The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1894-06-03
SHE COULDN'T KEEP STILL.
A Reporters Narrowing Experience WI
tho New Typewriter Girl


dictate narrative to q cheerful typewriter,
particularly If she DO young and have nice
soft hair to distract tho eye, and we'll
formed white fingers, and DO withal OK
cccdingly pleasing. But for reporter
with long yarn to writo and q limited
amount of time to finish it things some
times have different aspect
Near Printing House square Is q type
writing oflico which many newspaper men
frequent. A now girl caino thoro one day
last wcok-a real nice girl and All excel
Iont operator-but she had never dono that
Kind OF work before. While sho was sit
Ting In tho main room upon tho afternoon
OF her first day newspaper man came
bustling In, and
Mrs. j., have you got anybody to take
two column story in n hurry2''
Yes, replied tho manager. Hero is
q young lady who has just como to u.s.
Miss Brown-Mr. Smith. You can 90 in
to that corner room.''
In thrco minutes the young lady was
seated ut her machine, tho newspaper man
was sorting out his notes, and the door
was closed SO rs to leave them undisturbed
Nov, If you will please begin" tho
newspaper man said I'm these DAYS of
storm reality and suffering and struggle
for existence romantic episode comes
upon ono with tho refreshing delight with
which traveller in dcsort boholds an
oasis'"
Clickety-ollckcty- click went tho keys,
Isn't that lovoly' Is it going to DO q
noyeli''
Tho newspaper man looked up In amaze
mcnt, but 1t was utterly impossible to be
angry with such blue eyes regarding him
in admiration.
NO" he said. please go on. In tho
monotonous routine Of Tombs police court
cases, however, thero was one yesterday
behind which lay story so romantic and
so picturesque that it would almost seem
to have been created by q great novelist
who had strivcn to excel oil his past ef-
forts'"
When this had been recorded, and whilo
tho newspaper man was wondering what
he would say next, the young lady, smil-
ing most ratiantly, prattlcd on in this
fashion:
That's just splendid. 1t sounds like
real novel. Did you over read 'Clariss.r
or, the Forlorn Hopo2' 1t begins some
thing like that, only it isn't so interest
ing. Do you know, l never took dictation
like that before. Tho last place worked
In had nothing to do but copy letters
Oh, dear, wasn't 1t tircsome, thought
Tho 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 us possible:
Won't you please go on7 Pm in some
what of q hurry. What have you got
thcre?"
"Whcrcf" in great surprise.
Il mean please read over what I have
dictated"
"Oh, how stupid ami In these days
of stern rcality'-how do you pronounce
that word, in two syllables or three?
Thank you-'stern reality and suffer
ing -
And she read what sho had written.
Then, just as tho 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.
She went to little mirror In q corner
OF tho room, examined her hair carefully,
and then, after touching up tho puffs of
her sleeves and smoothing her waist, she
sighed and returned to her seat
There, now, I'm oil ready"
For tho next few minutes she had to
work SO hard that she hadn't timo to say
single word. But soon tho page was
filled, and sho had to insert o new shoot,
and that was her opportunity.
Gracious, how fast you dictated It al
most takes my breath away but, do you
know, like it. I think it's good prac
tlce Wcro you there when all that hap
pcned? My, wish could be a rcporter'
The newspaper man went on with his
dictation. He was fast growing hopping
mad, but no hadn't tho heart to say q
harsh word to tho girl. She was really
very pretty, and rs she became interested
In tho story IL delicate flush mantlcd her
checks, and it was aplcasuro to watch her
But newspaper man has no time for
pleasure during business hours, and these.
charms did not interest him rs much as
thcy might have done under other circum-
stances. But he struggled bravcly on.
"Oh, y sho suddenly exclaimed, stopping
In tho middle of sentence, did that
really happcn!"
Yes, yesl VIII you please go onP"
well, the idea! I wouldn't have be-
lievcd it, ID you know, don't believe
half what l read in the papers. But, of
course, If you say SO, it must bo true. -
I'm sorry can't chat with you, Miss
Brown, but really I'm in great hurry"
oh, beg your pardonl forgot all
about that"
For nearly 10 minutes there was not n
break i'll the dictation save where a sheet
became full and II fresh ono had to be in
serted The typewriter kept her lips firm
ly pressed together, as if she were excrting
all her strength to keep silent 1t was
clear to see that it could not last much
longer. In the middle of u paragraph she
suddenly stopped, and with u brief ..Ex-
cuse mo for moment left the room. In
few seconds she returned, with her Jaws
moving convulsvely and q pieco of chew
ing gum in her hand.
Won't you have some?" she asked DO
litely.
'N-n-no-and-I'll tell YOU What-or-I