Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1902-06-13
WHY she WAS DISCHARGED.
OROTHY BENSON laid dow

valuable to the Town and Home, and it
NAV mean few dollars Oh my salary
when the new man buys into the firm
l wonder who he is with all his dollars
and literary bee in his bonnet. If he
will please not discharge me until L
give mamma a summer III the country,
| will be thankful All, mamma and |
do not fear poverty, for papa $ losses
were all honorable ones and his name
was kept clean; | think the poor dear
could not have died in peace if he had
owed a penny. With that to keep us
happy mumsy will not miss her high
teas and I"-here little lump came in
her throat-"I shall not miss being out
of the set
They want the copy for the second
FORM" said voice at her elbow. and
the musings of the pretty young assist
ant editor were cut short while she
various manuscripts-such as ten
point leaded,' or "close up and cuts
to follow" and the begrimed boy dis
appeared behind the great doors that
shut the whirring machines from the
cOmmodious offices.
Miss Benson leaned back and closed
her eyes for a moment. and as she did
so the face of Jack Macomber rose in
her vision, and she let herself dwell on
the past.
She often dreamed of this face
sometimes il seemed happy and care
less of her sufferings, but to-day she
saw it grave and sad, as it was that
last day when cruel words had sep
arated them
Il would own how sorry l am if |
were not so poor and he so rich. but to
speak now is to allow him to think pow
erty"--but this was as far as she could
think, for the tears were coming fast.
I'll go home now and see little mother
and she will cheer me up; my article on
Criminal Children is so good l can
sleep happy"
She went out into the spring after
noon and walked down the avenue.
The 18th of April-and only two years
ago Jack and went to NJ on little
horseback party and he bought me
great bunch of yiolets and fastened
them on the bridle!" She bought tiny
bunch now and placed them in ner coat
just for "auld lang syne."
AS she climbed the stairs to her tiny
apartments she felt that it was not
well, and she was not surprised to find
her mother quite i'll. and all thoughts of
self and her own heartache were ban
ished.
1t was week before she was able to
return to the office, the proof pages
were sent each morning and she work
why she woke one morning with a sud
den start and the instant wideawake
conviction that there was an error in a
statement in her last article She felt
a cold sweat break out upon her fore
head as she thought of it, but she de
ternined to go to the office at once and
correct it.
When she came to her desk she found
it covered with mail. which she put
aside and went at once to the mana
gers room. She could hear the presses
running at full speed and she knew at
every pound that dreadful error was
being run off.
She found a fresh sheet on her way
and opened it. but TO her aStonishment
the error had been corrected. She Won
dered who had discovered it, for the !
forms were electrotyped, and to change |
II word meant to chisel off the old and |
solder on the new-Quite delicate
task
She did not change her mind how
ever but determined to own up" and
apologize for the error. L hope the
new owner has not heard Of it. whoever
ne may be-" she thought.
'Ah. yes. yes, 81 slight error" said the
manager. but don't take 1t to heart
Mt Macomber saw it before the pages
were electrotyped. You may think him
-ah, Mr.. Macomber Jack. one moment
l want you to meet our assistant editor.
Miss Benson" Jacks tall. athletic fig.
ure rose from behind a roll-top desk
and pair Of loving eyes met a psir
OF frightened ones Jack-a popular
club man. downtown in business-and
this very magaZine-and her new en-
ployer! "Ah. l see you have met be-
fore" and the manager went back to |
his corner.
The pair look ed at each other. STAN
mering. confused. but very happy. In |
a moment all barriers were down.
II am sorry your first duties were to |
correct my mistakes" she said, and her |
voice was low and as courteous as it |
should have been to an employer There /
was a twinkle in her eyes now.
1T was a happy employment. and | |
hope to correct others-one. In fact. that |
has made me miserable for two long |
years"
Dorothy Benson made her retreat in
a maze of complex thoughts. 1t was
so sweet TO see him-to hear his voice;
but what should she do: She could not
meet him thus every day and under
such conditions!
She wondered what new purpose had
filed his soul to bring him into husi-
ness and why-but the office boy laid a
letter on her desk as If in answer to her
question. 1t was rapidly written:
Dearest-I found no other way to
rome into your life-forgive mel
thought could see you every day aud
DerhaDS in time YOU would find enough