The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1890-07-12

lower tone, ~ don't see what NJ rs. Mat
thews can be thinking Of. ! was told this
wa a very select place."
$50 il is, isn't IL" / answered In true
Yankee fashion, with an assertion and a
question.
..Sudge for yourself! This latest acqui-
sition to our number is a s~tenographer
and typewriter in LAWYER Buffers
Office"
Hooked down the table at a very pretty
young lady sitting there, and thought to
myself that she might prove a very
charming companion. Miss Cathcart-
thirty years old and attired like a girl
of eighteen-looked faded and old in
comparison.
That evening, in the boarding house
parlor, ! was introduced to Miss Rachael
Stone, the ''new b~oarder," and in half
an hour we were Oh friendly terms. 1
had touched upon the subject of short
hand early i'm the conversation, saying
that, as a lawyer, l had often thought that
| would like to take my own notes in the
court room, and a most enthusiastic adj
vocate of stenography l found. She up
set all my theories about shorthand, de-
claring il was a most delightful and fas-
cinating study.
"Why not give me some lessons? 2" 1
said, laughingly.
Miss Stone took me up ut once. Not
that she would entertain a proposition to
give me regular lessons, but she assured
me IL / would get the proper books | could
pursue the study without a teacher. "ln
any difficulty" she said, ~ snou Id be
very glad to render you assistance"
Now, TO be quiet honest, l fell in love
with new boarder in that very first hour,
and as n natural consequence j returned
home the next evening with the neces-
sary books in my. possession. am
ashamed to confess how often / feigned
ignorance just to enjoy her pretty, eager
way of explaining theldiiiiculty.
Ii was not long before the lines n
curves and hooks began to meal some
thing to me, and one particular phrase
had a peculiar fascination for me. /
used TO write il over and over again-"1
love you, / love you.n Ii was SO easy TO
make-a tick, two curves, and n NINA
ture croquet wicket, all joined together in
one delightful little phraseogram.
Ii came to be an understood thing that
after supper Miss Stone and ! should sit
at a small table in a corner of the parlor
cart made herself exceedingly disagree
able, and sometimes Rachel called her
Rachel i'm my heart-would leave the room
to escape her discourtesy.
Sometimes we would make "a little
break in the shorthand and turn To other
topics, and in those exchanges of conf
dence / learned a good deal about RAJ
chefs home, IN a small New England
own, and of her brother, a college stu
dent, of whom she vas very proud. /
found il was to help this brother through
college that she had sought a position in
the city.
Every day | fell more deeply in love,
until | reached a point where there were
no more depths of sound. l hardly know
why l did not make a formal proposal
perhaps because no very good opportun-
ity presented itself, perhaps because |
wa i'm doubt as to her answer. Some
times / would fancy her color deepened
a little when l entered the ROOM; but
there was a ~frankness about her treat
ment of me, and a b~usiness-iike way of
making shorthand the chief topic of our
conversation that did not tend to encour-
age me-.
One afternoon | went home earlier than
usual with two opera tickets IN my pocket,
and in my heart a determination to know
my fate that night. Surely l could man
age a proposal during the walk home.
As l stopped i'm the hall to leave my hat
heard Mrs. Matthews voice through the
parlor door. 1t was pitched high as
though the speaker was angry or excited.
IL must have your room" h was saying.
"Some of my best boarders will not re-
main unuer tile circumstances, unless YOU
leave the house."
"Under what circumstances? do not
understand you, Mrs. Matthew'S 1t was
Rachel's voice, and il sounded as though
the poor girl might break do~n and cry
the next instant. i considered myself
wholly justified now in playing the part
of an eavesdropper.
"Your goings on with MIR. Hamilton un.
der the cover of that shorthand study.
You could not spend more time in his
company il you were engaged to him."
All! IL my darling only had been en-
gagged to me how quickly could step TO
her side and defend her from these cruel
insults. The little phase, ~ love you,"
flashed into my mind, n it was like an
inspiration. As IL happened | held i'm my
hand a book-a compilation of steno.
graphic phrases ] had just purchased
and with the white paper wrapped around
1t and the lead pencil in my left pocket,
everything necessary to carry out my plan
was at hand.
In bold, black characters, / swiftly
wrote on the book the words, II love you,
Be my wife," i'm shorthand. The next in.
slant j stepped into the room.
"Excuse me, Miss Stone.' | said,..i you
are engaged. Hearing your voice as !
passed through the hall l thought l would
hand you the book | spoke to O about
hope il is all right"
As | handed her the package | saw tina,
my poor loves cheeks were holly flushed
and her lips quivering. i wanted to tax.
her in my arms in h face of the frown,
ing landlady. As she took the book heI
eyes fell upon the shorthand characters
They stood out boldly on the white paper
and to her they were as plain as print
Her head dropped an instant. Then sh,
gave me a look, IL ever eyes saidy yes her,
did. We were engaged, and now my wa,
was clear.
~ have been thinking, Mrs. Matthew'S