Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1894-01-23
AMBITIOUS TO stcost A JOURNAL

II wish TO see the editor, please"
"ror any special rea.ony"
"Ne-yr.."
"rhen kindly state your business on
thi. card"
4 .lip of paper and pencil were
thrust out under the brs.. grating, and
IN. stern Individual watched her narrow
IL. while, for the tenth time that dsy.
.hc wrote, In bald. clear. graceful
hand, thst, "Mi. Ellubeth singleton
would lik. to see the editor concerning
contribution. for the Daily Meteor" A
boy ~s. ordered to bring back = rrpiy
to thl. modest request, and the stern in.
dl,idual politely desired her To step
ssiie aud await the answer.
The editor Was In, at comparative
leisure. aud would .ec her; 80 In the
ask. of the small hoy betty ws. ~hisk.
ed up aud up In the elevator, led down
long row. 10 desks where .st busy scrih-
blcr.. past an open door whence Issued
the grosn snd shrek 81 the printing
presses, aud so Into the editors pr---
ence. lie .~~med youngish man,
very broad ~ shoulders, on which was
set fine head nos bent over heap of
p,psr.. ~ the boy made the slight
introduction of mentioning her name he
shlrl.d shout In his revolving chair,
ci-ar-d of papers = second chair st h's
right, and offered II without rising ar
giving q more elaborate recognition of
her pr,seucc than q curt nod.
"lou ~ishei Ia see me concerning
contributions, he said. coming st once
to the point. aud scanning her face With
q pair of wonderfully shrewd, keen,
bright blue eyes.
"le.. T." For = moment his alert
glsnce. his quick, business-likc manner,
snno,ei aud di.concerted her. Mi.s
Singleton was accustomed to greater
cons nsldersiion aud ci,ilits from men than
this, and from her brown eyes faded all
the eager hopefulness, While . stern lit
tie line drew In th. corners of her fresh,
Young mouth. IL am anxious to secure
newspaper employment" she went ou
II eau write. aud wish To know " you
will give me any work Ia do"
"ln short YOU wish to become q re-
potter" be broke In abruptly.
III possible; aud at hrst ! will begin
on the smallest salary"
1--WE dont pay .slarie. to beginners
In thl. Office"
She gave little start of surprise, and
the disappointment In her face was un-
mlstskabie; but she msnsged to ask,
quietly;
"rhen on what terms do you accept
contrlbutionss"
lie snapped her card, that he had been
holding csrele.siy, into his waste-psper
basket, leaned hack In his chair. aud =
slight smile twitched the corners of hls
strong mouth. unshsded by any heard.
~ am afraid. Miss singleton. YOU do
not understand very much of TIL. pro-
fe.sion YOU wish Ia enter. ehy''
She shook her head slightly, but add
ed. eagerly, II can learn"
"Ah, yes, perhaps; but u you will
pardon me, let me advise you not to try.
Journalism IL n difficult and dangerous
profession. Only the expert and pro-
ficlent are paid good salaries; a space
worker. such ss YOU must be, can scarce
ly earn enough for y bsre living. Then,
for woman, the difficulties are innu.
merahle."
Had BETTY been st home tears would
have relieved all the pent-up feelings
within her; before the eve. of this man
she only sst q little straighter, summon
ed all her fortitude, and managed TO say,
.erenely:
"You are very kind, but I am prepar-
ed for all YOU say. and quite decided To
write. Indeed, ! must; and u YOU can
give me spsce-work . will try Ia push
NV way up, eventually, To salary. But
how am Ia begin,'
III you choose you can come 10 me nj
ten o'clock tomorrow morning and ]
will give you an assignment; that you
can flll out, and so IL will he until the
end Of the week. when the amount Of
work you have done will he measured
sni YOU will he paid so much per col
umn. May I ask to what publications
YOU have contributedy'
"I-er,"-she blushed a llttie,-''io
none; hut I know that can write. al
though my work has never appeared In
print"
Exactly" The vague smile sg In
appeared. II trust you will not hnd
repairing too difficult.
u au ubt hITutu, tur ausNVftus
lightly. IL think I can work, and there
I. nothing worth while that you will not
fiLl me willing to do"
She rose at once: bat he did not, only
bowed grsvely when she turned aud
walked With \ light, quick step down
the long room.
She had scar'ely passed out nj slght
when johnson. the sporting editor, his
hands full of proofs. louneet ny.
"And Who was your fair visitor, Giis'
woldy' be- inquired laxily.
~ this Griswold made . grimAce In
dlcxtive Of resigned despair.
".Ah, another ~ said johnson, laugh
Ing. "well, what viii you do With
herr
'Oh, give her \ difficult assignment
and slash her COPY. One weeks work
will cure her Of her fancy" replied the
young editor, grizzly, ~ he turned back
to hls pa pers aud presently forgot the
whole incldent."-1Dsnorestt xaSasins