Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1890-10-03
IN EDITORIAL VENTURE
DY ANNA FARQUHAR.

DY ANNA FARQUHAR.
Before the non -committal door leading
ato the editorial department Of a city
ally stood a woman whose face plainly
udicated painful hesitation and reluct-
nee. Her thoughts cried out almost
udibly: "Where Is all the courage
yith which left homei They will hear
ay heart beat and think l am knocking,
nyway, so I might as well do it. II
le is perfect bear, as they tell me, when
t work, he can't do 40 more than eat
ue."
Then she gathered strength enough to
all the attention of scribbler within,
sho called out: "Come in," TO her
eminine rap, as he followed his voice in
dazcd fashion from out the heaps of
apers, books and dust In which he had
,een immersed.
To her iutimidated request for Mr..
3arrows, the editor, he replied: "Oh,
you want to see the chiefl First door to
.he right" and sank into oblivion of her
presence.
Thus encouraged the intruder acceded
% the request to "please knock" on the
irst door to the right, aud was told to
"come in" in business-lke voice.
Now that the first awful moment OF
.dmittance had passed her spirits rose,
giving strength to her purpose and
tongue. "Is this Mr.. Barrowsl" she
,sked, as the sole occupant OF the room
rose to his feet at the sight of the unex-
pected and altogether taking" indi-
vidual approaching his desk.
"ves. miss" he replied, "cen dc
anything for youi"
Looking straight up at him, with her
whole stock of courage to the front, she
said. "Yes, sir, you can. want work
Have you any to give me3"
II she had asked for bread the editor
could not have been more surprised as he
looked at the brown. eyed girl whose dis
tinctively feminine and protected appear
ance and generally we'll kept air beliet
her words. At last he recovered sutii
ciently to say: "What kind of work d,
you want7 Have a seat and let us tall
about it."
eyes, thank you, might as we'll 81
down and cemc to the pointimmcdiately
You and have q mutual friend in MI
jameson, the architect. He knew
wanted something to do on q newspaper
and mentioned you as the only editor G
his acquaintance. / did not know eve
Is many as one. am still in my sala
days of journalism, as you have probabl
surmised, never having been in an office
but good many of my things have bee
published over my first name-Jean-.
the last name is Elford-Jean Elford.
wrote only for amusement until my fath'
died two years ago, when l was twent.
one. Since then my mother and hi,
not found life such smooth smiling. Nov
want some regular employment on
paper, and au willing to begin at Il
bottom and work up"
Now Edward Barrows was an edit
hardened in the ways of feminine app'
cauta for assistance; besides being
, bachelor on the wrong side of forty, vii
the reputation of being what has tru
never existed, a woman hater. Rut Il
: wsy this girl "struck from the shoulder
5 as he told her afterward, overthrow b
. defense at one blow.
a "Well, Miss Elford, shall be glad
d do anything in nv power for you,
Q only for the sake OF Jameson. l a
. surprised Mt his sending anyone to m
e considering my reputation for growth
8 in my den," he added, with quizziC
u look.
q She laughed and dared to reply:
- must confess you are surprise to Inc,
d was assured that it would be taking r
n \ life in my hands, this interviewing y
about newspaper work."
y The veteran glanced at himself in
Z Z advertising mirror hanging on the wa
h wondering if he had reached
;. dotago to like such impudence from
i stranger.
d d In few words he explained to her
p hardships of such life; tho army
u. volunteers enlisting in the war of woI
as as for bread every day: and finally that
et had no vacancies on his paper; mo
ell over, he knew nothing of her capab
OIL ties, as he had never come across artic
nd signed "Jean." "But because / kn
ly nothing Of you is no sign you ca
u, u write," he put in rs a sugar plum afte
as,R bitter pill. "Although Lean 10 moth
op for you permanently, IL you will send
something you have done perhaps
- could publish an article now and Il
ot or help you to q place in some OF
Ics Office"
sls After which she could do no m
@ os than be grateful for crumbs and r
as homo to get up something fine in
Of very best style for the bear that did
@ "a growl.
ut In their email apartments up to
do Jean found her mother, who had b.
In In left in the dark in regard to this vent
nd Iad for fear of discouraging opposition. 7
.ss mother conjectured that events were
The air from the cyclonic entranc;
lean, ordinarily as dignifed rs a boy
lace and cxuberance of life would /