The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-11-12
THE EVENING STORY
Love by ~Graphophone.

$1,000 - 49, 49,
in, Mabel ThurstOn thought as she en-
tered. She had come early that morn
ing because it was the last day of the
month and a great deal of correspond
ence had to be finished up. She greet
ed Dick, the Office boy, before going into
her own little sanctum, for as the
"graphophonist" of the firm h was
given a nook away from the rattle Of
tlckers and other machines
The boss left a note fer you, Miss
Thurston," said the boy as he followed
her in, carrying ar armful of wax cyl
inders. There it is"
Mabel read it as she opened INC
busted off her typewriter. nc. 3 i'm
portant-to be done first. Then 3, 4 and
2. c. H"
She nodded understandingly and fitted
cylinder No. 3 into the graphophone that
stood on the table at her elbow Then
she wound up and started the machine,
and having fastened about her head
the cap that held the tubes against her
ears sat down prepared for work.
The instrument buzzed a few seconds,
then tsarted off. Take this letter TO
Messrs. Carroll and Briggs, Middle OK
bury, Mass" began the gruff voice of
Carl Horwitz. She could almost see the
sharp glances he gave from under his
bushy eyebrows while he dictated. The
typewriter began to rattle in a business
Xix way. Other stenographers and
clerks came in, laughing n chatterings
and settled down to work and the office
quickly resume its usual active ap-
pearance.
Hurrying, for he was a little late. en-
tered Pierce MallOn, the junior partner.
He was HOrwitz's nephew, a bright
young fellow of &c. He hesitated a mo-
ment, with flushed face and embar-
raised air, before Miss Thurston's door,
then moved on to the inner Office Puz-
zlfng over the phraSfne of a sentence,
Mabel did not see him enter, though
she always OOked for his morning
greeting and felt something lacking to
the day when she missed it. Of late
the handsome boy who blushed and
stammered whenever he spoke to her
had been often in her. thoughts.
Number 5 next" she thought pleas
urably, handing Dick a sheaf of let
ters to be signed by Horwitz. That
cylinder always contained Mallon's
correspondence and she enjoyed hear
ing his sympathetic voice.
please take this letter, Miss Thurs
ton" It began deferentiaIly-so diff
ferent from his uncle's abrupt man
ner. Mr.. Henry S. Wright, S45 Main
street. Poughkeepsie, N. z. My lear
Mr.. Wright" and so continued, the girl
drinking in every word.
If you've finished that. the next is
a personal note Mallon's voice went
on. He stopped a minute, then contin-
ued with many hats and Jerks Of ut
terance. Dear friend-no. my lear
friend-just leave out the name, Miss
Thurston. My dear friend, though
I've wanted to do SO many times lately
fact, whenever 1 passed your door
I've never q the courage to speak
to 0 of a matter on which 1 feel very
deeply. I don't know how you'll re-
grad this method Of addressing you
no doubt it will seem to you as rude as
it is unconventional-but I must run
the risk of offending you. Miss Thurs
ton-Mabel@I owe you and
With & sharp exclamation the girl
started from her zaaf and tore tho
cap from her head. How dare you 2"
she painted, her cheeks hamfng with
indignation. To take advantage of her
position to insult her in this wayi OF
course there were always little jokes
that the instrument permitted Of
things the men would not say to her
face, but never anything of this nature.
James Cate, Horwitz's secretary, be-
gan his letters by drawing out, my
deah girl, If you love me axe this
and Steve Murphy, the business mana
ger, sometimes interrupted his cores
p~ondence to tell a story in his inimit-
able brOgue, ending in a lusty "Hawf
haw!' that always made her laugh.
Horwitz frequently prefaced his dicta-
ton with remarks that consigned his
correspondent to Jericho, but to think
that Pierce Mallon, of all men, should
be guilty of a vulgar practical joke like
thisl
She jerked the paper off her type
writer and tore it into bits. Then she
stopped the g~raphophone and changed
the cylinder for another. II Mr.. Nal
Ions letters are not all written today
it's his fault she thought hotly.
with a feeling of joy that III could
punish him thus.
But a dull ache that would not cease
remained in her heart. though she told
herself over and over again the the
fellow was a cad and a boor and she
despised herself for ever taking him for
a gentleman. Her pillow that night
was wet with some bitter tea1s, as she
tossed sleeplessly on the narrow board
ing Jus bed. It Is lard to give up
ideals when one is only twenty-five.
The same cylinder was frequently
used more than once, for the surface
could be shaved moot ready for an
other impression, so No. 3 was brought
in e morning by Dick, and though
Mabel instinctively dreaded It. she
could not refuse to take it with the rest.
Mallon's voice began at once without
introduction.
Il have offended you deeply know.
You thought it was a practical Joke
and a poor one at that. Pardon me
for being such a bOOr. but indeed. I
meant every word. 1t wasn't a joke,
but dead earnest, for I love you, love
you. love you"-his voice broke passion
ately. "Ah, forgive me-" he went on
contritely, Il am offending you again,
Dul L Call De silent WNen the phone
tempts me, and 1 dare not speak to
you face to face. Can't you pity me at
least?"
AS she listened, the girls expression
changed from Indignation to surprise,
then to doubt. Perhaps" she said IN
certainly. "he is speaking the truth after
all. Perhaps I misjudged him-Oh, I
hope I havei' with the sudden realiz-
alton of her own feeling, she hid her
face in her hands.
Next day. when she came to cylinder
No. 5 in the routine Of correspondence.
Mabel found herself hoping for the
little personal message which should
give assurance to her heart. It came
abruptly but decidedly.
I'm going to stop this sort Of thing
Mabel. It smacks Of cowardice. and I
want to be worthy of your respect. I
mean to put my fate to touch at once,