Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1898-01-02

Selena always preceded me to the Of
fee. and when l got down | would find
the voluminous mail which daily awaits
a newspaper worker carefully assorted
and placed ready for perusal.
In the center of my desk, where L
would see them first, were compliment
airy lctters from the editors for whom
write, with orders for work from my
pen. And these would be backed by
checks that arrived in the early morn
ing mail.
To the right of the checks, and held
down by tall vase in which there IS
always a ros3-the only concession l
make to the fact that | am still
woman-would repose, as if smiling a
welcome to me- the pleasant letters
which writer's receive from readers; and
to the left of these, and substantially
fanking them, would DE placed the list
of duties for the day. Hidden away, yet
where | knew how to find them, would
be the rejected manuscripts, tied with
a gray cotton string and kept out OF
sight until a morbid moment should
turn my mind to them.
Threatening letters. letters from
cranks and notes breathing vengeance
for newspaper affronts were promptly
thrown away by Selena.
Truly Selena understood the art Of
placing in harmony the mind whose
gray material must create a living for
us both.
But one day there came letter which
Selena did not throw away 1t was too
threatening for that. And when [ had
read my other letters, she brought it out
with trembling hands and pallid face.
The letter was from wealthy but
eccentric cabman, the son OF one OF
the most aristocratic houses in New
York: but about whose peculiarities
amounting apparently to insanity, mad
written scathing article a few days
before, in obedience to an editorial
order.
The letter said that the writer would
call that afternoon and take me to &C
count for the article. and that | should
die for the words l had written. There
were several pages of very fiery and
threatening language. aod the letter
wound up with the fun name and ad-
dress of the writer and the distinct as
surance that he would call upon me
that afternoon without fail.
All that day we were apprehensive!
Salena was particularly So And when
she insisted upon placing my little mir
ror upon her desk, go that it should
reflect the door and those who opened IT,,
l allowed her to do 50, since | saw that
it .omfc4 ted her little; and each time
the door opened l saw her hand fly
quickly toward the police alarm,
w}4ch with other calls, decoratcs the
side OF my Office near Salena's desk.
But a. the afternoon wore away With
cut our visitor we became more settled
in mino; AID next day | referred to 1t
only once, nd then in a joking way.
Later W. Ie1rned that on that very
same day the cratic clubma-s family
had seen fit to confine him in a private
asylum, end in few days the incident
Of the letter had passed entirely from
my mind. But, as l afterwards found,
not frt.'a the mind of my faithful Sa-
lena, who cherished it as constant
menace to my well-beiDg.
Gradually I discovered that my little
typewl1, fst had developed great re-
spSct tor me--a respect amounting al
most to an uncomfortable reverence.
And this extended not only to the
working CT nay Minis but to the welfare
OF my person as we'll.
This developed Itself in various WAYS
Oh showery days when ! would All
seIt-miEdeGiy come to the office With
ont my umbrella / would always, IN
o'sa of rain, find one III the corner.