The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1900-12-07


Over his head hung the bulb of the
electric light. its green circular shade
throwing the white rays directly down
on his open notebook The girl was
once more in the working world, and
it's bracing air acted as tonic to her
overwrought nerves. AL longings and
regrets had been put off with the Paris
made gown which the maid at that mo-
ment was carefully packing away. The
order of nature seemed reversed. The
butterfly had abandoned its gorgeous
wings of gauze and was habited in the
somber working garb of the grub. With
her hands clasped behind her the girl
paced up and down the room, pouring
forth words, 200 to the minute and
sometimes more. Silently one stenogra-
pher, tiptoeing in, replaced another,
who as silently departed, and from the
adjoining room the subdued, nervous,
rapid click, click, click of the type
writing machine invaded without dis
tdrbing her consciousness. Toward 8
o'clock the low drone of the rotaries in
the cellar made itself felt rather than
heard, The early edition of the country
was being run off. Time was flying
danced away by nimble feet in the west
end. worked away by nimble fingers in
Fleet street (well named thoroughfare)
Play and work, work and play, each
supplementing the other, the acts Of
the frivolous recorded by the indus
trious
When little more t,ian three hours
debating was finished, the voice of the
girl, how as hoarse as formerly it had
been musical, ceased. She dropped into
a chair and rested her tired head on the
deserted desk, closing her wearied eyes.
She knew she had spoken between 15,- :
600 and 30. 900 words, number almost
equal in quantity to that contained in
many book which had made an au-
thor's fame and fortune, and all for
the ephemeral reading of day-of a
forenoon. more likely-to be forgotten
when the evening journals came outl
Shortly after the typewriter gave Its
final click the editor came in.
81 didn't like to disturb you while
you were at work. and SO l kept at my
own task, which was no light one, and
thus appreciate the enormous strain
that has been on you. Your account is
magnificent, Miss Baxter; just what !
wanted and never hoped to get. +"
~ am glad you like it, said the
girl, laughing somewhat dismally at
the croaking sound of her own voice
~ need not ask you If you were
there, for no person but one who was
present and one who knew how to de-
scribe could have produced such a
vivid account of it all How did you
get in2"
I'm where?" murmured Jennie drow-
silly. She found difficulty in keeping
her mind on what he was saying.
"To the Duchess Of Chiselhurst's
ball."
"Oh, getting in was easy enough; it
was the getting out that was the trou-
BILE. =
'Iike prison, eh3" suggested the
editor. '.Now, will you have little
wine or something stronger?"
mo, no. All need is rest -
"Then let me call cab. will see
You home, if you will permit me-
~ am too tired to go home. ! shall
remain here until morning.
Nonsense You must go home and
sleep for wesk if you want to. Rouse
upi / believe you are talking in your
sleep now"
81 understand perfectly what you are
saying and what ] am doing. ! have
work that must be attended to at g.
Please leave orders that some one is to
call me at and bring a cup of coffee
and biscuits or rolls or anything that is
to be had at that hour. And please
don't trouble further. I am very thank
full to you, hut will express myself bet
ter later on.
With this the editor had to be con-
tent and was shortly on his way to his
own well earned rest. To Jennie it
seemed but moment after he had gone
that the porter placed coffee and rolls
on the desk beside her. saying, 'sseyen
o'clock. missl"
The coffee refreshed the girl, and as
she passed through the editorial rooms
she noted their forlorn. disheveled ap-
pearance. which all places show when
seen at an unaccustomed hour. their
time of activity and hustle past The
rooms were Uttered with torn pa
pers. wastebaskets overhowing, silent,
scrappy, abandoned in the gray morn
ing light, which seemed intrusive,
usurping the place of the usual artifi-
cial illumination and betraying bare
pess which the other concealed. Jennie
recognized q relationship between her
own up all night feeling and the spirit
of the deserted rooms.
At the railway station she found her
maid waiting for her, surrounded by
luggage
''Have You got your ticketf"
ssYes, my lady"
~ have changed my mind and will
pot so to Paris just now. Ask porter
to put those trunks in the left luggage
office and bring me the keys and the
receipt"
When this was done and money mat
tiers had been settled between them,
Jennie gave the girl e5 more than was
due to her and saw her into the car
riage. well pleased with the reward. A
hanson brought Jennie to her fat. and
50 ended the exhausting episode of the
Duchess of Chiselhurst's ball.
Yet an event, like melady, leaVsa