Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1889-11-15
MiscklLameaMs.
LOVE AND DANGER.

of the Hamilton Daily Herdld--a large
room with u long table in the centre and
a-haf dozen desks occupied by the diff
ferent members of the staff Hamilton
was thriving city, but its newspaper
Offices had not adopted the metropolitan
style of separate rooms for their editors.
The paper had gone to press and the
half dozen men were discussing the SEN
sation of the hour. Every one looked
outrageously cross. and the telegraph
editor-a very good looking and gener-
ally very pleasant faced young man
was positively fierce. And all this be-
cause II woman was to be added to the
staff While Robert Bryant, the tele-
graph editor, was the most outspoken,
those who remained silent seemed to
be in full accord with him.
"Of course we can't smoke with a
woman here" grumbled the spokesman,
'and it will be a perfect nuisance in
every way"
"There il one satisfaction for YOU
Bryant" said ono of the reporters.
'She will sit where she can't see you
without turning round. OF course, as
she is to do the exchange work, she will
have Whites old desk y
eyes, but every time look up
shall have to see her A pleasant pros
pect." Evidently the telegraph editor
could see no compensation in the situa-
ton.
The next morning the new member
of the staff was escorted into the room
by the managing editor, introduced to
the occupants of the different desks and
assigned her position. Miss Margaret
Hale acknowledged the introductions
courteously, and Immediately applied
herself assiduously to her work. The
telegraph editor scowled as she took her
scat, but that she could not see.
She certainly was not pretty, he
thought but then who would expect
woman editor to be pretty! She was too
slight too pale, and he never did like
gray eyes. But at least she promised
to prove rather unobjectionable sort of
person, and the telegraph editor quite
Inagnanimously determined to try to
make the best Of it,
lie used to watch Miss Hale, curl
ously at first, but after while admiring-
ly. She worked SO deity and with such
intelligence of purpose and concentra-
ton of thought. He found she could
do what the former occupant of the desk
failed to do-tell half column story in
six line item.
And as the days went on, the tele-
graph editor began to wonder if tho OK
change editor was not pretty, after nil.
The head was gracefully poised, all the
abundant brown hair was soft and pref
,ily arranged There was charming
bit Of white neck above the linen collar,
and when she turned her bead little
he could see the pure oval Of her face.
One day, when bad headache kept the
exchange editor from her desk, Robert
Bryant suddenly realized how he should
miss her were she never to come back
lie wondered how he could ever have
thought her colorless and embarrassing
One morning, as he passed flower
stand, the violets somehow reminded
him of Miss Hale and ho bought a
bunch to lay upon her desk as he passed
IT, The exchange editor received them
with the gentle, reserved manner that
had gradually won her the respect and
friendship of every man in the room,
but little flush she could not drive
back crcpt into her cheek and made
Robert Bryant's heart beat fast. After
that he brought her something from tho
flower stand every morning a-single
rosebud, few violets, or spray Of mign-
onette, or handful of forget me-nots.
And the exchange editor put them into
a glass Of water and always carried them
away when her days work was ended.
Very good friends they grew to be, and
yet Robert Bryant did not admit, even
to himself, that there was anything be-
yond friendship.
But one day tall, handsome follow
walked into the editorial room and was
given most cordial welcome by the
exchange editor. For half an hour the
two chatted in the most exasperatingly
confidential manner, and when at las
the caller went away the telegraph edi
tor was sure he said something abou
calling on Miss Hale that evening, Rob
ert Bryant knew then he loved Marga
ret Hale
As her visitor left the room she turne
r to the telegram editor with bright eye
{, and flushed cheeks and with questio
/, that fell like bombshell ''lsn't Il
; handsome 2" she asked.
Robert did not know what TO answer
SO completely was be taken aback