The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-06-06

hand of Miss McClintoch new over lhe
paper. leaving in it's train trail OF
writing, the letters heavily made, but
as plain as print to read, the style OF the
writing being that now taught to girls
Europe, and which Is as
different as possible from the hairline,
angular hand which ladies wrote twenty
years ago.
The manager stood by with folded
arms. watching sheet after sheet being
ranidly thrown off. The silence of the
room was unbroken save by the tim
tinnabulation of the jabbering machine.
At last he reached forward his hand
and interrupted the flow of dots and
daShes.
Miss McClintoch looked up at him and
said. with some trace of anxiety in her
voice:
..Of course could write faster if l had
fountain pen. always use style, and
the dipping into the ink stand delays me,
as am not accustomed to it"
The manager smiled, but said nothing.
He examined sheet after sheet in ST.
lence, then put them on the table. TAX
ing up one of the newspapers that lay
ON his desk, he folded it once or twice,
and, placing his hand on the key, he
rapidly transmitted an order to the UNI
seen operator to write out what was
about to be telegraphed to him, and
bring the sheets to the managers room.
"Now, Miss Elinor," he said, would
you mind telegraphing part of this col
lumn, and do it as fast as you camp
The girl placed her right hand on the
ebony knob of the brass lever, holding
the folded paper with her left in such a
manner that she might read clearly the
small type on the sheet before her. I'm
der her expert manipulation the words
flew over the wire until at last there
came break.
"Hold on" jabbered back the man at
the other end of the wire. Don't be in
such deuce of a hurry"
80, dearr' exclaimed the young wo-
man with shade Of annoyance in her
voice, as if she feared the pausing would
be attributed to her lack Of clearness.
The manager said nothing, but INDUCED
in silent inward laugh, as was habit
with him, for, ruling many, he had to
keep a stern face to the world, and enjoy
what mirth came his way without out
ward semblance of it. After several
breaks, the manager said:
THAT is quite enough, thank you," and
"a few minutes later a young man entered
the room with the sheets in his hand
which he gave to the manager, opening his
eyes somewhat, when he saw seated at
the table slim young girl, bewilder-
ingly pretty. When the young man had
left them once more alone in the room
the manager said:
Il must admit | am astoniShed at your
expertness. It may not be strictly bust
ness-like to acknowledge so much TO one
whom / am about to make the hardest
bargain can with, but perhaps you will
not take advantage of the confession.
You are a very good telegraphist indeed,
Miss Elinor. 1 must express my admir-
a ton of the way in which you have faced
the realities of life We like to think
our girls so resourceful that they can
fill with credit to themselves any position
which fate assigns to them, whether it is
in the office of merchant or the parlors
Of the white house. You have been sud-
denly confronted with very difficult
problem, Miss Elinor, and you have set
about its solution in a way that COM
mands my deepest respect"
80, Mr.. Sandysv exclaimed the girl,
blushing deeply and drawing long, quiv-
ering breath, but quite evidently glowing
with qualification at the praise of man
whom she knew to be sparing in his COM
mendation.
NOW, / am not sure" he continued,
"but your coming here to-day has set
tied in the right way matter that mas
been troubling me for some weeks past.
There is a telegraphic situation i'm this
city which has been the cause of more
worry to me than any Of the other hum
dreds under my control; it is the office
at the board of trade"