The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1901-12-21
VOL. XIII.
l~~~~~~% e~N~N~~~No@a @ae~~~N>~~~~~~~~~~@
THE IDLE AMANUENSIS,
BY CHARLES II. WHITE

II seems good to be sitting with you
orce again, after SO long a tepara-
ION Calls to mind the times we
,,eed to have in '76, when you were
.,,vng for Boynton & Blaclman, and
was learning the rudiments of the
business that followed until about a
vmr ago. Now | am independently
-situated owing to certain fortuitous
circumstances which happened to
oome nv way; yet feel Old and care
worn and my hair is tinged with gray.
Let me see; it was in 81 that | left
syracuse to take position in brok-
s,r,s office located on Broad street, in
New York City. The atmosphere OF
NV surroundings was entirely in ac-
cord with my hearts desire, which
was to become a potent factor in the
financial whirlpool that annually
whisks away the fortunes Of thous-
auds, to place them at the feet of
the lucky few.
The room assigned to me by my
new employers was a small one, in
the rear OF the principal Offices, and
lighted from a court. The solitary
window reached TO the floor, and
opened out upon balcony which en-
circled the court, communicating with
fhe elevator shaft at the back of the
building. The chief offices had doors
which led to this balcony. | was the
sole occupant Of the little Office.
Directly opposite my window was
the window of another room, the coun-
terpart of mine, and similarly con-
nected with the other suite on the
same floor. 1t was occupied by a
Young lady, evidently employed as a
stenographer, as her typewriter was
visible through the glass. From the
first glimpse got of her she attract
ed me strongly She was pretty, and
I always possessed fondness for
feminine beauty. In addition to that
fact, she seemed to have almost moth
ing to do, and that peculiar condition
uiuued my curiosity. Hour after hour
she would sit by the window with a
book in her hand. Only on rare oc-
casions would l see her doing any
work and then for a few moments at
time. l could not comprehend the
reason for this, inasmuch as the con-
cern employing her Nhe eastern agen-
cy of large beef house,, seemed to
transact a good business. | marvelled
that any man should pay salary to
! nd a
then allow her to fritter away nearly
all Of the time It was not long be
fore | had privately conferred upon
my sweet neighbor the title of "the
Idle amanuensis."
soon discovered that the girl was
not a stickler on certain points OF
| stiquette. Sc did not wait for an in
PRODUCTION, but began to smile and
bow to me on the third day Of my oc-
cupancy of the little Office. | re-
sponded with alacrity, and soon felt
that personal interview was on the
cards. We did meet in the elevator
once or twice within the first week,
but others were present on each oc-
casiOn, and l made no advances.
Doubtless the girl was of similar
mind, for she offered no active Ell
couragement, merely nodding and be-
slowing on me one of her charming
smiles. These smiles were sufficient
y dazzling to captivate any man who
was not already happily married or
engaged.
It was during my third week that
events began to draw in toward TO-
Gus. While working at my desk one
afternoon. l heard light tap on the
window pane. Looking up l saw that
the girl was standing on the balcony.
She smiled and pointed to the bal
cony floor just outside my window
Following the direction with my eyes,
observed a folded paper lying there
which lost no time in securing.
It proved to be a note written by
herself. The wording Of the COM
munication was brief but to the point
and 1t set my heart to beating wildly.
Dear Sir-here's 10 our more intl-
mate acQuaintanceship. Shall be at
nome this evening, at No. - West
Forty-second street. Please indicate
through the window whether you will
all Sincerely, Ethel Thompson
Would l call? l gave a series OF
most emphatic mods and had the sat
unction of seeing that their meaning
rs evidently understood.
called on Miss Thompson that
!ery evening. She bore herself in an
9teiligent and vivacious manner, as
appearance had led me TO expect;
na her demeanor was characterized
2 refinement not in keeping with
1e unconventional nature of her iu-
sitation.
During our conversation she in
Wmed me that she was glad her Of
- work was light. as she disliked
ue duties of an amanuensis.
have noticed" i said to her. that
~ are not often busily engaged. How
It that so large a concern conducts
z small a correspondence"
xnis query provoked laugh.
Why" she. exclaimed, I'VE have
Other stenographer, who occupies
e of the larger rooms. do only
u work dictated hy Mr. blossom the