Wallowa chieftain. [volume] (Joseph, Union County, Or.) 1884-1909, 1902-07-17
WHY SHE WAS DISCHARGED.

~ There. that is too good for space
filing and ought to so into my new
hook but-hO, hum! such bits make me
valuable TO the Town and Home, and it
may mean few dollars on my salary
when the new man buys into the firm;
| wonder who he is with all his dollars
and A literary bee in his bonnet. If he
will please not discharge me until |
give mamma summer in the country,
will be thankful All, mamma and |
do not fear poverty, for papa's 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 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
made numerous scrawls on the top of
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 moment, and as she did
/ so the face of Jack MacOmber rose in
her vision, and she let herself dwell on
4 the past
4 sometimes it seemed happy and care
less of her sufferings, but to-day she
4 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 90 home now and see little mother
and she will cheer me up; my article on
Criminal Children is so good can
sleep happy"
She went out into the spring after
noon and walked down the avenue
The 10th of April-and only two years
ago Jack and went to NJ on a little
horseback party and he bought me q
great bunch of violets and fastened
them on the bride" She bought tiny
punch now and placed them in her coat
Just for "auld lang syne."
As she climbed the stairs to her tiny
apartments she felt that 1t was moi
well, and she was not surprised to fine
her mother quite i'll, and all thoughts OF
self and her own heartache were ban
ished.
1t was week before she was able Il
return to the office, the proof page:
were sent each morning and she work
ed on them hurriedly, and that wal
why she woke one morning with sud
ueh start and the instant wideawak
conviction that there was an error in ;
statement in her last article. She fel
cold sweat break out upon her fore
neau as she thought of it, but she de
'ernilned to 80 to the office at once an,
correct it.
"hen she came to her desk she foun
covered with mail, which she pu
asiue ana went at once to the mana
gers room. She could hear the presse
running at full speed and she knew a
every pound that dreadful error wa
being run off.
she found fresh sheet on her wa
anu opened 1t, but to her astonishmer
tne error had been corrected. She woI
uered who had discovered 1t, for tn
'ofms were electrotyped. and to chang
word meant to chisel off the old an
'oiuer on the new-Quite delicat
task.
She did not change her mind how
ever bui determined to 'own up" an
apOloglze for the error. II hope til
We" owner has not heard of it, whoevt
ae may be sne thought.
"Ah, yes yes, a slight error" said til
manager "but don't take it to heart.
ar Aacoinber saw 1t before the page
'1e eiectrotyped. You may think hi
an' Dir. Macomber, Jack, one momen
want you to meet our assistant edito
ASs Benson" Jacks tall, athletic fl
we rose from behind a roll-top des
'au pair of loving eyes met a pa
nishtened ones. Jack-a populi
auo man, downtown in business-aI
-, ' very magazine-and her new ell
p'Oyer! "Ah, l see you have met
we we and the manager went back
his corner.
rue pair looked at each other, star
confused. but very happy.
ionlent all barriers were dowr.
am sorry your first duties were
"t my mistakes" she said. and b
"e was low and as courteous as
-oulu have been to an employer The
twinkle In her eyes now.
u was happy employment, and
% correct others one, In fact. tn