The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-11-30
LOVE BY GRAPH0PHONE.
BY ALICE LOvETT CARBON.

tcopyright, 1906. by Alice l.. Carson,
 The office of Horwitz and Mallon, wholesale brass manufacturers, shone with polished fixtures and fresh white wood. A pleasant. cheery place to work In, Mabel Thnrston. thought as she entered. She had come early that morning because it was the -last day If the month and a great deal of cor respondence had to be finished up. She greeted Dick, the office boy, before go- ing Into her own little sanctum. for as the 1graphophonist' of the firm she was given a,nook away from the rattle of tickers and other machines.
 The boss left a note fer you. Miss T'urston," said the boy as he followed her in, carrying an armful of wax cylinders. There 1t Is"
 Mabel read it as she opened and uus- ted off her typewriter. No. impor- tanf--to be done first. Then 5, and a c. HI
 She nodded understandingiy and fit- ted 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 started off; Take this letter to Messrs. Carroll and Briggs. Middle 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-like way. Other stenogra, phers and clerks came in, laughing and chatterins, and settled down to work and the office quickly resumed its usual active appearance.
 Hhrrying. for he was q little late, entered Pierce Mallon. the junior part ner He was Horwitz's nephew, e bright young fellow of twents-slx. He hesitated a moment, with flushed face and embarrassed air, before Miss Thurston's door. then moved on to the inner 0ffioa, Puzzling over the phras- ing of sentence. Mabel did not sec him enter though she always looked for his morning greeting and felt some- thing lacking in the day when she missed It. Of late the handsome boy who blushed and stammered whenever he spoke to her lad been often In heI thoughts
 Number 5, next" she thought pleas. usrhly, handing Dick a sheaf of letters to pc signed Dy Horwitz That cylln- der always contained Malion's core. apondence and she enjoyed hearing hts aympathettc voice.
 Please take this letter, Miss Thurs. ton" 1t began deferentially--so differ. ent from his uncle's abrupt manner ''Mr. Henry s. Wright, s45 Main street, Poughkeepsie, \. r., ny Dear Mir. Wright" and 90 continued, the girl drinking in every word.
 If you've finished that, the next is a personal note" Mallon's voice went on.f He stopped minute, then conEtn- ued with many halts and jerks snfs iits terance. Dear friend---no, navc dear friend-tust leave out the name (, Miss Thurston. My dear friend. though I've wanted to do SO many times iately-a-f frl fact, whenever l passed your door-- I've never had the courage to speak ta you of a matter on which feel very deeply. l don't know how youll regard this method of addressing you mo doubt 1t will seem to you as ruda as 1t Is unconventionRl--but must rtlf. the risk of offending you. Mass Thurs ton-Mabel--I love you and--' T
 With a sharp exclamation the giri started from her seat and tore the cap from her head. How dare youY' Bhe panted, her cheeks flaming with lnslRs nation. To take advantage of her po- aition to insult her in this way! Of caurse there were always little iokAa 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. began his letters by drawing out, My deah girl, if you love me take this" and steve Murphy, the business manager, sometimes interrupted hls correspon dence to tell a story in his lnimitani, Brogue, ending In lusty "Hawl navR' chat always made her laugh. aorwiLH frequently prefaced his dictation with remarks that consigned his correspon- dent to Jericho, but to think that Pierce Mallon, of all men, should be