Evening journal., 1899-07-20
WAS CAUGHT AT LAST

ads. carefully, and among oil oil theua she
could find nothing that just suited. Either
she did no. suit the ad. OF the ad. did not
suit her, and now here was this one, which
would be just the very thing for her, but her
age didnt suit She was still seven years
from thirty, and it was hardly probable
that the position would wait seven yeau for
her
Isn't it mean don't seem to fit in
anywhere. Young girls and old women are
in demand, but girl Of % is neither young
nor old; drug in the markell" Wilhelmina
Thurston looked disgusted.
"You would just fit in there, VIII" said
her sister, reaectively.
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 Il back
plain, braiding it and dressing il low. II was
unbecoming, for her rather severe type Of
beauty was rendered stern BY the change.
Il have made up my mind said Wi.
helmina, going TO the closet and taking there
from her daKkest gown, dull gray, "te.ap
ply for that position. With stiff collar and
40 color 10 brighten me UP, / shall look
AuilludttN tAuhth 10 NHSdlc NrheNNiVAs
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 des-
perate win, and no wonder; but fear one
lie will not suffice; you are not an adept IL
deceiving."
''You watt" was the answer.
An hour later Wihelmina Thurston was
ready to tell the lie she had decided upon.
As she left her hsme TO 90 70 tbe office OF
the publisher she really looked the age she
wished to impersonate. The dull gray gown.
which she had always detcstcd, the stiff col.
lar, the lack of all the bright colors she had
always worn, added even more than the
needed seven years to the otherwise youth
fu face and figure. II would need an Nnusu-
ally discerning man 90 detect the fraud that
was. to be practioed upon the unsuspecting
publisher.
IF looks count for age" said her sister, ~
she left the house, "youshould certainly sue.
ceed, but / still think you will betray youI,
self in some way, if not now at some future
time, and then you viii regret the decep-
tion 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 tn
main Office the clerks nudged each otherand
Uttered, as young men viii when the pro
prietor is out Of sight.
Another antiquated femalel" whispere,
John Stanwood to his neighhor, a. a ligh
step on the stair was heard. A momen
later Wilhelmina was ushered into Spencer
office.
srtr.. Il I -. ,.,,, go ma. z. Get ,,,sr-,
"Thirty-one," she said, bravely.
what experiencer
"Tsn years in newspaper oflico| Thi
was true, fer while a mere child she has
assisted her father on the Daily Bulletin
now among the missing journals. SPENCE
looked intahtly at tho applicant. eh
secmed more promising than the rest. "Ar
you sure you are 3l2 You look young, yer
young"
J., Wlhelmina rose to the occasion. Her a
sumption OF offended dignity would have d
eeiyed kesner man than Spencer.
'I'm sorry, sir, to have troubled you; pei
haps you require certificate Of birth. On
fortunately / have none. Coed afternoeo.
"Wait a momentl Pardon me. You 4
not understand Why / am 80 particular i
regard TO age. There are dozen youn
idiots in my employ who wasta their tim
IN attentions TO a younger woman. Harm
less enough, I'll admit but this is not
counting school, and the work requires VI
divided atteRtion."
/ understand. was young once myself,
she sighed. There was an awkward sileno'
"Thirty-one is not cld," said Spencer, er
couragingly. 1T only seems old to fellow
in the twenties."
"Thirty-oue is a respectable age and need
no apology" was the tart reply. Her gra
eyes snapped and she looked fierce.
She'll do" said Spencer TO himself
"there will be no flirting" Aloud he said
"Can you stay this morning and help me on
with this!" indicating the pile Of mans
script.
II shall be glad to begin at enoe," was he
reply. A half-dozen times during the morI
ing Wilhelmina, caught her employer iool
ing euriously at her; she wondered n he su
pected her deceit. At night he said Plea
antlv: 'I am well satisfied with what yo
have DONE" so she was engaged.
Much as she lcnged to appear her ow
pretty self. Wilhelmina dared not put n-id
her dark nnernamented gown and tight
drawn back hair. With these she assume
a dicniied, old-fashioned manner Of sPeec
and action that kept her youthful cowsrkei
at, a distance.
Her desk being in Spencer's Office, and Il
fact that much OF their work was dor
Jointly, placed them on familiar footin
It was agreeable work, and had she not bee
acting part Wilhalmina would hay
thoroughly enjoyed it. A date in an artic
r one day led Spencer to tell his age, 28. Aft
. this she felt still more uncomfortable, sayiI
10 Alice: Il wonder how he likes worldI
I with his grandmother
One morning when Spencer came in "
, helmina knew something had habpene
In the months they had worked together 81
had learned to note every change in his c
: pressive countenance. She had also leainl
; TO care deeply for his good opinion; the
she had told him weighed heavily. 81
+ found herself wishing that he knew she W
+; only %; Eve years younger than himse
: Would It make diferenceg
. This morning he looked at her 50 intent
that she blushed. Then he said abrupt
: 'What makes women so secretive in rega
to their age? Are added years a Grim
You are the first one have met who co
fesses to 81; you are really younger lookin
o and are brave not to lie about it"