Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1906-03-14
said. "and shall want rne carriage

tiOu lldL was lTeluUlluS Ou ueE lips,
but her pleading eyes were fixed on
I4eslie's face. Presently Leslie looked
up, smiling.
You must brush that serge dress
we'll. Norah, and see that have
clean collar and cuffs ready for to-
morrow, and, Norah, bring my break
fast to my room. have to leave
home at eight o'clock. You see,
Moran, l couldn't arrange very well
to find the right substitute for Della
she's so clear-headed and deft that
just anybody wouldn't be accepted
so thought the best thing could
do was to substitute for her myself.
had no trouble. said | was a
friend of Delia's and competent, and
l asked the editor to try me for a
week. didn't know Office work took
SO much out of body, Norah. It's
harder than examining at college, but
it's interesting, too"
You don't mean it, Miss Leslie!
You can't mean it! What would
Mr.. Sherman say If ne knew"
MY father? l don't think he'd
mind 1t, Norah. He'd like me to
know the practical side. But he'd
tell me couldn't work all day long
and go to dinners and dances after.
ward. I've always wondered at the
settlement how girls could endure
working all day and having fun, as
they call it, in the evening. ] shall
know better how to talk to them after
this"
Norah was sobbing by this time.
Miss Leslie Sherman. young wo-
man with everything earth had to
give, substituting for, Della Conway
in an Office! 1t disturbed Norah's
sense. OF the fitness of things a1d
hurt her more than 1t pleased her.
Leslie cut short her sobs with firm
tone that was like sharp command
to refractory child.
Stop crying at once, Norah, and
fasten my gown. Understand that
wish to do this, and that you are
not to cry about it. l am going to
be Virginia Leslie at the Office till
Della gets WELL and all you have to
do is to keep my secret here"
Miss Sherman, may present Mr..
Willoughby said the hostess of the
evening little later. Mr.. vii.
loughby will take you in to dinner,
my dear"
Mr.. Willoughby was tall, thin,
clea1.shaven man, with somewhat
ceremonious manner, and very near.
sighted eyes, which were aided by
spectacles.
Leslie had her hand lightly on
his arm as they walked into dinner.
Her spirits were gIly effervescent,
but her manner was demure. She
had been taking dictation from Mr..
Roger Willoughby all that day.
Several of the women present were
interested in settlement work, and
We're engaged in preparations for a
bazaar which was expected to net
a large sum for favorite cnarity.
You'll serve at my flower booth,
won't YOU, Miss Sherman" said one
Thank you, Miss Montgomery
you'll have to excuse me. My par.
ents are away, and my winter will
be a busy one. But I'll come and
buy flowers.
Are you going to live at the set
tlement?"
Part of the time.,' Leslie replied
You are one OF those benevolent
young women who leave home and
live at settlements, are you?" In
quired Mr.. Willoughby, with per.
functory air.
Occasionally do" replied Leslie
You ii never do much good in that
Way" he answered. THE working
girl sees through the sham and re.
sents it. A girl who lives as lady
at home cannot understand the alph'
abet of what the real working girl
needs and meets every day.
Leslie turned to him with greater
interest.
You speak positively"
"Of course i do. l have a good
deal of experience with clerks and
stenographers. They can and do help
one another finely. Why, | have had
an example before me this very
day"
Indeed! Tell us the story" said
the hostess, overhearing the last re
mark.
''l've had Jewel of stenographel
for the last six months. She's Ill
and has had to leave the office fol-
a time. This morning friend OF
hers came and took her place, stipu
lating that the salary was to be sent
every week to the sick girl. The
girl who came in is competent and
accurate, quiet and ladylike, with the
air of her own middle class, OF course
and she hasn't an idea that she is
doing very kind thing. She's not
anything in particular to look at
just a plain. neat girl, who appears
to know her business tolerably well
1t takes the poor to help the poor
WV saNAA I'll ehSkA0A 10 Ills S5lll :
is worth all the settlement worl,
young ladies play at, in my opinion
Leslie blushed. She felt angry
with the man beside her. When din
ner was over her hostess said:
How did you like Mr.. Wlllough
by? You know, he's rising man
He's writing on sociological prob
lens. l thought you could entertain
him best"
Il think he's very self-conceited,'
Leslie answered. Next time let me
have some nice boy. 1 don't think
quite like rising men,
The next day in the office there
was not the faintest sign on. Mr.
Willoughby's part that he had eve,
seen his stenographer before, nor on
hers that she had met him. The
preoccupied, impersolal girl who sal
at her typewriter mad nothing to dc
with the attractive young woman who