The Washington times., 1895-03-10
p Newspaper
Mans Romance.
AN IDYLL OF NEWSPAPER ROW.
Copyright, 1895, by Bacheller, Johnson
& Bacheller.l

Copyright, 1895, by Bacheller, Johnson
& Bacheller.)
From his desk in the city department OF
the Daily Sewer, Henry Spacerayte could
look across the room and through an open
door into the smaller apartment where
the golden head OF Winnie Vitriol was
bent over her work. And as the young re-
porter gaZed upon the thick mass of curly
hair that was heaped up above the features
that he knew 80 well, great lump came
into his throat and he said To himself,
''Alas! fear that 1t is a measureless gulf
which yawns between us!'
Henry Spacerayte was not literary man,
nor q journalist, nor a writer of specials
butsimply reporter of the hecommonorgarden
kind, frequently encountered on Park Row
For some time he had tenderly loved the
woman to whom he had not yet dared to
speak because her position in life was so far
superior to his own. Winnie VitrioI, the
object of his affections, was the gifted
young woman who supplied the regular
Sunday sensation for the Sewer, and no
one in the great office, from the chain
lightning managing editor down to the
obscure scholar who reviewed the books.
dared to say her nay although it was gen.
orally believed that she would not hesitate
to utter that monosyllable were any mem
ber of the city staff to propose marriage
to her.
Well did Henry Spacerayte know that
know Winnie Vitriol was one OF the
most important members OF the Sewers
staff, and he fully realized that no one who
ranked beneath city editor or dramatic
critic need hope to win her hand. II was
she who had devised and succ cessfully car
ried out most of the splendid fakes by
which the paper which she served had come
into prominence. II was she who had gore
into the dressing room at the Patriarchs
ball, disguised as an intoxicated leader
fashion and thus learned, for publication
on the following Sunday, the darkest and
most awful secrets of the Four Hundred
II was She who had once induced promi-
nent and highly respected church going
citizen 10 meet her on one of the most
romantic corners OF Sixth avenue, to open
three or bottles OF wine eforheTcntcrta inment,
and under the influence OF has share of the
drink TO give himself away in manner
that sent the circulation of the Sewer up to
such point that the affidavit swearer,
caught in the rising tide, unwittingly told
tilS tiHlH IOI Nlic 1lISb engage
ment on the paper. 1t was che who rode into
Bensonhurst on the first trolley car that
penetrated to that portion OF Long Island,
and now, as She sat in herl4ttle office with
her golden head resting on her hand, Henry
Spacerayte wondered what new fake she
was preparing to spring upon a long -suf-
fering and credulous publici
How ghall /, poor Sewer report er, win
the hand of woman whose superb mental
endowments are the envy of the profession
which she adorns?'' he nIuttered to himself
with a sinking heart. And Just then a
great idea took possession of his brain.
and he exclaimed as he rose from his desk,
with sudden energy: ''I, too, VIII prove
that have talents as a faklr, and then she
viii believe in mel
Crossing the room with a firm, elastic
step, Henry Spacerayte- took the file
OF the Sewer from its hook, opened it at
the page which contained the personal
advertisements and ran his cold. glitter
ing, gray eye down the column. One of
them must have enchained his fancy, for
he cut it ont and slipped it into his vest
pocket II read as follows:
"A pretty and modest young lady of
eighteen who is stranger in the city desires
the acquaintance ofa gentlemannoty younger
than seventy who Will take the place Of a
father to her. Address Birdie, Sewer
Office"
That evening Henry spacerayte pTepar-
ed and mailed to Birdie letter in which he
described himself in cramped, uncertain
hand as a gentleman of seventy-one who
found himself unable TO spend his iname as
fast as it accumulated and was anxious to
find some young grit who would take the
place formerly pied by a favorite daugh-
ter, who had married into the English no.
bility. He was thoughtful enough to add
that IN spite of his advanced years he was
fond of going to the theater and was in the
habit Of drinking champagne with every
meal, breakfast Included
''There!" exclaimed the young reporter
as he slipped photograph OF the late Peter
Cooper into the envelope, Il think that is al
Turing enough to catch anyone"
TWO days later he received an answer to
his note written on scented paper in a fine,
angular hand, and inviting him to meet the
timid and trustful Birdie at the Eden Musee
and to wear pansy in his huttonhole thathe
might be recognized. As he read the letter
triumphant smile crept over his face and
he exclaimed: Now my opportunity has
come. | will find out who Birdie
is, lead her on to speak freely of herself and
write her up in next Sundays Sewer. Then
Winnie Vitriol will be mine"
The following afternoon Henry Space
rayte, dressed in his lest suit of clothes
and wearing in the lapel of his coat only
a pansy blossom. entered the Musee and
descended into the gloomy and dimly lighted
basement
He had not waited long before the yelled
figure OF woman approached him with
noiseless tread, and as she drew near him
he saw that she Wore bunch of pansies
in her belt. Lifting his hat, the handsome
young reporter stepped forward, and, bow
ing low, with his hand on his heart, muir
INJURED, ''Ah, therel"
Stay theTe!' And the veil was swept
aside by small gloved hand, and Henry
Spacerayte looked for one instant upon a
fair face crowned with a wealth of golden
curls, and then sank to the floor, crying,
Winnie Vitriol! l never knew that she was
on that layi
And who are you, sir?'' demanded the
brilliant young sensation-monger haughtily.
''Alas!' he replied, in sorrowful accents,
Il am only poor Sewer reporter-a mere
toy, subject to the fitful caprice of the city
editor-but | have long worshiped you
from afar off. l thought you all that was
good and pure and true, and l never
dreamt that you were the birdie who has
been advertising for an elderly guardian
ever since Cadmus invented letters But
your secret is safe. / will carry it with me
to the grave, and the world will never know
that which has been revealed to me this
afternoon"
Winnie vitriol was visibly touched by the
affection. the sincerity, and the anguish of
the young reporter who had cherished such
deep, unspoken love for her. Hastily
brushing away tear, she laid her hand
upon his coat sleeve and said: My poor
boy. l am not the Birdie you have refer
ence to. This is only my new fake for next
Sundays paper. have had interviews
with eleven elderly gentlemen already, and
only wanted you because you would make
up the even dozen. When you see next Sun
days issue, with the snapshot pictures of
my other correspondents, you viii give
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