Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1911-12-28
HOW A WOMAN
GOT AN OFFICE.
(Original,1


katherine Gle was an no to date
young woman. Her sex had come to
occupy many positions formerly filed |
py men. but there was one OF which |
she considered women did not get |
their share. The political offices were |
sun held almost exclusively by men. |
katherine was interested in the mat
ter not because she relished struggle
with the men for wOmans rights, but |
because she wanted an Office. She pro-
posed to herself short cut to eQualize
her chances with them. She would
seek an office not as a woman, but as
a man.
Not long after Katherine Gle came
to this decision a young man, TRULY
Middlebrook. Of rather feminine an
pearance. settled in the town Of Stark.
Vile and soon secured q position az
stenographer with Francis Merriam,
grain shipper. Middlebrook's employ
er told him that he had had several
women stenographers, but didn't wan,
any more Of them. He considered
them an empty headed lot. excitable,
hysterical-indeed. everything ending
with al" not excepting diabolical.
But he desired Middlebrook to be
careful not to mention his opinion OF
the sex, for he had long been striving
to get the nomination for mayor, and
5 1t wouldn't be policy for him to be
known as woman Halter.
Middlebrook remained in Merriams
employ two years before the ambition
| of hic
: riam was nominated, and he was so
j good man that the opposition hest
tated about putting up candidate Of
i its own. Indeed, Merriam was con-
: graduating himself on the prospect Of
h having no opposition whatever when
he saw notice one morning in his
il newspaper that astonished him. It
e was no less than an announcement
{ of his stenographer, TRULY Middle
, brook. that he would be a candidate
for mayor at the coming election.
;, Now, there had been the best of feel
: ing between the two men. Merriam
had raised Middlebrook's salary sew
eral times and had supposed that the
stenographer was devoted to him.
$, "Mr. Middlebrook," said Merriam, u
70 have seen your notice. You have 8
at perfect right to run for Office against
4 me- but-but-well Your action is just
5, like thousand things your predeces
Of sors have done who were-women
CT That's ALL"
: Mr. Middlebrook withdrew without {
le word, and what filed the measure o.
his employers establishment was tina
he thought he saw a tear In his stenog
rapher's eye.
There was another surprise in stor,
for Mr.. Merriam. A few days befor
Oh the election his political manager cam
n to him to say that Middlebrook, VIII
y had been gaining in favor ever sine
tie the announcement of his candidacy
Gu would surely be elected. Merriam wa
y dumfounded He asked his manage
, te what was the secret of Middlebrook'
eh strength and was informed that he ha
Ell some mysterious influence over til
women which was turned to accoun
in gaining the votes of the men.
From this announcement to the da
before the election the official intel
course between Merriam and his ST,
ia nographer was extremely embarrassin
~, for both though especially so for th
ay latter. Merriam had accepted the ST
ny, uation He was still puzzled at b
i'd employee interposing himself betwee
. him and the office he coveted, but b
= was above lifting a finger to defes
that employees intention. The evel
- ing before the election Middlebroo
and was about to retire when he turl
ing ed, evidently shaken by considerab
in emotion, and said:
aid "Mr. Merriam. I've been a mea
W wicked thing. You've been just t.
uly lovely to me for anything, and in r
turn I've attempted to deprive you
20 what you so earnestly desire and a
al SO much better fitted for than l."
The young man took out his han
er. kerchief and wiped tears which we
flowing from his eyes.
"What in thunder does this mean
exclaimed Merriam. You talk and a
, ,ns for all the world like one of those CO
} in founded women"
al ~ am a woman. My name Is Kat
crime Gle. | wanted an office and q
e. es guised myself as man to get one.
an wish-I wish ! was at the bottom
Is. the sea-"
She turned away in an emotion
- storm Merriam sat gaping at her
Gil, a time; then, with a twinkle In his e,
ol. he replied to her last remark.
.You would there find Mr.. McGin
l'ii' and YOU would have to continue
%, mans clothes to beat him at his segl
o11 mate work-the work of fisherman
81 didn't intend" said the girl,
No back still turned toward her employ
and political opponent, Ito run agar
u. you had confidantes who manag
. for me. They did II"
"It wasn't bit nice OF them"