The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-03-18
[copsrlsht 1910, by Associated Lit

tcop,right, 1910, by Associated Lit
erary Press
Dalton was a diffident man. This
niffldence. however, did not protect
him from the subtle Vaccinations OF
pne. Greek god. Eros. d.
Miss Holly, Dalton's substitute ste
4 ssographer. was, In the eyes of the IN
fatuated young insurance man, the
nrettiest girl in all the world Her
dark, wavy hair. black eyes, and her
slight. graceful form were indeed all
that WAS to be desired, and the fresh
dafntiness Of the maid subjected her
4 employers heart to excited pit-a-pats
each time she entered the Office.
Miss Moore. Dalton's regular
ty1sist, and sn antique that had been
nansied down to the successive own
ers OF the business since Its estab-
4 lishment, was a vinegarfaced person,
and her mere presence In the Dalton
sanctum had been a keener incentive
for him to plunge recklessly into the
complexities of business. Miss Sophia
Moore was conspicuously homely.
Miss Moore was no demonstrative.
4 She either answered yes or ho to her
employers rare questions, and she
knew his business better than he did
~
head of the local branch of the bust
mess his stenographer had been faith.
Sfuffy 1T nnr JEsK each day. Nor had
she awaited herself of proposed yaca-
xxons.
Therefore Dalton. arriving one
morning, was most agreeably sur
prised to find the Office ancient sub.
xtituted BY a most pleasing creation
In femininity.
She raised her eyes in a compre'
hensive inventory Of Dalton and ther
dropped them demurely.
II am Miss Holly" well-bred lit
tie voice explained. Miss Moore''
N substitute stenographer."
II was like Miss Moore, In her su
peTior eEotism. to put some one IL
her place without first consulting thu
Wishes of her employer.
Isis Miss Moore iil?" Daltoi
Was bashful in the presence of womei
especially when they were prett,
women. He would have liked to Civ
q frigid touch to the question, but t.
his intense disgust his voice brok
\ To frightened squeak. The red blot
n ted the bronze from his thin cheeks.
--Oh, not Miss Holly glanced Gu
: FIons1y at the young proprietor ''Sh
isn't Ill. She has decided To take
vacation that is ALL
/ s II = II Funny, unused Dalton aloud
That she didn't say anything about Il
Not he added ironically, that n !
amy af my business. only--well, oftic
y etiquette. YOU kuow-~er--sort of pre-
4 serves the custom"
Lii wak the girls turn to blush.
Fl am sure / know nothing abou
II. she advanced coldly. Then, wit
touch of the hateur of the real in
q cum bent OF that particular chair o
stenosraphy. she said; Amy letters?
Dalton ruffied the thick. black hal
over his broad brow with puzzled fin
GERS
I'll believe So" he responded, hi
moment of temeri,y gone. II
why, yes. / believe there are few"
Tlfe girl was no adept either wit
D THE machine or pencil. Several time
4 she cast appealing eyes toward tn
young man, causing him 10 hounde
woefulIy in his dictstion Telepathi
raliy. Dalton received this message
u Not so fast, please" once spoties
y 3heetsln their elnnrsapEi fft-sa tn
typewriter. were spotisss no Longer
but smuugeti, and BIT into by a
emery toothed ink eraser. Dalto
~ xlngeriy fingered an sstf asian positivei
bristling with errors,
by the way. Miss Holly casual
81 ESktV the rear estate man. WHAT Dusl
ness school did you graduate fror
and whore were you employed prev
oas To your coming here %
An eloquent silence caused him I
turn and stare at the white-faced CIR
There was n terrorized, hunted loo
la her eyes hard TO define,
Never mind" added the man, has
\ aiy. Mere idle curiosity you know
n he ended weakly. I--er--just wor
dered.
Miss Holly gave II relieved gasp.
"0ne would have thought ! ha
sentenced her to be shot" grumbie
Dalton TO himself. His thoughts rt
verted 10 the absent Miss Moore, an
her sublime nerve in leaving TIL
most inca pable slip OF a girl In he
u place And still
He Was glad
Dalton, although uncomfortable !
the presence of pretty girls. was
naogt appreciative admirer--at Il dis
4 kancH. The other sex. in whole
some, honest way, appealed to hin
e But a hard struggle with Fate ma
r given more frivolous youths wit
fioting fathers and unlimited ban
- -" ~