Worcester morning daily spy. (Worcester, Mass.) 1888-1898, 1898-01-02

In the centre of my desk, where
would see them first, were compliment
airy letters from the editors for whom
write, with orders or 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 a tall vase in which there is
always rose-the only concession
make to the fact that 1 am still a
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 substan-
tally Ranking them, would be placed
the list of duties for the day. Hidden
away, yet where / knew how to find
them, would be he rejected manu-
scripts, 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 news
paper affronts were promptly thrown
away by Selena.
Truly SeIena understood the art of
placing in harmony the mind whose
grey material must create a living for
us both
: But one. day there came letter which
Selena did NOT throw away. It 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 an eccentric but
wealthy clubman, the son of one of the
most aristocratic houses in New York
but about whose peculiarities, amount
ing apparently to insanity, l had writ
ten a scathing article few days be-
fore, in obedience to an editorial or
der
The letter said that the writer would
call that afternoon and take me to ac-
count for the article, and that | should
die for the words / had written. There
were several pages of very fiery and
threatening language, and the letter
wound up with the full name and adj
dress of the writer and the distinct as
suFance that he would call upon me
that afternoon without fail.
All that day we were apprehensive!
SeIena was particularly SOL And when
she insisted upon placing my little mir
ror upon her desk, SO that 1t should
reflect the door and those who opened
it. IaaHoWed her to do so. since saw
that ii comforted her a little; and each
time the door opened, / saw her hand
fly. quickly toward the police alarm
which, with other calls, decorates the
side Of my office near Selena's desk
But as the afternoon wore away with
out our visitor we became more settled
in mind and next day referred to ii
only once, and then in g joking way
Later we learned that on that very
same day the erratic clubmanS family
had seen fit to confine him in a private
asylum, and in few days the incident
of the letter had passed entirely from
my mind. But, as / afterwards found
not from the mind of my faithful Selena
who cherished it as a constant menace
to my well-being.
Gradually / discovered that my little
typewritist had developed a great re.
sheet for n1e-a respect amounting al.
most to an uncomfortable reverence
And this extended not only to the work,
ing of my mind, but to the welfare Of
my person as well.
This developed itself in various ways
on showerv days when l would
absent-mindedly come to the office
without my umbrella, I would always
And when it has poured this fall / have
more than once found nice storm
coat hanging up for me in the same
convenient place, while Selena, from
her tranquil tapping, would glance VI
long enough to explain:
.Yes. 1t Is mine. But please veal
IL / wore it down here because il
showered. But l have in my closet
where / hang my hat much nicer
one to be worn if it rains when l &c
home"
Business women are as obtuse as men
and the explanation went with me- Blu
ore day looking from my window dowr
into the street, | saw Selena steI
from our doorway, hold out her little
hand for the first drops, then star
braveIy forth, although she must have
known that her smart spring hat would
suffer from the rain. And week latel