Deming graphic. (Deming, N.M.) 1903-1948, 1911-12-29
Wanted:
A StenOgrapher
By JANE OSBORN


William Gord0n's open. boyish face
clouded with a perplexed frown. He
propped his feet uncomfortably on his
waste.paper basket and looked vaguely
into the sleetiilled atmosphere visible
from his twentieth story Office win.
dow.
William had come TO the startling
discovery that he was In love with his
steDographer. Constance Peck. He did
not know much about her save that
year before she had been left an or.
phan. and had come TO the great city
with It's chances OF work: that she had
turned TO stenography as n means OF
making a living; that she had been
sent to MIN In answer to n request at
the business school where she had
studied; and that she lived alone IN a
third-rate boarding house.
But about Constance. the young wo
man he had fallen in love with. he
knew great deal lie knew that her
soft brown eyes made him forget the
worries and discouragements OF bis
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 a
child; that her comforting presence
had become real necessity TO him.
and thousand other things about her
that he unused on by himself.
But William was troubled. II was
one thing to be In love with the young
woman who worked for h,m; II was
another thing to tell her He could
not. as he would have done II Con.
stance bad been anyone else than his
stenographer. lead up gradually to the
all'important question Constance. he
knew from experience. would refuse
Invitations TO dinner or the theater on
the ground that he and she we're only
business acquaIntances. and love-mak.
Ing when he was debating business
letters or talking over Office work was
out OF the question to a man like VII.
liam.
Bother II ALL" said William; Il
don't even know where her boarding
house is, and don't dare ask her 10
let me call; she'd think was plying
her. and girl Ike Miss Peck wouldn't
stand for that"
. So William decided TO let things 20
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 q girl like
Constance could care for a duffer like
me-" he said.
In the little outside Office, where
freckled Johnny jerks. the Office boy.
and waiting clients-when there we're
any-usually kept her company, Con.
stance Peck sat before her typewriter.
Her brown eyes we're filed with trou.
BILE. and her thoughts wandered from
the quirls and nourishes in the note.
book by her side For Constance Peck
was owning to herself that she was In
love with her employer
u ought to leave" said Constance
10 herself 1T isn't his fault, though.
and | suppose leaving would put him
In hole for another stenographer.
Well, I'll just stick II out. and maybe
sometime-No; a man like Mr.. Cor.
don couldn't care for a girl like me.
that's certain Anyway, II ! 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 n telephone number
Johnny" said Miss Peck. I've got
to have quiet or I'll never get my
work done. I'll give you dime II
you1l go take little walk for n half
an hour"
SO Il was that. some twenty minutes
later. William Gordon. his resolve 10
"let things go" resolutely in his mind
walked into the outer Office to find his
stenographer. struggling with q SINH.
lar resolve. sitting alone before her
typewriter. Tears shone in her dark
eyes
Where's that scamp of a boy7" do
manded William, ilercely. thinking per.
haps the boy was the cause OF the
tears.
II bribed him TO go for a walk" SAID
Constance, Then, without n moments
warning to poor, defenseless william.
two big tears splashed from her eyes
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
lutions, 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, II Just couldn't
help IT, never could stand tears"
They stood looking uncomiortably
at each other AT that moment the
door opened, and Johnny. radiant from
the foolish expenditure Of his dime on
candy and sodawater, entered the
room Constance and William red
dened under his bird.llke. knowing
glance.
las ! was just saying, Mr., Gordon. I"
said Constance. going to the locker,
and getting her hat and coat, II am
going now-and ! shall not come
back
And so, before William could think
Of anything plausible to say. Con.
stance Peck. the stenographer, passed