The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1896-01-09
"JUNITA."


LADY to see you, sir"
"By appointments"
mo, sir; but very important, she
says"
Very sorry. Too busy-ask her to
write
Frank Hayler bounced away from
the telephone and flung himself in his
chair, muttering maledictions on the
heads of all ladies or otherwise who
would insist upon calling or worrying
the life out of a busy editor, on what
they were pleased to term important
business.
That was the third time during the
morning that he had been rung up on
some utterly frivilous preteXt, and he
was angry. But his anger was intensi-
fed as the telephone bell began to ring
again. He threw down his pen in de-
spair, and rushed to the instrument,
shouting at the top of his voice:
What is it,"
Every sorry, sir; lady won't go away.
Says she must see you. Shes waiting"
Let her wait" was Franks angry re-
joinder. NO" he added, almost imme-
diately. "Show her up"
lie sighed to himself with a resigned
air, and as he walked toward his writ
ing table he could not help thinking
what fool he was to allow an impor-
tunate woman to interfere with his
mornings work.
And his work that morning was par
ticularly heavy. He was the editor of
the Chatterter, paper that had not yet
taken hold of the public fancy. He was
convinced that it would do so eventual
ly-that is, if his funds lasted long
enough. Meanwhile, he was doing his
best to turn out some attractive arti-
Giles, and here was this woman
\ timid knock at the door notified
him that this woman was close at
hand.
''Come in," he said. in what he prided
himself to be his best editorial voice,
although he really felt very angry.
The door opened, and when he looked
at the intruder he muttered to him
self:
otll y-OI SuuSClIpllOn llSG.
The lady who had thus braved the
lion in his den, as it were, was neither
young nor pretty. She was rather tall,
though STOPPING somewhat, and very
dowdylooking. Little cork-screw curls
were hanging on each side of her face,
(which was almost completely hidden
10y thick veil.
pardon me for intruding in this
manner" she said, in a peculiarly fall
setto voice, but | felt that | must call
upon you in person, and am extremely
obliged to you for seeing me. hope l
do not interrupt you in your work?''
Not at ALL" said Frank, airily. 81
have one or two things waiting to be
done, but they are of no consequence.
Won't you take chair?"
THANK you so much" she replied, as
she sat down very carefully on a chair,
with her back to the window, at some
distance from Frank.
what can do for you?" was Frank S
question.
Il just called to ask if you would be
SO good" and she paused as she opened
her hand bag and drew out fiat brown
paper parcel.
II knew it," muttered Frank to him
self. Poetry"
Then, addressing his visitor in the
tirmest tone he could command, he
said:
my dear madam, can assure you
that we have no room for poetry"
Poetry, sir!" she squeaked, and
there was touch of indignation almost
in her voice. 81 would not think of Of
fering you poetry"
frank thought there was Just the
slightest amount of emphasis on the
''you," and he wondered whether she
was laughing at him. lie wished he
could see her face, but owing to her po-
sition, with her back to the light, added
to her thick veil, he could not dis
guish her features at all clearly.
mo, sir, she continued. II have here
three short stories, which you will find
eminently suitable for your paper, and
I am sure that they will be appreciated
by your readers"
Frank was so used to hear people
speak in similar praise of their own
work that the egotistical speech did not
at all surprise him, as he replied: