The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-05-31
SHE COULDN'T KEEP STILL.

SHE COULDN'T KEEP STILL
ARepo-ter's Narrowing Experience with
the New Typewriter Girl
For reporter with but little to write
and plenty of time in which to write it
there is nothing more pleasant than to
dictate narrative to a cheerful typewriter,
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 a limited
amount of time to finish it things some
times have different aspect.
Near Printing House square is type
writing Office which many newspaper 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 a newspaper man came
bustling in, and
Mrs J., have you got anybody to take
a two column story in hurrys
Yes, replied the manager Here 1s
q young lady who has just come to US.
Miss Brown-Mr. Smith You can go in
to 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 IF
stern reality and suffering and struggle
for existence a romantic episode comes
upon one with the refreshing delight with
which a traveller in desert beholds an
oasis.
Clickety -clickety- went the keys,
and then
Isn't that lovely? Is it going to be
novel?''
The newspaper man looked up in amaze
ment, but it was utterly impossible to he
angry with such blue eyes regarding him
in admiration.
no" he said. ''Please go 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
to have been created by great novelist
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, smi1-
ing most radiantly, prattled on in this
fashion:
That's just splendid. It sounds like
a real novel. Did you ever read Clarissa;
or, the Forlorn Hope?' 1t begins some
ing. Do you know, 1 never took dictation
like that before. The last place I worked
in l had nothing to do but copy letters.
Oh, dear, wasn't it tircsome, 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 hurry What have you got
there?''
''Where?" in great surprise.
Il mean please read over what I have
dictated
''Oh, how stupid 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; I think my hair is coming
down.
She went to a little mirror in a corner
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, I'm all ready"
For the next few minutes she had to
work SO hard that she hadn't time to say
a single word But soon the page was
filled, and she had to insert a new sheet,
and that was her opportunity
Gracious, how fast you dictated 1t al
most takes my breath away; but, do you
know, like it. 1 think it's good prac-
tice. Were you there when all that hap
pened? My, L wish could be reporterl''
The newspaper man went on with his
dictation. He was fast growing hopping
mad, but he hadn't the heart to say
harsh word to the girl. She was really
very pretty, and as she became interested
in the story delicate flush mantled her
cheeks, and it was pleasure to watch her.
But a newspaper man has no time for
pleasure during business hours, and these
charms did not interest him as much as
they might have done under other circum-
stances. But he struggled bravely on.
"Oh,' she suddenly exclaimed, stopping
In the middle of a sentence, did that
really happen?"
Yes, yesl Win you please go on?''
well, the ideal I wouldn't have be-
lieved it. Do you know, don't believe
half what I read in the papers. But, of
course, if you say so, it must be true -
I'm sorry / can't chat with you, Miss
Brown, but really I'm in a great hurry
'Oh, beg your pardonl forgot all
about that
For nearly 10 minutes there was not a
break in the dictation save where sheet
became full and fresh one had to be in
serted. The typewriter kept her lips firm
ly 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 a paragraph she
suddenly stopped and with a brief Esx-
cuse me for a moment" left the room. In
a few seconds she returned, with her jaws
moving convulsively and piece of chew
ing gum in her hand
Won't you have some?'' she asked POI
1itely.
'N-n-no-and-I'H tell you what-er-I
guess won't have time to finish this
story today III come back some other