Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1893-05-21
a TINY GARMENT.
The Story of the City Editors Room.

paper. The rooms OF the managing cd
itor were still dark. A single editorial
writer scrubbed away at his shaoOy
desk ri q little den assigned to him.
The local room, which but a moment
before had been brisk movement and
confusion, was silent and deserted.
The big detail book, lying open on the
shelf before the city editors window
had issued It's orders, and In obedience
TO them the small army OF reporters had
fled out.
In an ante-room that led to the main
hallway lounged Simpson, q general
utility man, ready 20 serve In case OF
emergency. The only occupant Of the
local room was Brander, the city editor.
Brander sat in his small private once,
separated from the main room oy a
glass partition, through which he couId
see every man and every movement In
it. It was not particularly pleasant TO
be under Brander's eye, and there was
scarcely a member Of the local stan who
had not cursed the little glass oihce and
its point Of vantage at the end OF the
long apartment where its tenant could
focus every corner and Granny.
HJones essayed 20 have a quiet chat
with Robinson, there was sure 20 come
courteous summOnsfrO the glass ohce
calling his attention 70 an srror In the
COPY he had Just given In; and Robin
son. In passing Smiths desk, halted TO
laugh with him over the latest joke told
by Chirkup, the clown in local politics,
he would receive a gentle reminder that
when be had finished the story In hand
there was another detail which he
might work on; and everybody knows
that a second detail in the same evening
10 q staff man, who has done his full
dutv by the first, is an indignity that no
man who respects himself will patiently
endure, and that no man Eho Is not an
ogre will infict. b..
Brander did not look as II the milk OF
human kindness flowed in his veins that
night. He was a tall, raw-boned fell
low. with q broad forehead and a face
that could be kindly, but that wore an
habltuaI frowu. The strength and grace
OF the man lay In his sparkling, dark
eves. and q certain awkward dignity
that asserted itself in his stumbling,
loose-iointed gait and his hesitating
speech. He sat looking out OF his win
dow into the crowded street, where
happy crowds jostled on the narrow
sidewalks with smiles and cheerful sal
utasioLs. and shame and woe fought
for mastery in his heart. His mind
again and again rehearSed the scene
that had taken place at his home before
he had come down for the nights work.
81 asked her not TO 20. That should
have been enough. How could / explain
IN her the hints and insinuatiOns l had
heard? Or define 70 her the sort or a
nan l knew Carew 10 be? He never
plays the Squire TO 3 pretty woman
without q dastardly object. She be-
lieves IN nim-mCre han she believes
in me. Considers him a proper escort
because there is q distant ~cousinshlp;
or she affects TO. How far has 1t gone?
how far has II gomez"
he arose 20 answer 3 whistle for
'copy," stufing q bundle Of sheets into
little whole IN the wall, and jerking
a cord that sent them spinning up 20
the composing room in the top story.
He turned back TO his desk, and tried
10 busy himself with the papers there,
but his gaze travelled again and again
to the brightly lighted street, and bis
all wandered.
fool 10 have married her.
She, young and pretty, fond OF society,
Of music; I, getting old and gray, de-
testing these things, caring only for
home and her, and yOked to this jugger-
paut that brushes those who draw 1t
As well as these who are dragged under
it. haven't any time for idllng, and
believe I've forgotten how. She taxed
me with 1t tonight, and said Carew was
bright aud agreeable, and she enjoyed
his society. Talked OF the matter with
perfect Indifference, her needles click
ing in the most exasperatlDg way while
she worked steadily on at some nuuy
pink thing, one OF those bewitching
scarf-like hoods, I'll be bound, that
pretty women like to wrap round their
heads when they go out at night, Tor
fellows like Carew TO admire. And she
said IL was cruel FOR me 10 misjudge her
and to try to spoil her pleasure.
''She is of with him by this time.
It's to be a swell affair. jenkins, whom
we've sent over there, is q thorough
man; he'll have the name aud costume
Of evary pretty woman there, and he's
not likely 10 miss her. 1 shall have the
pleasure Of editing his copy, and Of
learning how she looked and dressed"
The door OF the local-roOm opened.
A young special reporter, who had been
hanging around for a month 70 C a
detail. walked briskly In and seated
himself At q desk, with a look 10 Bran
der's direction that invited attention 70
his dispatch In ~discharging his mission.
Brander scOwled cordially 81 him. He
did not approve OF a fellow who took
only half an hour TO execute = commis-
sion that would have justified half the
evening. There was a jingle OF the
telephone bell in the ante-room, and a
mans voice asserting 10 some message
whispered over the wires. Then Simp-
son, the emergency man, strobe through
the local-rOom, and flung open the door
Of the glass office.
my soul, Brander! the most horrible
Accldent"-
aAh, is it pOssiblel What is it, Mr..
uDsOm?"
srander always resented familiarity.
emergency man accepted the re-
and changed his style OF address,
sarcastic emphasis upon the
IS he again addressed his
your pardon, Mr.. Biander,
bck train from the western
las run OF the line. What's
Imsttel, Brander9 Are you sick?"
Brander's face was CHASTITY. 1t was
the train his wife and Carew were TO
have taken, but he met the others in
ouiry with icy resentment.
.sYou are deViatiDg from your text.
Mr.. Simpson. What else have you
~learned?"