The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1897-03-29
RATIFIED BY A GIRL.

md pie0ty OF time in which to write Il
there is n0thing more pleasant than to die
tate narrative to a chcSful typewriter
particularly u size be young and have nice
soft hair to Distract the eye and we'll form
ed white fingers ard be withal exceeding
!y pleasing, bat for n reporter with long
yarn to- write and limited amount OF
tire to finish 1t things sometimes have q
different aspect.
Near Printing House square is type
writing Office which many newspaper men
frequent. A new girl came there one day
last week--a real nice girl and an excel
lent operator--but she had never done that
kind of work before. While she was sit
ting In the main room upon the afternoon
of hor first day newspaper man came
busting in, and
Mrs j., have you got nybody to take
a two column story in hurryp"
Eyes, replied the manager. Here Is a
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 siachine, the newspaper man
was sorting out his notes, and the door
was closed SO as to leave them undisturbed
"Now, # you will please begin" the
newspaper man said. "'In these days of
stern reality and suffering and struggle for
existence romantic episode comes upon
ono with the refreshing delight with which
"a traveller in desert beholds an oasis -"
Clickety. clickety click went the keys,
and then
Isn't that lovely Is it going to be q
novel;"
The newspaper man looked up in amaze.
ment, but 1t was utterly impossible to be
angry with such blue eyes regarding him
in admiration.
"No," he said "Please go on. In the
monotonous routine of Tombs police court
cases, however, there was one yesterday
behind which lay story so romantic and
so picturesque that it would almost seem
to have been created by great novelist
who had striven to excel all his past ef
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,
"That's just splendid. 1t sounds like n
real novel. Did you ever read 'Clarissa;
or, The Forlorn Hopep' 1t begins some
thing like that, only it isn't so interest
ing. Do you know, never took dictation
|
in 1 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 hurry. What have you got there2"
"WhereP'' In great surprise.
~ 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 syllables or threef
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 tc interrupt him, she said:
Excuse me, think my hair is coming
down."
She went to little mirror in corner
of the room, examined her hair carefully,
and then, after touching up the pufTs 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
single word. But soon the page was
filled, and she had to insert new sheet,
and that was her opportunity.
"Graciousl How fast you dictated II
almost takes my breath away. But dc
you know like It, ! think it's good prac-
tice. We're you there when all that hap
ened? My! wish l could be a reporter. +"
The newspaper man went on with his
dictation. He was fast growing hopping
mad, but he hadn't the heart to say harsh
word to the girl. She was really very
pretty, and as she became interested in the
story delicate flush mantled her cheeks,
and 1t was positive pleasure to watch her.
But "a newspaper man has no time for
pleasure during business hours, and these
charms did not interest him as much az
they might have done under other circum.
stances SO he struggled bravely on.
''Oh, " she suddenly exclaimed, stopping
In the middle of "a sentence, did that real
ly happen?'
eyes, yes! Will you please go onS'
"Well, the idea! wouldn't have he.
lieved it. Do you know, don't believe
half what l read in the papers, but OF
course II you say so 1t must be true"
'Im very sorry can't chat with you
Miss Brown, but really I'm in a great
hurry"
"Oh, 1 beg your pardonl forgot all
about that"
For nearly ten minutes there was not a
break in the dictation, save where sheet
became full and n fresh one had to be in
serted. The typewriter kept her lips firmly
pressed together, as II she were exertine
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. lii
q few seconds she returned, with her jaws
moving conclusiyely and piece of chew
ing gum in her hand.
won't you have some9" she asked pc.
litely.
"N-n-no-and--l'll tell you what--er-
l guess won't have time TO finish this
story today. I'll come back some Other
time
"Oh, you're not going, are you? I'm
awfully sorry. I was just getting interest
! I'd in the story"
''Nery sOrry-er-hnw muchp Here All