The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1890-10-10
THE NEW DEPARTMENT.
She Edited the Column on Love
and Matrimony.

Before the non-commlttal door leading
into the editorial department of city
daily stood woman whose face plainly
indicated painful hes itation and reluc-
lance. Her thoughts cried out almost
audibly: "Where is all the courage
with which / left home? They will
hear my heart beat and think 1 am
knocking, anyway, so l might as well
do it. If he is a perfect bear, as they
Sell me, when ct work, he can't do more
than eat me-"
Then she gathered strength enough
TO call the attention of scribbler with
in, who called out: "Come in," to her
feminine rap, as he followed his voice
in dazed fashion from out tho heaps of
papers, books and dust in which he had
been immersed.
70 her Illuminated request for Mr..
Barrows, tho editor, no replied: sob;
you want to sec the chief! First door
30 the right" and sank into oblivion of
her presence.
Thus encouraged the intruder acceded
to tho request to ''please knock" on the
first door to the right, and was told to
''come i'm by a business-likc voice.
Now that the first awful moment of
admittancc had passed her spirits rose,
giving strength 10 her purpose and
tongue. ''Is this Mr. Barrows?" she
asked, as the sole occupant of the room
rose to his feet at sight of the unexpect-
ed and altogether taking" individual
approaching his desk.
Eyes, miss" no replied, "can do any
thing for you?"
Looking straight up at him, with her
whole stock of courage to the front,
she said: Yes, sir, you can. l want
work. Have you any to give me?"
If she had asked for bread the editor
could not have boon more surprised, as
he looked at tho brown-eyed girl whose
distinctivoly feminine and protected ap-
pearance and generally well-kept air be-
lied her words At last he recovered
sufficiently to say: What kind of
work do you want? Have scat and lot
us talk about it."
Eyes, thank yor ! might as we'll sit
down and come to tho point Immediate
ly. You and have a mutual friend in
Mr.. Jameson, the architect. He knew l
wanted something to do on newspaper,
and mentioned you as the only editor of
his acquaintance. ! did not know even
as many as one. am still in my salad
days of journalism, as you have probably
surmiscd. never having been in an Office,
but q good many of my things have been
published over my first name-Jean-
tho last name is Elford-Jean Elford. l
wrote only for amusement until my father
died two years ago, when | was twenty
one. Since then my mother and | have
not found life such smooth sailing.
Now, i want some regular employment
on paper, and am willing to begin at
the bottom and work up"
Now Edward Barrows was an editor
hardened in the ways of feminine appli-
cants for assistance; besides being a
bachelor on the wrong side of forty, with
the reputation OF being what has truly
never existed, woman hater. But the
way in which this girl struck from tho
shoulder" Us he told her afterwards,
overthrow his defense at one blow,
"Woll, Miss Elford, shall be glad to
do any thing in my power for you, if
only for the sake of Jameson. l am
surprised at his sending any one to me,
considering my reputation for growing
when in M don," he added, with u
guizzical look.
She laughed and dared to reply: 81
mu8tconfcss you arc . surprise to me,
for was assured that it would be tax
ing my life i'll my hands, this interview
ing you about newspaper work"
The veteran glanced at himself in an
advertising mirror hanging on tho wall,
wondering If he had reached his dotage
to like such impudcnce from q stranger
In fow words he explained TO her
the hardshipS of such a life; the army
of volunteers enlisting in the war of
words for bread every day; and finally
that he had no vacancies on his paper;
moreover, he knew nothing of her capa-
bilities as he had never happened to
come across articles signed Jean" ''But
because l know nothing of you is no
sign you can't write" he put in as a
sugar plum after a bitter pill. 'Al-
though l can do nothing for you perma-
nently, if you will send me something
you have done perhaps 1 could publish
an article now and then or help you to a
place in some other Office"
After which she could do no more
than be grateful for crumbs and rush
home to got up something fine in her
very best style for tho bear that did
not growl.
In choir small apartments uptown
Jean found her mother, who had been
left in the dark in regard to this vent
ure for fear of discouraging opposition
The mother conjectured that events
wcrc in tho air from the cyclonic en-
trance of joan, ordinarily as dignif1ed
as boyish face and exuberance of life
would permit.
Mother, mother, here ami"
'Have you gone through the fiery
furnace without singer"
Mrs. Elford's amazement increased
as jean described the whole scene
She INDUCED in laugh, which atoned
for many things, when, after asserting
that Mr.. Barrows was good-looking and
distinguished II he did wear glasses
ant had a storm mouth, in tone Of