The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-10-17
SHE RATIFIED HIM.

lauc a uaEIdlltC 70 a CutEELul LIU6NLlIGEs
particularly if she be young and have
nice soft hair to distract the eye and well
formed white fingers and be withal ex-
ceedingly pleasing, but for reporter with
a long yarn to write and limited amount
of time to finish it things sometimes have
q different aspect
Near Printing House square is q type
writing Office which many newspa men
frequent. A new girl came there one day
last week-a real nice girl and an excel
lent operator-but she had never done that
kind of work before. While she was sit
ting in the main room upon the afternoon
Of her first day newspaper man came
bustling in, and
Mrs J., have you got anybody to take
a two column story in hurry7''
Eyes, = replied the manager Here is
a young lady who has just come to us
into that corner ROOM.
In three minutes the young lady was
seated at her machine, the newspaper man
was sorting out his notes, and the door
was closed SO as to leave them undisturbed.
Now, If you will please begin,' the
newspaper man said. In these days Of
stern reality and suffering and struggle
for existence a romantic episode comes
upon one with the refreshing delight with
which q traveller in a desert beholds an
oasis. "
Clickety -clickety- click went the keys,
and then
Isn't that lovely Is it going to be a
novel?''
The newspaper man looked up in amaze
ment, but it was utterly impossible to be
angry with such blue eyes regarding him
in admiration.
"No, he said. ssPlease 90 on. In the
monotonous routine of Tombs police court
cases, however, there was one yesterday
behind which lay story so romantic and
so picturesque that it would almost seem
70 hoo tod let
who had striven to excel all his past eff
forts.'''
When this had been recorded, and while
the newspaper man was wondering what
he would say next the young lady. smil-
ing most radiantly. prattled in this
fashion:
That's just splendid. 1t sounds like a
real novel. Did you ever read 'C1arissa;
or, The Forlorn Hopes' It begins some
thing like that, only it isn't SO interest
ing. Do you know, never took dictation
like that before The last place worked
in had nothing to do bat copy letters
Oh, dear, WASH it tiresome, thought
The newspaper man felt his collar get
ting too small, but after swallowing some
thing that seemed to stick in his throat he
said as gently as possible:
won't you please go on? I'm in some
what of a hurry. What have you got
there?''
''wheres' in great surprise.
II means please read over what have
dictated =
'sOh. how stupid I ami In these days
of stern reality'=how do you pronounce
that word-in two syllables or three?
Thank you-'stern reality and suffer
ing -
And she read what she had written.
Then, just as the newspaper man had set
tied back in his chair, determined to die
tate to the end without giving her another
opportunity to interrupt him, she said:
Excuse me, think my hair is coming
down.
of the room, examined her hair carefully,
and then, after touching up the puffs Of
her sleeves and smoothing her waist, she
sighed and returned to her seat.
There, now, IN all ready"
For the next few minutes she had to
work so hard that she hadn't time TO say
single word. But soon the page was
filled, and she had to insert a new sheet,
and that was her opportunity
Graciousl How fast you dictated 1t
almost takes my breath away. But do
you know I like it. I think it's good
practice We're you there when all that
happenedS Myl 1 wish 1 could be re-
porter.
The newspaper man went on with his
dictation. He was fast growing hopping
mad. but he hadn't the heart to say a
harsh word to the girl She was really
very pretty, and as she became interested
in the story a delicate flush mantled her
cheeks, and it was positive pleasure to
watch her, but newspaper man has no
time for pleasure during business hours,
and these charms did not interest him
much as they might have done under other
circumstances, but he struggled bravely
on.
oh. she suddenly exclaimed, stop
ping in the middle Of a sentence, did that
really happen2'
NJ Yes, yesi VIII you please 20 on?''
'Well, the ideal I wouldn't have be-
heved it. Do you know, I don't believe
half what read in the papers, but OF
course If you say so it must be true -
I'm very sorry can't chat with you,
Miss Brown, but really I'm in a great
hurry
"Oh, beg your pardoni I forgot all
about that. -
For nearly ten minutes there was not q
break in the dictation, save where a sheet
became full and fresh one had to be in
serted. The typewriter kept her lips firmly
pressed together, as if she were exerting
all her strength to keep silent 1t was
clear to see that it could not last much
longer. IN the middle Of paragraph she
suddenly stopped, and with a brief 'Ex-
cuse me for moment left the room. In
a few seconds she returned, with her jaws
moving convuIsively and piece Of chew
ing gum In her hand
Won't you have some2" she asked pc-
litely
'N-n-no-and-I'1 tell you what-er-
guess I won { have time to finish this
story today I'll come back some other
time -
"Oh, you're not going, are your I'm
awfully sorry. / was just getting inter
ested n the story
Very sorry-er-how much3 Here
All right. Good dayl'
And seizing the few sheets that lay on
he AL ha