Daily Kennebec journal., 1894-12-03
NEW WATTHEBUSI
SHE WAS A VERY NICE BUT A VERY
FRESH TYPEWRITER GIRL
She Was So Interested In the Reporters
Story That She Wanted to Stop Quite
Often and Talk About It-Had to Fix


Her Hair and Get Her Chewing Gum.
For a rerorter with but little to write
and plenAy of time in which to write it
there is nothing more pleasant than to
dictate a narrative to cheerful type
writer, particularly If she be young and
have nice soft hair to distract the eye and
well formed, white fingers and be, ex-
ccedingly pleasing. But for reporter
with long yarn to write and limited
amount Of time to finish 1T things some
times have different aspect.
Near the newspaper cfiice is typewrit-
ing office which many men frequent. A
new girl came there one day last week-a
real nice girl and an excellent operator
but she had never done that kind OF work
before While she was sitting in the main
room upon the afternoon OF her first day q
newspaper man came bustling in, and
Mrs. j., have you got anybody to take
a two column story In hurry?"
YES" replied the manager. Here is
young lady who has just come to us. Miss
Brown, Mr.. Smith. You can go 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 undis-
turbcd.
Now, II you will, please begin" the
newspaper man said. I'm these days OF
stern reality and suffering and struggle
for existence a romantic episode comes
upon one with tho refreshing delight with
which traveller in desert beholds an
oasis.
Clickety, clickety, click went the keys,
and then:
Isn't that lovelyp 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" no said. "Please go on. In the
monotonous routine Of police court cases,
however, there was one yesterday behind
which lay n story SO romantic and so pic
turesque that it would almost seem to
have been created by great novelist who
had striven to exceed all his past efforts"
When this had been recorded, and while
the newspaper man was wondering what
he would say next, tho young lady, smil-
ing most radiantly, prattled on in this
fashion:
That's just splendid. 1t sounds like
real novel Did you ever read 'Clarissa;
or, The Forlorn Hope?' 1t begins some
thing like that only it ism t so interesting
DO you know never took dctation like
that before? The last place worked in
had nothing to do but copy letters. Oh,
dear, wasn't 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 n hurry. What have you got
there:"
"Where?" in great surprise.
II mean please read over what I have
dictated"
"Oh, how stupid ami In these days
of stern realty'-how do you pronounce
that word, in two syllabes 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"
She went to n little mirror in corner
of tho 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
single word. But soon the page was
filled, and she had to insert II new sheet,
and that was her opportunity.
"Gracious' How fast you dictate! 1t
almost takes my breath away. But do
you know, l like it. 1 think it's good
practice Were you there when all that
happenodf My! wish could be a re-
porter.
The newspaper man went on with his
dictation. lie was fast growing hopping
mad but he hadn't the heart to say
harsh word to the girl. She was really
very pretty and rs she became interested
in tho story n delicate flush mantled her
checks, and it was n positive pleasure to
watch her But u newspaper man has no
time for pleasure during business hours,
and these charr,s did not interest him rs
much as they might have done under 9TH
or circumstances. But he struggled brave
Iy on.
"Ohr' she suddenly exclaimed, stop
ping in the middle of sentence. Did
that really happenF
'Yes, yes Will you please go onf"
"Well, the ideal wouldn't have be-
lieved it. Do you know, don't believe
half what l 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 pardon. I forgot all
about that
For nearly ten minutes there was not q
break in tho dictation save where n sheet
became full and q fresh one had to be in
serted. The typewriter kept her lips firm
ly pressed together, as II she were exert
ing 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 brief "Ex-
cuse me for 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 somes" she asked po-
litely.
.no-and-I'n tell you what-er-
] guess won't have time to finish this
story today. I'll come back some other