The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-12-19
A Dictated Letter.

When Howard Moore completed his col
| lege course he expected to find the world
waiting impatiently to avail itself of his
services Though he had not prepared
himself for anything in particular, ne felt
| capable of doing everything in general.
He wondered where he could go to be
/ best appreciated-where, in fact, his
| learning and uncommon intellect would
| do the most good.
He was inexpressibly hurt when he
! found that no one noticed him at all.
| The crowd jostei him on the street con-
| temptuously; there was no good fellow
! ship abroad in the busy city so far as
| he could find, 10 one gave him any din
ners; he was not invited to join the clubs,
and most emphatically he was not Of
| fered any occupation. He tried to be
| patient with this colossal stupidity on
| the part of Chicago, but it was difficult.
| He then even condescended to look for
| work, but it was not to be found. He
was too sure of himself in way too
confident of good birth and the inherited
| convictions of a gentleman to care what
! he did-he did not make those cautious
distinctions which middle class fellow
would have made. But it did not seem
as if there was anything that came with
in his possibilities within the length and
breadth of the city that wanted doing.
However, by assiduously consulting the
paper he found at length an advertise
ment for private secretary. The cor
respondence that followed led to his be-
ing installed in a luxurious mansion as
| the secretary and factotum of a certain
distinguished lady.
To say that Howard Moore enjoyed
such a situation would be incorrect. AS
a matter of fact. he would rather have
driven street car in happy independ-
ence than have been in place where his
qualities were appreciated, yet where
| his poverty and position placed him at
a disadvantage. At first he fumed and
went to his room after his days work
hot and angry. Not that he had anything
TO complain of In the department of the
beautiful chatelaine. She was courtesy
itself, but he could not claim that she
| treated him with exceptional kindness,
for the truth was that she was kind to
the whole world. Not a letter reached
Edith Vaille that was not CONSIDERABLY
answered, no matter what its import If
| a young man wanted to read her his
verses, hoping to secure her for patron,
or an educational enthusiast came with
new fad, or a singer begged the privi-
lege of displaying her voice for the ben
eft of the lady, she heard them all, II
her time permitted. The greater part Of
her day was spent in attending ochar-
liable and benevolent matters; society
she patronized capriciously and haughti-
ly. Her library was her happy retreat,
and here only her intimates were admit
ted. 1t was in this room that her chosen
| friends came at Of each afternoon for
little time of true sociability and rest
| around Miss Vaille's fragrant samovar
And in these peaceful pleasures Moore
was always invited to participate. Though
the conversation on these occasions was
| nearly always light-hearred, it was never
trivial; at times it was learned, at other
| times grave. But it was always Edith
Vaille who dominated in tit was she
who introduced the new book or the new
| musical composition for discussion II
was she who inspired her guests to their
best, whether in conversation or in play
ing upon the piano or violin
Such strong friendships did Howard
Moore form IN this familiar room and in
such high esteem was he held that he
forgot all about his foolish vanities and
chagrins. Moreover, he became absorb
ed, too, in the charities Of the chatelaine.
The struggles of the poor, the pains and
| disappointments of genius the frightful
suffering of those whom society trampled
under foot, made him forget all about
| himself. In a short time he realized that
the small knowledge he had acquired at
the schools was totally inadequate to
permit him to solve the least of lifes
problems. His egotism died away as frost
melts before the sun. His attitude of
mind became finely humble, and he learn
ed from his beautiful patron tie lesson
which her whole life taught that in SER
vice is the only satisfactory living
But along with the happiness that arose
| from true knowledge like this was a ter
rible sorrow. He discovered, to his un-
! qualified dismay, that he loved Edith
| Faille 1t was no whimsical infatuation.
no light, adoring admiration that could
be put aside for other thoughts He re-
allied that hewas destined to worship
| this woman to the last day of his life.
! That his love was absurd, impairment,
! impossible, he did not doubt. There was
| not a grain of hope in his passion. He
resigned himself to his misfortune and
| got what comfort he could from the re-
! Election that it was a noble love and for
! a woman of Incompatible qualities.
He was quite sure that his manner be-
| trayed nothing-he would never permit
himself even to be distant or convention
al in his demeanor. He aimed to keep
/ the cordial and respectful attitude Of a
! trustedtTusted assistant and friend. If
sometimes his face flushed when her per-
| fumed garments brushed him in passing;
! If he sometimes picked up the flowers
! that fell from her corsage; IT, when she
! came to dinner, glowing In her laces and
! jewels, his eyes betrayed an uncontroll-
able admiration, he prayed that she did
not see it.
But as time went on his pain became
almost unsupportable. His nights were
nearly sleeDless. He had to force the
! food over his lips. There were half in
sane moments when he thought he should
fall AT her feet and confess with anguish
/ his folly. He began TO debate the propri-
/ ETY. Of leaving. but he was held TO his
/ place by two considerations. The first
was that he had made himself necessary
TO her disinterested public services; the
/ second, that he knew Of no other way n
/ which he could make his living.
He came down 10 me morning-room ore
/ day after 4 nearly sleepless night 10 sind
/ her looking more beautiful than ever be
! fore. 4 vOluminous morning robe Il
! grass green silk sweut about her. bring
( ing out the freshness Of her kindly face
In her wreaths Of brown hair were white
/ carnations. 4 chain Of heavy silver links
/ belted in her draperies Something un-
/ usually tender animated her face. Her
/ ewes seemed almost humid as she lifted
/ them when she made her morning salu-
/ -ation. II was pale and trembling, ard
! i seemed to him for moment that he
/ should be Obliged to excuse himself If,
! he had gained more salf-c0ntroI but she
/ motioned him 10 a seat and took up her
note book.
"Kinly take this dictation from ne. NJ.
3 RToore?" she said. He took M his pen
+ Gil mechanicaly-at her request he had
! acquainted himself with the tlme-savinZ
{ ~,~0ra== ~ shorthand
: Chicago. Sept. 15.' her clear voice die
5 tate5.