Evening journal., 1899-08-29
WAS CAUGHT AT LAST


suit her, and now here was this one, which
would be just the very thing for her, but her
age didn't suit She was still seven years
from thirty, and it was hardly probable
that the position would wait seven years for
her.
isn't II mean. don't seem to fit in
anywhere. Young girls and old women are
in demand, but a girl Of % is neither young
nor old; a drug in the marketp Wilhelmina
Thurston looked dsgusted
''You would just ct in there, VIII. said
her sister, reheetvey.
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 her head. She parted the
hair down the middle and drew it back
plain, braiding it and dressing il low. 1t was
unbecoming, for her rather severe type Of
beauty was rendered stern by She change.
Il have made up my mine" said VIII
helmina, going TO the closet and taking there
from her darkest gown, dull gray, TO ap-
ply for that position. With stiff collar and
no color to brighten me up, l shall look
antiQuated enough to escape detection. 1t
will injure no one but myself, and l want
work badly enough to add eight years to my
age. / shall claim 70 be 81.
Alice ThuYston laughed. you are des-
perate, Will, and no wonder; but fear one
lie will not suffice; you are not an adept in
deceiviDg"
"You wait" was the answer.
An hour later Wilhelmina Thurston was
ready to tell the lie she had decided upen.
AS she left her home to go TO the Office Of
the publisher she really looked the age she
wished TO impersonate. The dull gray gown,
which she had always detested, the stiff col
lar. the lack of all the bright colprs she had
alwars worn, added even more than the
needed seven years to the otherwise youth
ful face and figure. Il would need an unusu'
allv discerning man to detect the fraud that
was to be practiced upon the unsuspeoting
publisher.
'Tf looks count for age, said her sister, as
she left the house, you should certainly sue
coed, but / still think you will betray your
self in some way, if not now at some future
time, and then you viii regret the decep-
ton you are playing"
Sidney Spencer sat in his private office,
with a bored look on his face and pile OF
manuscript at his elbow. Outside in the
main Office the clerks nudged each other and
Uttered, as young men will when the pro-
prietor is out OF sight.
Another antiquated femalel" whispered
John Stanwood to his neighbor, as a light
step on the stair was heard. A moment
later Wilhelmina was ushered into Spencer
Office.
"How old are you?" was the first query.
"Thirty-one," she said, bravely.
"What experience?
I 1T off
was true. for while a mere child she had
assisted her father on the Daily Bulletin
/ now among the missing journals Spencei
looked intently at the applicant. Sh'
seemed more promising than the rest. arr
YOU sure you are 81? You look young, ver5
| young"
Wilhelmina rose to the occasion. Her as
| sumption of offended dignity would have de
ceived keener man than Spencer.
'I'm sorry, sir, to have troubled you; per
haps You require a certificate Of birth. Un
fortunately / have none. Good afternoon
'eWait a moment Pardon me. You d.
not understand Why am so particular II
i regard to age. There are dozen youni
idiots in my employ who waste their tint
in attentions to a younger woman. Harm
less enough, I'll admit, but this IS not
| courting school, and the work requires un
divided attention"
1 understand. / was young once myself,
she sighed. There was an awkward silence
'Thirty-one IS not old" said Spencer, en-
i couragingly. 1T only seems old to fellow
in the twenties.F
''Thirty-one is a respectable age and neeu
mn apolorv." was the tart reply. Her gra,
eves snapped and she looked fierce.
"shell do" said Spencer to himself
"tbere will BE no flirting" Aloud he said
"Can YOU stay this morning and help me on
with this?" indicating the pile Of manu-
script.
Il shall be glad to begin at once" was he
replv. A half-dozen times during the morn
inc Wlhelmina caught her employer iool
inc ctshously at her; she wondered if be SUI
,, peoted her deceit. At night he said pleas
) antly: 'I am well satisfied with what 70
have DONE" 50 she was engaged.
Much as she longed TO appear her ow
prettv self. Wilhelmina dared not put asid
b her dark unornamented gown and tight
drawn back hair With these she assume
dirnifed, old-fashioned manner Of speec
and action that kept her youthful coworkei
at a distance.
, Her desk being in Speneer's Office, and th
fact that much Of their work was don
Jointly, placed them on familiar footinl
It was agreeable work, and had she not bee
acting part Wilhelmina would hay
r thoroughly enjoyed It. A date in an artic
cne day led Spencer to tell his age, %. ATT
this she felt still more uncomfortable, sayir
10 Alice: 81 wonder how he likes workir
e with,his grandmother
3 One morning when Spencer came in w
p helmina ksew something had happene
In the months they had worked together 81
+, had learned to note every change IN his
s pressive countenance. She had also learn,
q 10 care deeply for his good opinion; the ]
she had told him weighed heavily. 81
found herself wishing that he knew she WI
d only %; five years younger than himse
d Would it make dilerencey
. This morning he looked at her so intent
that she blushed Then he said abrupt.
"yVhat makes women so secretive in regal
10 their age? Are added years Grim
You are the first one have met who co
q fesses TO 81; you are really younger loohn
: aud are brave not to lie about it."
a Poor Wilhelmina. Without thinking
+ the consequences, she said hurriedly:
did he / am only %. l expected to
H..|.