Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-10-29
SHE RATIFIED HIM.

Inerc Is mounting IUOTe pletSaHt Iudu W WV
tate narrative to 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-
ccedingly pleasing, but for reporter with
a long yarn to write and limited amount
OF time 10 finish it things sometimes 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 newspaper man came
busting in, and
Mrs. J., have you got anybody to take
two column story in hurry5'
Eyes" replied the manager. Here Is
a young lady who has just come to US.
Miss Brown-Mr. Smith. You can go
into that corner ROOM"
In three minutes tho 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 IL traveller in a desert bcholds an
oasis. >"
Clickcty -clckety click went the keys,
and thon-
Isn't that lovely! Is it going to be
novcl?'
The newspaper man looked up in amaze
mcnt but it was utterly impossible to be
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 orc yesterday
behind which lay story so romantic and
SO picturesque that 1t would almost seem
to have been created by n great novelist
who had striyen 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, prattlod on in this
fashion:
That's just splendid. 1t sounds like
real novel Did you ever read 'Clarissa;
or, The Forlorn Hopc?' 1t begins some
thing Hike that, only it isn't SO interest
like that before. The last place l worked
In had nothing to do but copy letters.
Oh, dear, wasn't it tircsomc, 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 Us gently as possible:
won't you please go on? I'm in some
what of n hurry. What have you go;
there"
"Whcrc?" in great surprise.
u mean, please read over what l have
dictated,
"Oh, how stupid 1 am! In these days
of stern rcalty'-how do you pronounce
that word-in two syllables or three
Thank you-'stcrn 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
tatc to the end without giving her another
opportunity To interrupt him, she said:
Excuse me, think my hair is coming
down"
Shc went to little mirror in a corner
of the room, examined her hair carefully,
and then, after touching up the putfs Of
her sleeves and smoothing her waist, she
sighed and returned to her seat.
There, now, I'm all ready"
For the noxt few minutes she had t,
work so hard that she hadn't time to say
u single word. But soon the page wa
filled, and she had to insert q new sheet,
and that was her opportunity.
"Gracousl How fast you dictated Il
almost takes my breath away. But Dc
you know | like it. l think it's goot
practice Were you there when all that
happened2 Myl l wish could be re
porter"
Tho newspaper man won't on with hi
dctation. He was fast growing hopping
mad. but no hadn't the heart to say q
harsh word to the girl. She was really
very pretty, and ms she became interested
IN the story n delicate flush mantlcd her
checks, and It was q positive pleasure t.
watch her but n newspaper man has mt
timc for pleasure during business hours
and these charms did not interest him a;
much rs they might have done under othei
circumstances, but he struggled bravel!
on.
Oh" she suddenly exclaimed, stop
ping In the middle of sentence, did that
really happen?"
Yes, yes, Will you please go onf"
"Wcll, tho ideal Iwouldn't have be
licvcd it. DO you know, don't believe
half what l read in tho papers, but OF
course IL you say so it must I've true. "
I'm very sorry can't chat with you,
Miss Brown, but really 1'm in n great
hurry"
"Oh, I beg your pardon' forgot all
about that
For nearly ten minutes there was not a
break in the diCtation. save where n sheet
became fun and u fresh one had to be in
serted. The typewriter kept her lips firmly
pressed together, as II she were cxerting
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 Eek
cusc me for "A moment" left the room. In
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 po-
litely.
IN n-no-and-Tn tell you whut-cr-
I guess | won t have timc to finish this
story today. III come back some other
time"
"Oh. you're not going, are you? I'm
awfully sorry. l was just getting inter
Csted in the story"