Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1911-09-13

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waste paper basket and looked vaguely
into the sleet-filled 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
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 a 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 a 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 a bird that used to sing In his
fathers apple orchard when he was
child; that her comforting presence
had become a real necessity to him,
and thousand other things about her
that he unused on by himself.
But William was troubled. 1t was
one thing to be in love with the young
woman who worked for him; 1t 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-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 acquaintance, and love-mak-
ing when he was debating business
letters or talking over Office work was
out of the question to a man like Will
liam.
Bother It ALL" said William; 81
don't even know where her boarding
house is, and I don't dare ask her to
let me call; she'd think l 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 l don't see how a 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 were filled with trou-
BILE, and her thoughts wandered from
the quirls and f1ourishes in the note
book by her side. For Constance Peck
was owning to herself that she was in
love with her employer
II 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
etime-No; a man like Mr. Cor
don couldn't care for a 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. I'll give you a dime If
you'll go take little walk for a half
an hour"
So it was that, some twenty minutes
later. William Gordon, his resolve to
"let things co." resolutely in his mind.
walked into the outer Office to find his
stenographer struggling with a SINH
lar resolve, sitting alone before her
typewriter Tears shone in her dark
eyes
Where's that scamp of a boy?" de-
manded William, fercely, thinking per
haps the boy was the cause of the
tears.
II bribed him to go for a walk" said
Constance. Then, without a 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-
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. II just couldn't
help it. l never could stand tears"
They stood looking uncomfortabIy
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-like, knowing
glance.
LAS was just saying. Mr.. Gordon"
said Constance, going to the locker,
and getting her hat and coat, Il am
ar1d han