The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-02-17
RATIFIED BY A GIRL.

and plenty Of time In which to write
there 10 nothing more pleasant than 10 dl
tate a narrative to cheerful typewrite
particularly II she be young and have nj
soft hair to distract the eye and we'll forn
ed white fingers and be withal exceedin
ly pleasing, but for reporter with lor
yarn to write and a limited amount
time to finish 1t things sometimes have
different aspect
Near Printing House square Is typ
writing office which many newspaper me
frequent. A new girl came theX one da
last week-a rsal nice girl and an exec
lent operator-but she had never done tina
kind Of work before. While she was 81
ting In tho main room upon the ufternoo
OF her first day newspaper man cam
bustling In, and
MRS j., have you got anybody to tax
| two column story In hurryf'
"Yss, " replied the manager. ""Here 10
young lady who has just come to us. Mis-
Brown-Mr. Smith. You can go into tina
corner room.'
In three minutes the young lady wa
seated at her machine, the newspaper mai
was sorting out his notes, and the doc
was closed SO as to leave them undisturbed
NOW, II you will please begin" tn,
newspaper man said. "'In those days o
stern reality md suffering and struggle 70,
existence romantic episode comes upor
one with therefreshing delight with which
traveller In desert beholds an oasis H."
Cliokety. clickety. click won't the keys
and them
isn't that lovelyl Is 1t going to be a
novelP'
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," he said. "Please go on In thu
monotonous routine Of Tombs police court
cases, however, there was one yesterday
behind which Icy STORY so romantic and
so picturesque that 1t would almost seem
to have been created by great novelist
who had striven 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, prattled on in this
fashion:
CHATS just splendid. II sounds like
real novel. Did you ever read Clarissa
or, Tho Forlorn Hopper 1t begins some.
thing like that, only it isn't so interest
ing Do you know, never took dictatlon
like that before The last place worked
In l had nothing to do but copy letters.
oh, dear, wasn't 1t tiresomo, 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 us possible
Won't you please go on2 I'm In some
what of hurry. What have you got thereP"
"Where2" in great surprise.
II mean, please read over what die
tated.
"Oh, how stupid ami In these days
of stern reality'-how do you pronounce
that word-in two sylables or threep
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 bair Is coming
down"
She went to little mirror in corner
Of the 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 scat.
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
flled, and she had to insert new sheet,
md that was her opportunity,
5 Gracious! How fast you dictated It
almost takes my breath away. But do
'ou know like It, l think it's good prac-
ice. We're you there when all that hap Y
nedp Ny Iwish could be reporter"
The newspaper man went on with Lis
lictation. He was fast growing hopping
mad, but he hadn't the heart to say harsh
word to the girl. She was really very
'retty, and as she became interested in the
tory delicate flush manted her cheeks,
md 1t was positive pleasure to watch her
sui newspaper man has no time for
leasure during business hours, and these
harms did not interest him as much as
hey might have done under other circum.
tances, so he struggled bravely on.
"Oh, " she suddenly exclaimed, stopping
D the middle of sentence, "did that real
7 happenf'
" Yes, yes Will you please go onP"
well, the ideal I wouldn't have he
eyed 1t. Do you know, don't believe
nlf what l read In the papers, hut Of
purse II you say 80 it must be true"
Pm very sorry can't chat with you,
liss Brown, but really I'm in great
urry"
"Oh, beg your pardonl forgot all
bout that,
For nearly ten minutes there was not
reak In the dictation, save where sheet
ecame full and fresh one had to be In
rted The typewriter kept her lips firmly
ressed together, as if she were exerting
i her strength to keep silent 1t was
ear to seq that 1t could not last much
niger. In the middle of paragraph she
lddenly stopped, and with u brief lex
Use me for moment" left the room. In {
few seconds she returned with her Jaws
owing conclusvcly and piece of chew.
g gum in her hand
won't you have someY' she asked no.
ely. l
N-n-no-and-I'll tell you what-er-
guess won't have time to finish this
Dry today. III come back some other t
ne"
oh, you're not going, are your I'm
'iully sorry. was Just getting interest Z
in the story" !
u Narv GOWN, n, ko,. | !.