The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1905-04-07

4
made him glad.
I'll may put my hat on your deskT
she asked. laying neat felt hat on the
bop OF bis desk. She had only a fiat
table.
"oh--oh, no." he said. "Let mel
say, We will have to have hook over
there above the washbowl. Yes, put II
there" What nuisance women were,
be tried to convince himself. A wom-
ans hat on a mans deskl
An atmosphere Of strangeness, Of en-
barrassment and awkwardness filled
the tiny oesce all day. and yet Brad
ford did not look at the dirty. dingy
elevated road for light as be had been
accustomed. II was brighter in the Of.
Ace. He dictated his letters and was
pleased to note their faultless pages,
their neat arrangement, their work.
naniike appearance. Perhaps, after all,
q woman could learn to be business
like.
II will bring a little mirror and-a
towel and some soap In the morning,
Mr. Bradford. II you don't mlnd,' she
said as she left. Good night"
"A mlrrorr' Bradford sighed. This
was only the beginning. But he was al
ways glad when 9:30 arrived and sorry
when closing time came Business
seemed TO increase; he sent out 80
many letters. Miss Henderson was
quick. and often she suggested little
ideas for featuring goods he was ad-
yertisins and quoting.
When she asked II she might have .
box Of flowers In the narrow window
Bradford put his hands in his pockets
and strobe up and down the room. But
she had her way, and soon a box OF
blooming nasturtums gave the dingy
room a cheerful aspect. Every morn.
ing before he was ready to give her
his letters she watered them with q
ridiculous little red watering pot.
OftentImes after Miss Henderson had
left In the evening Bradford stood over
the tiny flower bed and soliloquized.
How different the Office seemed! How
bright aud clean his desk always look.
ed! How much the mirror added, and
the clean towel. and-and these flowers!
They grew and bloomed happily under
her care What would noti
n
Miss Henderson" began Bradford
one afternoon when she was leaving
early, Il am glad ! added the word
preferred to my advertisement for a
stenographer three months ago"
The girl looked surprised, but she
was not
"YesT'
'Tf ! had simply said male you
would never have ventured to apply"
He twisted his penwiper-one she had
made hIm-into an unsIghtiy string.
sYes?"
IL have never approved Of women
In business"
She put her hatpins in carefully, slow
ly. "NoT' she intlmated by an eleva.
ton OF her brows.
"Nor-nor anywhere" he confessed
i've always argued to the contrary"
"But argument does not prevail In
! anything which matters seriously" ad'
mitted the girl.
"And this matters seriously. Mario
rie," he said. moving toward her. I'll
matters awfully. | have to have one
in business and-and everywhere VIII
you let me have herr know II isn't
businesslike butt love you.
Marjorie Henderson looked at him
sQuarely In the eyes. "And ] prefer g
partnership to salaried position. You
come to the house tonight, and wen
talk II over with mother. II need NOT
be all business then"
Bradford has little want" adver-
tisement framed above the desk in his
private office today, right over her pho
tograph, for the business has grown,
and there are many clerks-but all
male preferred"