The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1911-04-14

1Ou! A reporter.
Yes" said the girl.
Give up the idea" Armitage spoke
sharply
you think ! would find the work
too hard?"
NO" Armitage answered, 1T isn't
that. You are the plucky sort one
can see at glance But you'd have
to lose too much.'
rs it possible to realize an ambi
tion without sacrifices?" retorted the
girl gently, You have no doubt, Civ.
en- up much for the sake of your
work"
You would haFe to give up a great
deal more than I did" Armitage re.
piled.
why? And more of what?"
Because you have more to lose
than / ever had. More of what? Faith
in human nature and ideals"
Nothing could make me lose my
faith in human nature" said the girl:
and if my ideals are Illusions, isn't
1t better for me to find it out?'
NO" replied Armitage roughly.
Life" he went on, is like pretty
play. a girl like you, looking at 1t,
sees only the picturesque setting, the
dainty bits Of sentiment, the delicate
blending of comedy and pathos; the
man or woman who has rubbed eli
bows with the world detects under
these things the paint and unreality,
the petty iealousies, the struggles for
supremacy, and a hundred other de-
tails not visible to you?'
Don't you think the trouble may
be with the eye that sees'?' asked
the girl quietly.
THAT is just the point l wish to
make" replied Armitage. The trou-
bic is with the eye that sees, and
that is why l warn you not to shake
the dust from your eyes by becoming
a reporter. The worst Of it is, you
see, that the play is only a pretense,
while the paint and jealousy are
real"
His listener smiled, unconYlnced
Il don't want dust in my eyes" she
said Are the things that are real
never pretty to see?"
Armitage shook his head. mot oft
en-" he said, except on the sur
face Must you work2" he added.
mo. and yes,' she answered, Mon
ey ! don't need; work | do am tired
Of toy interests and an unceasing
round of social duties that are mis-
named pleasures. It is all so unsat-
isfying and in spite of gorgeous
setting, so sordid."
81 hope your ambition will never be
realized Armitage replied.
"You realized yours"
Eyes, and to meet a woman like you
shows me that | have lost more than
have gained Before I became a re.
porter l would not have repaid your
kindness by deceiying you as ! did
tonight"
His companion rose without reply
ing.
q ought to thank you for not tell
ing me what you think of me-" the
man said, but somehow your silence
seems a more severe condemnation
than you could put into words"
The girl smiled Since you have
tried to atone by confession, can
not wholly condemn you," she said.
That l confessed was chance" Ar
mitage replied mOodily
She laughed as she moved toward
the door. 81 scarcely think you are
as black as you paint yourself" she
said kindly. II must 90 back to the
ballroom"
And I must get to the Office with
my copy but first l want to thank
you for that waltz and to ask you
once more to give up the idea of be-
coming a newspaper woman. don't
suppose I shall ever see you again.
I'm only here tonight because the
man who had this assignment was ta'
ken ill my speciality is East-side MUIR
ders and robberies, But ! shall re-
you always and / want to
think of you as high above me in your
safe little corner of the world, happy |
and making others happy. And re-
Dorters don't make people happy, |
assure you There, | dare say | am
talking great deal of nonsense, but
my advice, believe me, is sound and
The pause that followed was broken .
BY the girl 81 will not promise to .
AXE the advice, but l will remember
what you have said Good-by."
Armitage took the hand she offered .
lim. "Good-by," he murmured. A /
later he closed the door be- /
hind her
AS he reused himself and turned to
cave the room he caught sight of
white on the floor. This
le picked up and put carefully in
lis card-case after which he went
swiftly out of the room and the house.
Cant you give me some points
lbout my staff?" asked the new city
,ditor of the man whose place he was
o take
Certainly replied Blake, who was
eaving because his health had bro
zen down They're about the aver
.ge crowd to be found in any newspa-
,er Office, / imagine" Blake conclud-
ID after he had touched upon the
aults and virtues of most of the re-
,orters.
Are there any women?" inquired
Armitage.