The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1904-12-24
ANSWERED LOVE LETTERS.
A Story Of Christmas Time.
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 many offers
of marriage, and refused them all.
She was waiting for the man who
could completely fill 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-al-
though 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 go
hungry for it. But it did not do to
turn away work I; she could not afford
to be so independent.
Outside on the snow-c covered pave
ment little German band way blow
ing, Home, Sweet Home" !"
II don't believe / am a bit home
sick anymore" she unused, leaning
back in her chair. "I almost think
I'm sorry, too, for being homesick
gave me something to cry about when
/ heard music. One must have some
thing to lay the tears to. They come
SO easily sometimes. :"
The men had left their offices
rather earlier than usual, and long be-
fore Miss Wright laid aside her work
the big bsailding wac quiet.--------
1T will go, too, if Mr.. Jayson is
not late," she said aloud. Being 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 repulsed his advances,
even when she was longing for love.
ct 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 we'll as middle-aged.
At six o'clock Mr.. Jayson had not
come, and it was cold in the Office.
"I cannot understand why he has
disappointed me-" she thought.
Then she smiled bitterly. "He
does no realize I will have no Christ.
mas dinner, Isuppose, she continued,
slowly drawing on her coat. She
glanced at the large pile of manuscript
and smiled again: "Let me see, =
she said, rehectively, ''I'll make my
first course on the first dozen sheets
l guess. / will try the next dozen on
the half she'll, only there are SO many
figures in that lot I fear they will moi
be very digestible."
AS she turned towards the door
she saw standing in the hall mar
whose high fur collar completely hic
his face. He evidently did not SEE
her, although he appeared to be in {
listening attitude. She quickly closet
her door, for she did not want any
one to see her just then. Perhaps
she was homesick, for tears filled hel
eyes in spite of herself.
ooh, DEAR" she thought, 81 need
not be hungry. Men are all alike
and 1 might as we'll marry before
lose all my chances
She opened the door quietly a few
minutes later, intending to hurry
away-back to the little box-lik'
room she called home" T" for want o
a better name. Still stationed ther'
was the MAJ with the fur collar. H
heard her this time, and turned t.
look at her.
"I beg your pardon" he said in
clear musical voice, ''but can you tel
me where can find public stenog
rapher? I was directed to this floor
but everyone seems to be gone.
must get some work done tonigh
and am willing to pay any price"
Miss Wright almost smelled roas
turkey then, and she could .hav
shouted for 10y. She forgot he tired
numb fingers forgot everything, i
fact, except that she would have
Christmas dinner after all.
The man sat down in chair op
posite hers, and started to read slowly
"Oh, can take dictation faste
than that" she said pleasantly. w
will never get through at such
rate"
He read faster then. Letter afte
letter she wrote, each one filling he
with keen pleasure, not unmixe
with pain. They were love-letter
from a man to the woman he loved
loved just as Miss Wright had alway
wanted to be loved. Deep, passion
ate words they were always pleading
begging for reply. She wondere
how any woman could receive such
letter as any one of them, and nc