Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1893-09-04
CONCEIT.

ance and his handsome face the picture Of
real or imaginary disgust. "Confound the
typewriters, and yet one cannot get along
without them"
you are too gracious to your typewrit-
ers. You should never pay them any little
attentions, but wisely look upon them as a
part of the machine. That is your only
hope of escaping the terrible fate of being
admired. know girl you should have,
Will She is regular iceberg By the
way, she is out of position now, because
her employer spent too much of his time
making love to her. If you would follow
my advice | think you and Miss Leslie
could get along together admirably"
'The very thing! | will follow any ad-
vice, frank, except to marry, although |
had not realized that was more than po-
lite and gentlemanly," Will replied eagerly.
Send Miss Leslie to the office, and will be
very reserved and dignifled.'
"All right, Will; you may look for her in
the morning." was Franks reply, and they
changed the subject.
just dainty little lady in soft, clingng
black complexion clear, lips red and per
fectly outlined, hair curling about a low,
broad brow, and eyes large, brown and ex-
pressive, and yet the sight OF her in his Of
flee the following morning gave Wills
heart pleasurable thrill.
II am Fanny Leslie, Mr.. Blakely," she
said in calm, even tones. mr.. Graham in
formed me that you wished to employ me
to do your writing. Shall begin at once?"
The young lawyer caught his breath in
amazement at her businesslike manner.
Usually in engaging a typewriter he had
INDUCED in pleasant little conversation
getting acquainted, as he termed it-but
this was decidedly different. He scarcely
knew whether he Liked the change Or not.
Certainly, Miss Leslie, you may try the
machine. think you will find it in order"
he stammered in an embarrassed way
quite foreign to his customary debonair
manner. Not one question did Fanny Les
lie ask during the entire day. There was
only an occasional graceful bowling of her
head in acknowledgment of some sugges-
ton or remark, and not once did Will re-
ceive glance from her dark brown eyes.
1t was simply remarkable that any girl
could be so Indifferent, he thought and he
put aside his friends good advice and real
ly exerted himself to be agreeable to his re-
served typewriter but with no satisfactory
result The days heightened into weeks,
and he had not conversed five minutes with
the young lady upon any subject. He had
not caught one CLEAN of interest from her
downcast eyes or surprised a shadow of a
smile on her resolute lips. Her work was
perfect in composition and correct in writ
ing, but Will almost wished he could find
something Objectionable that he might
break up her calm, cold exterior with re-
buke. Then he began to picture what she
would be like if she would only smile or
blush, how her brown eyes might sparkle
and glow with lovelight, and her soft, white
hand thrill one with its pressure, and then
her red lips-surely they were made for
kissing. These thoughts were very detri-
mental to his law business and certainly
not recommended by Blackstone, butsome
how he could not drive them from his
mind.
He began to think he was not such o
wonderfully attractive young man after
all-in fact, lie could see no end of inner
fections in himself that he had not dreamed
he possessed, and even the reflection from
his mirror showed him that his nose was
crooked and his mouth too large for any
thing like beauty Really he could not
comprehend how any one could think him
but then, i'll comparison with Miss Leslie,
all other girls appeared weak and foolish,
and their preference was anything but
gratifying-it had almost become humil
iating to him. The lecture tickets that no
laid upon her table were returned to him
with curt little ''Thank you, no" and
even the fragrant flowers were simply per
mitted to remain like any other part of the
furniture of the office.
The fact was indisputable that the irwin.
chile Will Blakely was in love. Even the
office boy smiled knowingly when his eyes
rested upon the flowers, and he noted that
his employer was wearing them in the but
tonhole of his coat, but the object of his
alteration was freezingly indifferent to all
attentions.
Miss Leslie read this note, and you may
answer the gentleman as you think best.
would only suggest that you consider how
much depends on the reply"
Then abruptly he left the room, and as
the door closed Fanny Lesles face grew
rosy with bushes, a tender light flooded
her eyes, and joyful culver came to her
lips as, with bashful smile, she read these
words:
MYDEAR Miss LEs1IE-You know that love
you, but you will not afford me an opportunity
to say so, and am forced to make a reply to
my proposal u part of your morning duties
WIN you DC my "'ie' Lovingly, anSlously,
"''' nL"NhLf'
The silence was broken by the click, click
of the machine; then after moment the
paper was removed and folded, and her re-
ply was ready.
Slowly Will retu 30 the room, for he