The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-03-02
THE FIFTH STENOCRAPHER

woman, whose gown OF black we'll
figure.
I II am Miss Holmes" she stated
simply. Il have come In answer to
your advertisement for stenogra-
pher."
4 ''Thirty-fve years of age. Of
older?" added Mr.. Hoibrook.
/ Il am able to meet that condition."
was the calm reply.
I The head OF the firm was forced to
confess to himself that she did not
look It
Have you had any experience in
this capacity he asked.
None. whatever" she answered.
Tut | have good education and
have fitted myself carefully for such
position. and / feel / can meet all
the requirements st forth in your
somewhat unusual advertisement
"it was little out OF the ordinary.
wasn't i.?''
Yes"
But there was reason for 1t. Dur
ing the last three years. / have lost
no less than four stenographerS
through matrimony. 1t was IA desire
to secure some one who would view
business az other man than stepping
stone to marriage that prompted that
al
II can safely say that there is no
prospect of my making such use OF
it replied Miss Holmes.
| a trial showed that she was well
equipped for the position. Mr.. Hoi-
brook reflected. also that he had
never recognized so many good auali-
ties in an applicant before. He there.
fore engaged her. and In a few weeks
found reason to congratulate himself.
for she developed an efficiency even
above that OF her very Ell lent pre-
ltdecessors. In few months he, began
to regard her as Indispensable. and
found himself regretting that she was
near him in office hours only.
And then 1t came. He was dictaf-
ing to her one day. he on the one
side of the big. fiat office table. and
she on the other. facing him. While
graspfng for some solution to a
I kfsya;s- susisfess problem. he allowed
his mind to wander. The plainly
furnished office faded from hts
VISION. The table became dining
| table. covered with snowy linen upon
which silver cleaned and crystal
sparkled--such dining table as one
! sees in a home: but Miss Holmes
faded from the picture not at all. In
his reverie he saw her sitting OPP
pOsllc NINA AT ttS' uiSdHA 01A
then Benjamin Holbrook, bachelor,
aged fertN. came lack to earth with
a rush. He was In love. He was cef-
tain OF it. despite the novelty Of the
sensation.
Mr.. Holbrook was accustomed to
direct methods.
Miss Holmes, can You still safely
say that there Is no prospect Of
your making business stepping
stone to MARRIAGE" he asked sud
denly
erie She came out of II In con-
'..-I think so.' she managed to
gasp.
Then there IL a doubt"
Yes; there Is a doubt" she ad-
mitted.
y ask you to give me the benefit
of It,"
wouldn't that be playing hob
with thu bus'neef" she asked after
"a pause. smiling through her
bushes.
Mr.. Holbrook rose from his chair /,
and started toward her. She fed to
the door in q panic and paused with
her hand on the knob.
The business IL Injured to such *.
periences by the Time" he laughed,
stili going toward her. sYou must
remember that my own romance has
quartet OF presidents right here In
the Office However. It shall ba the
last: for my next confidential ste.
nographer shall be q man."
Miss Holmes covered her face with
her hands an he reached for her.
III that 10 the case, B--Benjamin..
she murmured. you might begin 10
look around for the man."