The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1907-10-16

air.
wonderful! Wonder3ll!" MUIR
Injured the lawyer, as he leaned back
in his chair.
81 tell you, mother" he declared
at last, "our little girl is going to
surprise some people one OF these
days"
very likely" answered Mrs. Dean,
quietly.
Alice continued to make a monthly
visit home, and each time she was
able to play something new for her
father. He was greatly pleased at
her progress, although it seemed that
the xpens attached to it was con-
siderable, for at Thanksgiving she
asked him, with some apologies, for a
hundred and fifty dollars. Il shall
not need so much again, I hope" she
said, by way Of encouragement
You may call this my Christmas
present, papa"
At Christmas Alice was again at
home. At breakfast that morning
Mr.. Dean announced, as he usually
did on holidays, that he would spend
a part of the forenoon at his office.
81 am somewhat behind in my
work." he explained, "and there are
important letters that must be
written"
"Wait an hour or so before you go,
papa." said Alice, land l will go down
and tidy up a little for you. l know
that office must be a sight to behold"
So when the lawyer reached his
office, at about 10 o'clock, he found
his daughter established there, with
everything in "apple-pie order" as he
expressed it. But his attention was
at once attracted to n unfamiliar
article Of furniture. "Where in the
world did that typewriter come
from?" he demanded.
It should be explained that the
typewriter at that time, although 1t
had already made its way into pretty
general use in the city, was a novelty
in village Offices.
"Why, that is your present to me,
papa" Alice replied. Isn't it a
dear? And I can perform on it quite
well-much better, at any rate, than
1 ever could on the piano"
Her father stared in establishment.
"Why, what have you been doing?"
he asked, blankly.
Taking lessons in stenography and
typewriting, to be sure" she an
swered. And now I must show you
my present to you. Allow me-" she
said, with an elaborate gesture, ito
introduce Miss Alice Dean, your
future typewriter, st~enographer and
clerk"
A light broke in upon her fathers
mind. DO you mean that you have
been studying shorthand and type
writing instead Of music?"
"Why, yes" replied Alice. "The
truth is, l could never have made a
musician. Oh, of course l play a
little-mostly by ear; but really,
papa, if you must know, I didn't in
herit any ability in that direction to
speak of. I thought it would be much
better for ME to take lessons in some
thing that I could learn to do we'll,
and that would be Of use. So with
| the help of mother and the girls, I
planned this little Christmas surprise
for you. I hope it is a pleasant one.
You have needed assistance in the
Office for a long time, you know"
"Where did you learn all those new
pieces that you have been entertain
ing me with if you haven't been TAX
ing piano ~lessons?" asked the lawyer,
as if cross-examining a witness.
"Oh, 1 got those at Miss Sherman's
school Of stenography. You see, a
hand-organ played twice a week IN
der our window all the summer and
fall. 1t was very d%istracting, but I
couldn't help catching the tunes.
And now, papa. I want you to dictate
some of those letters to me, and see
what it means to have a ste~nographer
at your elbow. I may not do so very
we'll just at first, but I shall hope to
improve"
But at the end of an hour, when
Mr.. Dean was adding his signature
to several neatly typewriter letters,
he was obliged to admit that his vol
unteer clerk did very well indeed.
you would certainly be of great
help to me-" he said, land of curse
I should be delighted to have you in
the Office; but will you be contented
to spend your days writing letters for
a country ~lawyer?"
ooh, I don't intend to be contented
with that! l shall begin to study at
once"
Study" said Mr.. Dean, inquir-
ingly.
Eyes; study law, of course. And I
shall have a fine teacher-one of the
best-read lawyers in the State, so peo-
pie say"
"Do you mean that you intend to
enter the profession?" asked the law
yer, amused.
Certainly. Why not?" answered
Alice.
why, my dear child, there are
only two or three women lawyers in
the whole STATED"
well, then, when I'm admitted to
the bar there will be three or four.
You see, papa, I have chosen my
career. The law has always had a
fascination for me. But I never really
decided to try for it until my gradua-
ton day. Do you remember the talk
that you had with DR.. Carter that
afternoon? I heard part Of it.