The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-12-01
D
RchmonH
A MATTER OF DICTATION

that YOU returned my affection.
hope / am not mistaken. but If AVA
ten me the truth at once. II | am
not, want son TO marry me and SAL
Tor Europe on June the first. j7f-
Votedly. John Cfomlin,
Miss Benson took the letter with
shaking Fingers. But her lips wer"
compressed and told nothing OF the
inward struggle. to John Cromiin.
His eyes were on the ceiling and his
mind running ahead 10 the next let
ter
New take this" he said, as the
girl looked up ana signihed that the
other was finished.
Dear Miss Benson--~As | am to
he absent from Ne. York Tor the
next xix months it Will Of course he
necessary To close this Office during
inst time, and / shall he compelled 10
uB>Peu4e win your services for the
present. However. If YOU care To- be
governed bY my counse, / know ef
another plaee~-a mere agreeable one.
1 hope--N hteh | can secure for yea
without any trouble. Kindly Let me
have Your reply as soon as possible,
SO that II can he fled along with
other matter. ours sincerely,
John Cromlin +"
Vera Benson went through with the
second letter with a feeling OF iron
determination. 1t was Just as she
had apprehenaed. she was 10 be dis
charged from the Office and her en-
ployer. always kind aud gentle, was
breaking the news as carefully az he
could, Tears sprang TO her eyes, but
she dashed them away with self
scorn and hit her lips hard to bring
the blood back to them.
When the two letters had been
folded and laid aside. she took Up
two envelopes and ran one into the
machine, which she addressed to
Vera Benson.
Care Cromlin & West, Attorneys at
Law.
New York city"
MIR. West will return from the
South soon ?" she asked. doing her
best to seem matter fact.
Not until we come home from
Europe-Mrs. Cromlin and myself"
You forgot to give me the adj
dress for--for this other letter Mr..
Cromlin." she reminded him family,
as he seemed to be waiting for some
thing.
"Oh, I did" he exclaimed in a
tone of assumed surprise. How
careless of me. to be sure, But
but
Perhaps you didn't intend to. any
way" she supplied, stiftly, as he
seemed TO hesitate.
For the first time Cromlin felt
something of uneasiness stir In his
heart. He could not understand her
GOODNESS. He had thouKht-he had
been. in fact. So sure that she cared.
and now. He rose abruptly and
Went to her side, Suppose. after all.
that there WAS some one eise---that
he had been IA fool!
Vera" he broke out abruptly,
stung to speech by his fears. what
Is II? Are you--do you care for-for
some ONE"
DO | care for some one she de-
manded frigidly.
Yes
And may ! ask what right you
have 10 put such a question. Mr..
CromlIn ."
Il thought | had. ., he said slowly.
She looked up Al him thought
fully. You have been good and
generous to me always. and don't
mind admitting that---that / do care
for some one" she replied. Please
forgive my curtness. Have YOU any
thing else to dictate. Mr.. Cromlin 2"
No; am tired OF debating. r.
want some one To dictate to me for
awhile Are You ready To address
that letter -,
In silence. she took up the other
envelope and fed il to the machine
tromiin went 10 the back of her
chair land stood with one hand rest
ing on the top round of ii, He
spoke in IA concise, husiness-like tone.
Miss Vera Benson
2S46 West a7th Street,
: New York n "
A peremptory call on the tele-
phone intercepted his next move
mentr When he came back, Miss
Benson sat with both hands pressed
to Eef scorching face.
Well. he said. ~have you de-
cldfd to accept the other place ?"
She gave him her eyes for n brief
instant, they were moist and dark
and luminous.
lie bent and lifted her chin in his
hands. When do you begin your
dictation ?" he asked.
once she replied stcruly;
go back to your desk and take down
my answer to your letter.
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