Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1911-07-20
HOW A WOMAN
GOT AN OFFICE.

young woman. Her sex had come tn
occupy many positions formerly filed
by men, but there was one Of which
she considered women did not get
their share. The political Offices were
sim held almost exclusively by men. |
Katherine was interested In the mat. |
ter not because she relished a struggle
with the men for woman's 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
q man.
Not long after Katherine Gle came
to this decision a young man. Trub,
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
1t wouldn't be policy for him to be
known as a woman Halter.
| Middlebrook remained In Merriams
employ two years before the ambition
of his employer was attained. Mer-
RAM was nominated, and he was SO
good man that the opposition hest
tated about putting up q candidate of
Its own. Indeed, Merriam was con-
graduating himself on the prospect Of
having no opposition whatever when
he saw a notice one morning in his
newspaper that astonished him. 1t
was no less than an announcement
Of his stenographer, TRULY Middle
brook, that he would be 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, "a
have seen your notice. You have q
perfect right to run for Office against
me, but-but-well, your action is just
like thousand things your predeces
sors have done who were-women
. That's ALL"
: Mr.. Middlebrook withdrew without Z
his employers establishment was thai
he thought he saw a tear in his stenog
rapher's eye.
There was another surprise In stor,
a for Mr.. Merriam. A few days befor,
the election his political manager cam
: to him to say that Middlebrook. VIII
had been gaining In favor ever sine
the announcement of his candidacy
would surely be elected Merriam wa
dumfounded. He asked his manage
what was the secret of Middlebrook'
strength and was informed that he ha,
u some mysterious influence over tn
C 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 ste
nographer was extremely embarrassin
o for both, though especially SO for tn
latter. Merriam had accepted the si
,e uation. He was still puzzled at hi
: employee interposing himself betwee
him and the Office he coveted, but b
was above lifting finger to defea
I. that employees intention. The ever
lg ing before the election Middlebroo
took his chiefs dictation, as usua
. and was about to retire when he turf
: ed, evidently shaken by considerab
emotion, and said:
, "Mr. Merriam, I've been a meal
=. wicked thing. You've been just te
h. lovely to me for anything, and in r
turn I've attempted to deprive you
er what you SO earnestly desire and al
40 much better fitted for than l.
The young man took out his ham
kerchief and wiped tears which we
o flowing from his eyes.
tn what in thunder does this mean
exclaimed Merriam. You talk and a
for all the world like one of those co
- founded women"
az am a woman. My name is Kat
crime Gle. l wanted an Office and d.
on guised myself as man to get one.
wish-I wish l was at the bottom
the sea-"
Il She turned away in an emotion
- storm Merriam sat gaping at her I
q time; then. with twinkle In his eJ
he replied to her last remark.
"You would there find Mr.. McGinl
and you would have to continue
mans clothes to beat him at his leg1
mate work-the work of a fisherman.
az didn't intend" said the girl, !
back still turned toward her employ
and political opponent. ito run agar
You. I had confidantes who manag
for me. They did 1t.
at wasn't bit nice of Them,
. Piled Mr.. Merriam. with trace
Irony in his voice.