The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1909-08-05
Typist
and frifler

spoke-that is to say. as comfortably
as the limitations OF Office furniture
psrmitted-in the only arm chair in
the room, and. crossing his legs. di.
rected a gracious smile at the typist.
who sat with the fingers Of one dainty
hand poised impatiently over the keys
q the typewriter at the other side Of
the table which divided them.
Il am sorry l cannot tell YOU" re.
piled the typist, gazing pointedly at
q heap Of unanswered letters before
her. Il do not know how long Mr.
Calthrop will be exactly"
"Ah," observed the Trifler in
meditative tone. there are so very
few things-are there not?-so very
few things in the world that anybody
does seem to know exactly Perhaps
It has never struck you how difficult it
"a to acquire exact knowledge Of g.
most anything"
NO" said the Typist. at never
has"
Y thought it probably hadn't" ad.
mitted the Triaer afably. yet. take
quite a common illustration. II you
ask passerby the time. he will either
tell you off-hand or he will glance at
his watch-if he is q polite person
and tell you that it is about half.Yast
three, say, or twenty minutes to six
as the case may te-vhereas. in point
Of fact. it never IS within five minutes
Of the time he asserts. His watch is
wrong. or he hasn't taken the trouble
to count the divisions on the dial be-
tween each fine minutes. What
wonderful thing that typewriter o.
yours is"
This typewriter" She looked -
1t him with mild surprise. why. It
10 quite an ordinary one"
Il suppose so" agreed the Trife-.
little regretfully. And you really
can write with it?'
"Wer. l should not be here IL
oould not" retorted the Tyr.5,.
should T."
81 don't know" said the Triaer.
I'm here. and can't'
-Oh. that's quite different Besides
-" she glanced at him deAantly-
what are you here for?"
For the matter OF that" replied
The Trifer, meeting her glance with
mruffed composure. what are you
here for?"
The Typist colored violently, and
1sr eyes dropped again to the pile OF
stters in front Of her.
II think that is rather an imperti-
lent question" she said t. q low
one.
The Triher gave an audit sigh.
at seemed to ne rather . pertinent
ne" he remarked, in r disappointed
otce. "Of course. 80. ARow what I'm
ERE for?"
TO see Mr.. t-.---op-you told ne.
Tut he's not ,l-I told you"
st doesn't matter at ALL" rejoined
1e Trifier airily. "Ill wait. have
othing to do for the next hour or SO.
I'd this is-er"-he gazed round the
,om with expansive appreciation.
IN extraordinarily comfortably Of
ce.''
Hadn't you-better go?" asked the
ypist in a low tone.
go, Before seeing Calthrop? Why,
would never forgive me-" protested
e Trifler. Il couldn't really dream
going yet. Besides"
81 don't see that there is any be
des' to keep you here" said the
ypist-
They say love is blind" murmured
q Trifler. with an air Of philosophic
distraction.
Il don't understand youl" said the
ypist, drawing herself Up.
Il am not in the least surprised 81
lat,' said the Trifer amiably. Very
" people do. II has long been ny
.te TO be misunderstood. Yet
)ped"-he paused and looked at the
ypist little unoasily y hoped" he
peated-by-the-bye, there is no
lrm in hoping, is there?" he broke
to inquire.
None that I Am aware Of" she re-
led, with her chin in the air.
We'll. then, hoped you did" he
:piained in italics.
imirable bcwilderment. Hoped l
4 WHAT"
The Trihe- spread out his hands
IA a gentle deprecating gesture.
You compel ne 10 be explicit" he
,postulated. IT'S so much less EN-
rrassing to approach these-er-
eliminaries In the elliptlcal manner
scept." he added as an after thought.
hen you have a typewriter handy"
4 have no wish 20 compel you 10
anything" retoTted the Typist.
nd it is quite time returned TO my
RI; so IL you viii kindly allow me,
:. Clavering--" She made him
lie ironical bow, and was in the &C,
sweeping past when the Trifcr.
h incredible dexteritr, caught her
the wrists and drew her back side
ys so that she faced him involun-
lily.
How dare you7" cried the Typist
juggling 10 free he-self
I am man OF simply extraordinary
1raCa" he evvlaf-aS Nov 10r'r