Condon globe. (Condon, Gilliam Co., Or.) 189?-1919, 1899-07-13

WNW ing house. well-edu-
AS Gated woman; must be
over 80 years OF age
isn't 1t mean. don't seem to ut In
anywhere. Young girls and old women
are In demand, but girl Of % is neith-
er young nor old; drug In the mar
ket" Wilhelmina Thurston looked dis
gusted.
'You would just fit In there, VIII"
said her sister, refiectively.
Wilhelmina went to the mirror and
took the pins from her luxuriant hair,
which was rolled back loosely from her
face and coiled on the crown OF ner
head. She parted the hair down the
middle and drew 1t back plain, braiding
It ana dressing 1t low. 1t was unbe-
coming, for her rather severe type or
beauty was rendered stern by the
change.
81 have made up my mind" said VIII
helmina, going to the closet and taking
therefrom her darkest gown, a dull
gray, ito apply for that position. With
a stiff collar and no color to brighten
me up, shall look antiquated enough
to escape detection. 1t will inJure no
one but myself, and want work badly
enough to add eight years to my age.
shall claim to be 81"
Alice Thurston laughed. "You are
desperate, VIII, and no wonder; but l
fear one lie win not suffice; you are not
an adept in deceIving."
"You wait" was the answer.
Sidney Spencer sat in his private
office. with bored look on his face and
a pile OF manuscript at his elbow. Out
side In the main Office the clerks
nudged each other and Uttered, as
young men will when the proprietor Is
out Of sight.
Another antiquated female" whis-
pered John Stanwood to his neighbor,
as light step on the stair was heard.
A moment later Wilhelmina was ush-
cred into Spencer's office.
How old are your was the first
query.
'aThirty one" she said, bravely.
'What experienceT
'sTen years in a newspaper office"
This was true, for while mere child
she had assisted her father on the
Daily Bulletin, now among the missing
journals. Spencer looked intently at
the applicant. She seemed more prom
ising than the rest. "Are you sure you
are 81? You look young. very young"
WiIhelmina rose to the occasion. Her
assumption of offended dignity would
have deceived a keener man than
Spencer.
"I'm sorry, sir, to have troubled you;
perhaps you require certificate Of
birth. Unfortunately l have none.
Good afternoon"
"Wait a momenti Pardon me. You
do not understand why | am so partic-
ular In regard to age. There are
dozen young idiots in my employ who
waste their time In attentions to a
younger woman. Harmless enough, I'll
admit, but this Is not a counting school,
and the work requires undivided atten-
ton"
81 understand. / was young once
myself" She sighed. There was an
awkward silence.
"Thirty-one is not DID," said Spencer
encouraglngly. 1T only seems old to
fellows In the twenties."
"Thirty-one Is respectable age and
needs no apology" was. the tart reply.
Her gray eyes snapped and she looked
fierce.
"She'Il do" said Spencer to himself;
"there will be no flirting" Aloud he
said: "Can you stay this morning and
help me out with thisT' indicating the
pile of manuscript.
81 shall be CAD to begin at once"
was her reply. A half-dozen times dur
ing the morning Wilhelmina caught
her employer looking curiously at her;
she wondered II he suspected her de-
ceit. At night he said pleasantly: II
am well satisfied with what you have
DONE" SO she was engaged.
Much as she longed to appear her
own pretty self, Wllhelmina dared not
put aside her dark, unornamented
gown and tightly drawn back hair.
With these she assumed a dignifed,
old-fashioned manner of speech and
action that kept her youthful cowork-
ers at distance.
Her desk being in Spencer's ONCE,
and the fact that much Of their work
was done jointly, placed them on a
familiar footing. 1t was agreeable
work, and had she not been acting a
part Wilhelmlna would have thorough
ly enjoyed 1t. A date In an article one
day led Spencer to tell his age, %.
After this she felt still more uncom-
Portable, saying to Alice: II wonder
how he likes working with his grand
motherT
One morning when Spencer came in
Wllhelmlna knew something had hap
pened. In the months they had worked
together she had learned to note every
change in his expressive countenance.
She had also learned to care deeply for
his good opinion; the lie she had told
him weighed heavily. She found her
self wishing that he knew she was only
%; five years younger than himself.
Would 1t make a difference?
e.. a. - 4. a.