The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-10-29
STORY OF A TYPEWRITER.
Good Woman Taught Richard War
ing "A Much Needed Lesson.
Bv Nellie ID. S. Graham.

by Nellie u >. Graham.
Mildred Murdoch sat at her typewriter
and the machine moved steadily on, keep
ing time with the disturbed futterings of
her heart. On her stand was a bunch of
violets, and their fragrance did not tend
to soothe her perturbed spirits, although
she loved them dearly
They were placed there by her employer.
Richard Waring, who sat watching her
from an inner Office. The girl, for she
looked nothing more, had been in his en-
ploy for six months. and had awakened a
deep interest within him. She was wee
little woman, with wondrous appealing
eyes and wavy brown hair that fell care
lessly round her piquant face
She was a good worker, TOO, and never
before was the correspondence, which piled
upon him, swept so deity out of the way.
She was a CHEEKY little soul, and had met
his advances with a frank pleasure thai
enchanted him.
Richard Waring was not a wholly bad
man, and he had only followed the prece-
dent of his fellows, when ne had begun a
few weeks before to pay her some little
attentione, such flowers on her desk,
invitations to lunch, ct cetera
At first she had not seemed to mind.
but received his favors with a charming
uncon sciousness that amused him. She
had gone to lunch with him the day be
fore, and as they passed out Of the modest
little restaurant where he always took
her gay party of young fellows, who
had grown very merry over their wine,
had made an audible comment on War
ing's newest flame.
She had made no remark at the time
but he had noticed a dark flush sweep
over the fairness of her floWer-like face
and he had cursed them under his breath
for their stupidity.
Then, too, the luncheon had not gone
off as well as usual. He had ventured a
little familiarity in his address, and she
had gazed at him with eyes like a startled
fawn's. Then he had told her Gin the
usual way of the unsatisfactory empti-
ness of his life at home" of a "coldly, IN
sympathetic wife" and the Happiness
he enjoyed when with his pretty friend
She had still been very silent, but had
not checked him, as he went on with
growing ardor in the recital of the plans
for their future friendship and mutual
companlonship. She had asked where his
wife was, and as he told her that she
had gone out of the city for the summer
the pansy eyes had CLEANED mutinously.
He had suggested taking her to a roof
garden that night but she had refused
saying she would give him an answer on
the morrow. Then he had wandered on
and on and she had listened with an ex-
preston which ought TO have warned him,
but did not.
When she had finished her work that
evening, she had found him waiting, and
as she uttered a quiet good night" he
had passionately grasped her hand but
she wrenched it away and sped rapidly
down the long hall.
He had no fear of the success of his
suit. and there was a very tender feelins
IN his heart as he looked at the pathetic
little figure as she worked so swiftly and
accurately this morning. She had flushed
when she saw the violets, but had not
thanked him nor fastened them in the
bosom of her plain black gown. as usual
Poor little woman he soliloquized. Il
must put some pleasure into her bare
life"
He knew she was a widow, a soldiers
widow, too, but he knew nothing more
about her. His heart quite expanded and
he laid many plans TO brighten the sum-
mer of this lone little widow, and incident
ally, his own, as he watched the pretty
flushed face this morning.
After Geraldine, his wife, came back
"ah, well that would be different" but
of course, she would see that for herself
The morning wore along, and as the
lunch hour approached Waring felt trihe
uneasy. She had not once addressed him
except as her duties demanded.
But" he reasoned, this has been
busy morning and she is the soul of faith
fulness."
So he asked her TO go to luncheon with
him Is usual and she had requested to be
allowed TO finish some special work she
was doing, as she had brought her lunch
with her. The offices were deserted Al
this hour, and ne bent over her saying:
every well. my dear. If / let you or
now, will you take dinner with me?"