The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1904-09-17

BY FLORA STEWART EMORY.


BY FLORA STEWART EMORY.
Miss Wright closed her typewriter
with her usual exactness. Somehow
one knew she was an old maid when
she did that. There was way she
did it-maybe because she was natur-
ally precise.
Yet Miss Wright had had many of
fers of marriage, and refused them
all. She was waiting for the man
who could completely FIJI her heart,
and none of those she had known
could do it. Sometimes she was
tired and weary waiting. Work was
either too slow or too fast. When it
was too slow she got real hungry
although no one knew it; no one be-
sides herself. When it was too fast,
her fingers ached and her heart
longed for rest even if she had to 90
hungry for it. But it did not do to
turn work away she could not af-
ford to be so independent.
Outside on the snow-covered pave
ment a little German band was play
ing Home, Sweet Home. =
II don't believe that am a bit
homesick any more, /" she unused,
leaning back in her chair. IT al
most think I am sorry, too, for being
homesick gave me something to cry
about when / heard music. One
must have something to lay the tears
to. They come so easily sometimes. =
The men had left their Offices rather
earlier than usual, and long before
Miss Wright laid aside her work the
big building was quiet.
no. II I.sWsil Will Re.. toQA If .M5Ey.uI NJ. Iava0alI
so much alone she had acquired the
habit of talking to herself, and it
seemed to comfort her at times to
hear her own voice.
Mr.. Jayson was the man for whom
she was doing twenty-five dollars
worth of typewriting. He was a
contractor and builder; more than
that, he was in love with Miss
Wright. But he was an Irishman
with a red face, and Miss Wright
adored beauty. She repeatedly re-
pulsed his advances, even when she
was longing for love.
IT want none of your halfway
business" she had told him, and at
his assurance of sincerity she had
only laughed. She was growing
cynical, as well as middle-aged.
AT six o'clock Mr.. Jayson had not
come and it was cold in the Office.
IT cannot understand why he has
disappointed me" she thought.
Then she smiled bitterly. He does
not realize / will have no Christmas
dinner. I suppose" she continued,
slowly drawing on her coat. She
glanced at the large pile Of manu-
script and then smiled again: "Let
me see," she said rehectively, "I'll
make my first course on the first
dozen sheets, guess. Twill try the
next dozen on the half-shell, only
| that there are so many figures in the
lot that ] fear they will not be very
digestible."
AS she turned toward the door,
she saw standing in the hall man
whose high fur collar completely hid
his face. He evidently did not see
her, although he appeared to be in a
listening attitude. She quietly closed
her door, for she did not want any
one to see her just then. Perhaps
she was homesick, for tears filed her
eyes in spite of herself.
"Oh, dear" " she thought, II need
not be hungry. Men are all alike
and / might as well marry before !
lose all my chances"
She opened her door quietly few
minutes later, intending to hurry
away-back to the little box-like
room she called ''home," for want Of
a better name. Still stationed there
was the man with the fur collar. He
heard her this time and turned to
look at her.
"I beg your pardon" he said in q
clear, musical voice, but can you tell
me where can find public stenog-
rapher? Twas directed to this floor,
but everyone seems to be gone. /
must get some work done tonight
and am willing to pay any price. -
Miss Wright almost smelled roast
turkey then, and she could have
shouted for Joy. She forgot her
tired, numb fingers; forgot every
thing, in fact, except that she would
have Christmas dinner after all.
The man sat down in the chair OPP
posite her and began to read slowly.
"Oh, / can take dictation faster
than that" she said pleasantly.
1--WE will never get through at such
rate"
He read faster then. Letter after
letter she wrote, each one filing her
with keen pleasure, not unmixed
with pain. They were 1ove-letters
from man to the woman he loved
loved just as Miss Wright had al.
ways wanted to be loved. Deep,
passionate words they were, and al
ways pleading, begging for a reply.
| She wondered how any woman could