
ness-like young woman presented herself
at his door.
"Ah, Miss Ogden, good morning. 1
was just inquiring for you. presume
you have your days programme pretty
we'll laid out; but want you to take in
some evening work. Mrs. Rossiter gives
reception tonight, and requests that
representative Of the Reoom be present,
if possible, a lady, in order that the cos.
tunes may be correctly described. For,
as she politely remarks: Men generally
make such botch OF such matters un-
less they have some woman to coach
them Now, can you be there in the
ladies' dressing say about ten
o'clock, and remain as long as there are
any arrivals to take notes Off"
EMiss Ogden hesitated. This was some
thing she hadn't bargained for. To sit
up till all hours of the night reading
and criticising new books; to run around
TO the shops for fashion items and nov
elites; to assist at all the "opening
days" attend matinces, and even to in
terview an actress occasionally-why, all
these came into the days work. But
this that Mr. Warren was proposing
would be a new departure to her, and
rather CALLING to that pride of which, al
though sensible young woman, she
had a fair amount. And so the prompt
and cheerful acquiescence which was her
usual answer to her employer halted on
her lips.
"Well," said he, kindly. "Do you
mind it so very much1 Why, then, I
must send oneof the boys, / suppose"
Now there were several reasons why
Sara Ogden felt very kindly toward Err
nest Warren and was more than willing
to study his wishes. In the first place,
he pleased her fancy, with his handsome
face and manly bearing. and his unyary-
ino Difference and cordiality; secondly,
he seemed to give her credit for possess
ing as good reasoning powers and clear
Judgment as though she were a man
and many a time, in that snug little Of
nee. they had held long and interesting
on the topics OF the day,
which rad sent her home to her lonely
room with pleasant sense of mental
cheer aud reireshment, and lastly, he
had won her gratitude by desiring Ed
itor Ilan'ey to give her a trial when she
presented herself rs an applicant for
work some months before this busy morn
ing. II was an innovation--this employ.
ing Of woman for regular daily work,
and without the chiefs good word she
knew she never could have got foot
hold in the office of the Rcc0rd, nor
chance to show what she was capable Of
Thinking of all this, and meeting the
look Of appeal in those grave, handsome
eyes, she could not answer him with
refusal. a word or two signifed her ac-
quescence in the proposed arrangements,
aud won for her beaming smile and
hearty "Thank you very much, Mrs
Ogden. / am sure we shall now get
reliable account Of the different toilets. +"