The record-union., 1897-04-22
MISS WAITE'S EXPERIENCE.
kWritten for the Record Union" by
BeSelena)

PAPER would go TO the wall, yet diIeAl
was not to be depended upon, something
was always happening to him period
ically
The man who owned the paper and
naturally had its interest at heart more
than anyone else, pleaded with him
something like this:
You know there isn't a man in the
Office caps BILE of writing a readable ed
1torial and as for reporting-why, II
depended on the staff | have now we
would be scooped every morning Of the
week" These things and a great many
more along the same line the owner of
the "Trumpeter'' told Farrell, who in
variably listened respectfully, looked
penitent ard promised reformation. He
would be as straight as a die for the
next six months, then his besetting sin
would get the better of him and for
week he would totally disappear, COM
ing back at the end of that time to
take up his work just where he had
left it off
When talking ceased to have the de-
sired effect the owner of the "Trum-
peter discharged Farrell, but the peo
ple demanded his reinstatement and
he was speedily recalled. He had an
apt way OF saying things that belonged
peculiarly and individually to himself;
besides that he was a valuable man in
the newspaper office from the fact that
he was gifted with versatility of no
mean order and was as much a home
in writing up the particulars of a prize
fight as he was in writing an obituary
that would draw tears from a rock;
he was peculiarly happy in the latter
vein because it gave him an opportu-
nifty to turn out a bit of poetry which
always proved highly satisfactory to
the relatives and friends of the de-
ceased. Gradually it came about that
Farrell assumed entire control of the
working force of the paper he dis
charged and took on men at pleasure
and dictated its policy.
One morning he startled the bows
who We're lounging in the various and
negligee attitudes common to report
ers, by walking into the office with a
lady Such a thing was unheard of
Farrell had always maintained a dis
Greet silence whenever the woman
question was in full swing as it usu-
ally was after office hours: besides he
was never seen in the company of a
woman, consequently it was taken for
granted that he was a woman hater
When he made his appearance with
young, good looking woman beside him
CONSERVATION reigned supreme, there
was wild scramble for coats and
general removal of hats and corn cob
pipes.
Gentlemen" remarked Farrell QUIZ
city, when the noise had somewhat SUBJ
sided, this is Miss leila Waite, our
new special correspondent"
The repC rters bowed in awkward ST
lence. In all the years of the ..Trum-
peters" existence a lady had never
been on the staff before, the innovation
was as startling as it was sudden. The
young lady was the only one not en-
barrassed. She smiled affably at the
boys collectively, made a few general
remarks and then sat beside Farrell
while he outlined her future work.
Just where Farrell got her no one
was able to find out At first there
had been a general inclination to chaff
him, but after he had shown a blood
thirsty desire to throw Cooper from the
window because he had been a little
fresher than usual one day he. was let
severely alone, though comments and
speculations were passed freely enough
in his absence
AS for the young lady herself. from
the first she proved herself equal to
holding her own, and as she did not in
terfere with the others and was not at
all finical she was graciously tolerated.
When she had been at the office some
SIX months something again happened
20 Farrell. 1t was in the midst of the
busiest season, and the wrath of the
editor was mighty. At the end of ten
days, just at the last half-hour before
the paper went to press Farrell came
IN. He was looking distinctly seedy.
Is my place still open?" he asked.
Il suppose it is" answered Blifkins
gruffiy. Blifkins was under Farrell
and when the latter disappeared peri
odically had to do his work.
m dead tired of doing double duty.
Farrell he now said, peevishly. "Edi-
torlai writing was never in my line any
way We've had a couple of deaths
TOO, and the relatives of both parties
called TO know why they didn't get any
poetry in their funeral notices. Had to
explain that the poetry editor was out
of town compiling a new stock of
spring trade"
Farrell sank into a chair. rested his
elbows on the table and his aching
head in his hands. At the table in the
corner, near the open window, sat Miss
Waite. Farrell wondered if she had
seen him, but she gave no sign and
wrote on busily. One by one the re-
porters drifted homeward, but Miss
Waite still fingered BY and by they
were left alone, then she turned and
spoke to him. Just what passed be-
tween them Will never be known, but
from that time on they We're con-
stantly together. Before that time
their association had been limited to
the office, but now Farrell escorted her
home from work in the evening and
called for her in the morning From
that time onward Farrell really seem
ed to reform and attended strictly to
business
Just as things were looking their
brightest word was brought to the Of
flee that Farrell had slipped on the icy
pavement and broken both his arms,
and was now at the hospital where he
would be for the next six weeks.
Everyone felt sorry for poor Farrell.
everyone but Blifkins. Just my con-
founded luck" he growled, stabbing
viciously at his copy pad with his open
penknife. Six weeks of writing edi-
THE VIGOR