Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1907-04-04
Love by
Graphophone
By Alice Lovett Carson
Copyright 1905, by Alice l.. Carson


wood. A pleasant, CHEEKY place to
work in, Mabel Thurston thought as
she entered She had come early that
morning because it was the last day
of the month and great deal of CORE
spondence had to be finished up. She
greeted Dick, the office boy, before 60
Ing into her own little sanctum, for, as
the "graphophonist' 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 cyl
inders. There it is"
Mabel read it as she opened and
busted off her typewriter. mo. 8 i'm
portant-to be done first. Then 8, 4
and .. c. H"
She nodded understandingly 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 the work.
The instrument buzzed a few sec
onds, then started off. "Take this let
ter to Messrs Carroll & Briggs, Mid
die Roxbury, Mass" began the gruf
voice of Carl Horwitz. She could al
most see the sharp glances he gave
from under his bushy eyebrows while
he dictated. The typewriter began to
rattle in a businessllke way. Other
stenographers and clerks came in,
laughing and chattering and settled
down to work, and the Office quickly
resumed its usual active appearance.
Hurrying, for he WAS a little late, en-
tered Pierce Mallon, the Junior part
ner. He was Horwitz's nephew,
bright young fellow Of twenty-six. He
hesitated a moment, with flushed face
and embarras ssed air, before Miss
Thurston's door, then moved on to the
inner Office Puzzllng over the phras-
ing of a sentence, Mabel did not see
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 had been often in her
thoughts.
"No. 5 next" she thought pleasur-
ably, handing Dick a sheaf of letters
to be signed by Horwitz. That cylin-
der always contained Mallon's CORE
spondence and she enjoyed hearing his
voice
please take this letter, Miss Thurs
ton" II began deferentially-so differ
ent from his uncle's abrupt manner.
"Mr. Henry s. Wright. S45 Main street,
Poughkeepsie, y. Y. My dear Mr..
Wright" and so continued, the girl
in every word.
"If you've finished that, the next is
a personal note Mallon's voice went
on. He stopped a minute, then con-
tinued with many halts and jerks Of
utterance. Dear frlend-no, my dear
leave out the name, Miss
Ny dear friend, though I've
wanted to do so many times lately
In fact, whenever l passed your door
I've never had the courage to speak to
you of a matter on which / feel very
deeply. l don't know how you'll re-
gard this method Of addressing you.
No doubt 1t will seem TO you as rude
as 1t Is unconventional, but l must run
the risk Of offending you. Miss Thurs
love you and
With a sharp exclamation the girl
started from her seat and tore the cap
from her head. How dare your sho
painted, her cheeks flaming with in
1ignatlon. To take advantage Of her
position to insult her In this way! or
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 ma
ture. James Cate, Horwitz's secre-
-ary, began his letters by drawing
put. my deah girl, IL you love me
take this" and Steve Murphy, the
business manager, sometimes inter
.upted his correspondence to tell a
story In his inimitable brogue, ending
n a lusty "Haw! Haww that always
made her laugh. Horwitz frequently
prefaced his dictation with remarks
hat consigned his correspondent to
Jericho, but to think that Pierce NAL
on, Of all men, should be guilty of
Tulgar practical joke like this!
She jerked the paper of her type
writer and tore II into bits. Then she
stopped the graphophone and changed
he cylinder for another. "If Mr.. NAL
t's his own fault" she thought hotly,
With a feeling Of joy that she could
punish him thus.
But dull ache that would not cease
'emalned In her heart, though she told !
lerself over and over again that the |
'ellow was a cad and q boor and she |
lespised herself for ever taking him |
or gentleman. Her pillow that |
light was wet with some bitter tears |
Is she tossed sleeplessly on the narrow |
boarding house bed. 1t Is hard to |
,ive up ideals when one is only TWEEN |
y-two.
The same cylinder was frequently |
lsed more than once, for the surface |
,ould be shaved smooth ready for an
'ther impression. so No. was brought |
n next morning by Dick, and, though |
label instinctively dreaded it, she |
'ould not refuse to take it with the
est. Mallon's voice began at once
Without introduction:
II have offended you deeply, know.
you thought 10 was practical joke.
Ind poor one at that Pardon me fol
)eing such boor; but, indeed, meant
very word. 1t wasn't joke, but dead
for l love you, love you, love
7ou"- His voice broke passionately.
All, forgive me-" he went on contrite-
Y. Il am offending you again, but /
ant be silent when the phone tempts
ne. and | dare not speak to you face
o face. Can't you pity me at least"
AS she listened the girls expression