Middletown transcript., 1905-09-30

fondest fancy had painted it | took a
towel and, spreading it on the floor, turned
the basket upside down, and dumped
every bit Of paper into it. Then knotted
the ends tight and slung it over my arm.
Oh, 1t was easy-easy All had to do
then was to open the door and, instead Of
letting it latch itself behind me. leave it
slightly ajar. / was out. ! had got my
back to the door fortunately, most fortu-
nately, and I was giggling to myself with
delight when-when, as though shot from
ont of the blue. Benson appeared before
me.
bent over quickly almost double, to
hide my bundle) and in a voice of an
guished uncertainty, the voice Of the
female in distress because something's
given away, stammered
IL beg your pardon, have you got
pin?'
Oh-and to Benson, bashfnl Benson,
who can't talk to woman without blush
ing to what was once the roots of his hair.
In spite OF my terror and agitation ]
wished could see his face. ; couldn't.
But could hear his embarrassed voice.
emo, ma am," he bleated. But
but shall | go downstairs and get you
one ~
"Please," j faltered.
And with feetness that betrayed his
emotion he ran downstairs.
BY the time he got back | was safe in
my own room. How relieved he must
have been not to find me WAITED there
in the dark, listening. was wondering,
should lie notice the empty basket under
the desk, whether he'd conclude that
some housemaid had been cleaning up.
But / needn't have worried. He was
able, evidently, in his methodical, old
maidish way, to put his hand on the
thing he wanted in a minute, and, slam
ming the door behind him, lie was out
again and down the stairs.
So was I. | got to the door of my old
room and had my shorthand man at work
within five minutes. While he tran
scribed, was matching ill-sorted halves.
We must have worked together for hours
and we didn't hit upon that list Of pur-
chasable legislators till nearly the last
page. | didn't realize how long we'd
been at til was SO absorbed in it all
till bell-boy came up with great bunch
of roses.
From Ted. | looked at my watch.
Nine, and we were to have started for the
Capitol at half-past.
Tell Mr.. Thompson, | said to the
boy, ''that Miss Massey has hurt her
ankle and can't be ready till ten"
Then we went at it again. | gave that
shorthand man an order on the office for
hundred dollars for his evenings work
and as reward for discretion. But |
didn't tempt him too far. didn't let his
transcription 60 out Of my hand till had
filed it with the telegraph operator. And
every single one Of those half-sheets Of
Benson's | tied carefully back in the
towel. Then dismissed the stenograpler.
Then upstairs once more, up on the
! trunk / hadn't counted on Benson spring
ing the lock Of the door AGAIN. over on
the most undignifed Of details-say that
the writer's is a sendentary life another
wrench of that unfortunate ankle, the
papers dumped back into the basket, and
Rhoda Massey back in her room with
two maids to help her get into her ball
gown.
=
Said Ted as we paraded through the
crowded hall:
81 wish some miracle might make life
all one long inaugural ball, in which ones
partner is a witch in pink with an ankle
damaged just enough to prevent her dane
ing away with other men. Are you aware
how triumphantly sweet you look, Miss