Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1911-09-21
Wanted:
A Stenographer
By JANE OSBORN

Copyright, 1911. by Associated literary


Copyright, 1911. by Associated Literary press.)
William Gordon's open, boyish face
clouded with a perplexed frown. He
propped his feet Internationally on his
waste-paper basket and looked vaguely
into the sleet-tlled atmosphere visible
from his twentieth story Office win
dow.
William had come to the startling
discovery that he was in love with his
stenographer. Constance Peck He did
not know much about her save that a
year before she had been left an or
phan, and had come to the great city
with its chances of work; that she had
turned to stenography as means Of
making living; that she had been
sent TO him in answer to a request at
the business school where she had
studied; and that she lived alone in
third-rate boarding house.
But about Constance, the young wo-
man he had fallen in love with, he
knew great deal He knew that her
soft brown eyes made him forget the
worries and discouragements of his
struggling young law practice; that
her sweet voice reminded him, some
how. of bird that used to sing in his
fathers apple orchard when he was
child; that her comforting presence
had become real necessity to him.
and thousand other things about her
that he. unused on by himself
Rnf William woo frop1,1ol woe
one thing to be in love with the young
woman who worked for him; it was
another thing to tell her. He could
not, as he would have done if Con-
stance had been anyone else than his
stenographer. lead up gradually to the
all-lmportant question. Constance, he
knew from experience, would refuse
invitations to dinner or the theater on
the ground that he and she were only
business acquaintance, and love-mak-
Ing when he was debating business
letters or talking over Office work was
out Of the question to man like Will
liam
Bother it ALL" said William; 81
don't even know where her boarding
house is. and don't dare ask her to
let me call; she'd think was plying
her. and girl like Miss Peck wouldn't
stand for that"
So William decided to let things go
on as they were; as long as Constance
worked for him. she would at least be
near him. and in course of time, he
hoped, she might come to feel as he
did.
Though | don't see how girl like
Constance could care for duffer like
me-" he said
In the little outside office, where
freckled Johnny jerks, the office boy.
and waiting clients-when there were
any-usually kept her company, Con
stance Peck sat before her typewriter.
Her brown eyes were filed with trou.
Bile. and her thoughts wandered from
the quirls and flourishes in the note.
book by her side For Constance Peck
was owning to herself that she was In
love with her employer.
Il ought to leave" said Constance
to herself. at isn't his fault, though,
and suppose leaving would put him
In hole for another stenographer.
Well. I'll just stick it out, and maybe
sometlme-No; man like Mr.. Cor
don couldn't care for girl like me.
that's certain. Anyway, If l stay I'll
be near him every day. and that's
something"
Johnny's chatter broke in unpleas-
antly on her speculations.
Jaw. pshaw!" said Johnny. You're
worse than the boss The two of
you've got something on your minds"
and he nodded wisely as he tried to
get telephone number.
Johnny" said Miss Peck, i've got
to have quiet or I'll never get my
work done. III give you a dime If
you'll go take little walk for half
an hour"
So 1t was that, some twenty minutes
later. William Gordon, his resolve to
let things CO." resolutely In ais mind,
walked into the outer office to find his
stenographer. struggling with SINH
lar resolve, sitting alone before her
typewriter Tears shone in her dark
eyes.
Where's that scamp of boy?" de-
manded William. iercely, thinking per
haps the boy was the cause OF the
tears.
Il bribed him to go for walk" said
Constance. Then. without moments
warning to poor, defenseless William.
two big tears splashed from her ewes
down on the senseless typewriter
keys
In a moment. William, regardless of
all resolutions. had Constance in his
arms and was kissing her cheeks: and
Constance. likewise regardless of reso.
buttons. was crying comfortably on his
shoulder But in another moment
both remembered themselves. Con
stance pulled herself free.
Il beg your pardon, Miss Peck /
really didn't mean to. IL just couldn't
help it. | never could stand tears"
They stood looking uncomfortable
at each other. At that moment the
door opened. and Johnny, radiant from