The indicator., 1904-08-13
A Scientific
Experiment
BY Robert C. ". Meyers
Copyright. 1904, by Robert c. v. Meyers
RS. VAN sTYLERT heard her
secretary's foot on the stnirs.
II must keep 1t up" she said.
sUt ia q duty QUO har

M secretary's foot on the stairs.
II must keep 1t up" she said.
ut is a duty I owe her. I
went to school with her mother"
That day she was specially hard with
the young lady, who for nearly three
months now had been coming an hour
each afternoon to write little notes and
cast up troublesome accounts, an office
which she also undertook for several
Of Mrs. Van stylert's most intimate
friends.
1t was on that same day that Mrs.
Van Stylert, noticing the neatness of
the girls prim collar and cuffs. accused
her Of being cut out for an old maid.
The secretary smiled, as cheerfully ad-
mitting the impeachment. Also that
afternoon Tom Harroway stopped for
8 o'clock tea, as had been the case
many days Of late. As he slipped the
cup that cheers, but not inebriates, bis
hostess expanded upon the charms Of
Charlotte Templeton.
HaToway put his cup down laugh
ingly.
"You know enthusiasm has gone
out" he said.
"Along with a good many other hon
est things" she grumbled. .girlishnesa
and all that sort of thing. Everybody
Is too sophisticated nowadays; preti
ness is swamped by 80 called artisti<
ideas, and 80 on. Look at this room
Everything is pink that can be made
pink. and furbelowed and founcy-not
a bit artistic. The low tones In the
furnishings OF some of my friends give
me the blues for week after I have
encountered them. l like brightness
1 never will believe in hiding light un
der bushel Of dingy rugs and drs
peries which began their existence il
wretched oriental huts, half DWELLING
and half camel stables"
"Yes," he laughed. 81 have rug thai
was a prayer carpet, covered all ovei
with Syrian remarks in worsted tha,
I am positive are wriggling expostula
tons against the dull reds and blues
1t is delicious"
"And look how young women dress,'
she went on, ignoring him. THAT u
young women with ideas. For in
stance, Miss Seton. Pardon the per
sonality, Amy, but you are such Al
example. You come here day aftel
day looking like a masculine nun II
your severe tailor made black frock
I like duttiness in the street In day
time as well as under the awful elec
tries of bathrooms at night. Electric
light! No complexion will stand It
and yet girls today brave 1t as thouSf
they intend some time to become IN
Christian martyrs"
The ormolu clock on the lace drapet
mantelpiece struck 8. The sscrstarJ
closed her desk.
there's another thing" Mrs. Va,
stylert continued. "You engage q per
son for an hours work. On the strska
Of that hour the person vanishes-nt
interest in the work, NO apprecativt
gratitude"
The secretary's face flushed.
Good eveningr' she said, usvtnl
toward the door.
Tomorrow afternoon" her smpIoysI
said crisply, .at 4. sharp"
The girl left the room.
Don't you think" Harroway ~
marked. "you are a trine-ah-ssvss,
with the lady, Mrs. Van s.T
II am sick of the status of enpioyst
people," retorted Mrs. Van SUlsrt
"Everything nowadays IL respect to
labor none for those who employ Il
No, Miss Seton is alone In the woeA
She has imbibed too many lofty -
tons. am treating her as my naoths'
might have treated a secretary, II 80
rstaries had been a part of my Deth
sr's miseries."
He shrugged his shoulders-
~ know" she said. '.you do nst -
mire her.
Rather say" he interposed, II hav,
scarcely noticed her till the last msHtl
or So"
when my severity as you call Il
attracted your attention to her," sf'
responded. "And she admitted only
yesterday that she had not noticed yo<
either"
He gave her a quick look.
"Oh, yes," she pursued: II have TOLD
her that it has been a year since yot
left college and that now you are
full fiedged Idle man Of fashion. Sh,
eurIed her lip-they used to curl thsdl
lips in the stories l read when l wal
young-and said the world Is no plae,
for idiers; that q man should do BIZ
best to achieve position not ALREADY
established for him by his father. Still
like her. l went to school with he
bility for her. That is why am try
ing to make her realize her true posi-
ton. She can't afford to give me up
have had her employed by my friend'
and could easily take that employment
from her. She was quite helpless wher
she came to me. She had nursed hel
mother for years. and her income diet
with her mother. I advised her to be
come secretary. Hand me that fan
please; this heat is unbearable," though
the room was certainly not warm.
She continued to fan herself arts
Harroway had betaken himself b
other scenes. mo wonder am bot,
she told herself. "I am an advance
woman, too, though never discoveret
that till recently. However, l intent
to investigate the tendencies Of today
to And out II young men and youni
women are the same as they used Il
be in spite Of all their superiority Il
the little things of life. But how vul
gar scientific experiments make yo1
feel! All the same. Tom Harroway'
Mther was one of my earliest beam
and I went to school with Amy SET
toms mother"
Next day when the secretary CAM
Mrs. Van Stylert was more difficult I,
pleaSe than ever.
"Parion me. Amy" she said at on
moment, when she had severely con
Gomned the present mode Of calig