The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1912-05-28
The Oh-Told
Tale

it hadn't single click left in 1t.
why the reminiscent light in tn
eyes?' inquired the Audience OF On
at the bookkeeper's desk
"Just something happened to Sc
In window opposite" responded sh
OF the clickless keys. The Audienc
of One directed its gaze at as man.
OF the windows opposite as it coul'
cover simultaneously.
mo use. They've gone now.
guess it's all right. but hardly knew
whether ought simply to giggle o.
to rush across and make a rescue.
The Audience of One stuck its red
ink pen behind one ear and listened
with the other to the story.
"Once upon time, when the panic
was on In full force and job was
as difficult to find as an eligible young
man in the marrying mood. hap
pened on funny experience. ! was
pretty we'll discouraged, but one morn
ing ! saw an advertisement In the
paper that filled me with fond, wild
hope. Highly educated young lady
wanted 1t ran, of attractive appear.
ance. rapid, accurate stenographer
tactful and willing to do a little out.
side work. Good salary and perma.
nent position to right party or words
to that effect.
Il spent SO cents having my hair
waved and Is cents for facial mas.
sage. borrowed my sisters best gloves
without her kind permission. and, II
I do say 1t myself. really didn't look
30 bad.
1T was in that grand big building
opposite when 1t was first put up. and
the windows looked right out on Trim.
ity Chapel.
There were three other girls wait.
ing outside the railing. but when ]
sized them up knew right away they
had no chance with me. for the Mar.
eel was extra good and my shirtwaist
was straight from the laundry.
when my turn came | hadn't sat
In the chair Of judgment half a minute
before knew had walked away with
the job.
Il had been there only a few days
when saw plainly that there was
mighty little work to be done except
to listen to the jovial boss tell the
story Of his life. It was interesting
but rather lurid, with too many high
lights. also observed curious
phenomenon. In the morning he was
very quiet. very dignitied, very bust.
ness like In his manner. Toward
noon he began to grow cordial, and
In the afternoon about three O'Clock
he became extremely sociable, reminis-
cent and not altogether distinct in his
speech. At five. when l was supposed
to 90 home. he waxed highly senti.
mental. verging upon the melodra.
matte. but wholly unintelligible.
Il sadly determined that after sal.
airy day, when I would at least have
the price OF q pair Of shoes, and q bar,
gain haiti the landlady wasn't too
pressing-I should, like Bridget
O'Rorke. give notice. Meantime, how.
ever. things assumed a more exciting
aspect. One afternoon the door opened
with flourish and half ton of bright
red roses entered, moving toward me
across the room. On looking closely
| saw my romantic employer was act.
Ing as the motive power. almost com.
pletely concealed BY the masses Of
bloom. My lap. my typewriter. the
chair and good part Of the floor, all
were inundated by the tidal wave of
roses. and In the middle distance stood
the gallant gentleman. somewhat un.
steadily. his face perfect match for
the flowers. and pride and triumph
beaming from his eyes.
"'Thash only the beginning" he an.
nounced. with q deprecating glance at
the tidal wave. I can shpen money
like Alike IA drunken shailor.
m'dear. Got sh-sh.shix thousd dol.
larsh over there In that shafe. You
en- have 1t. You can have anything
Jack Wayburn's got! Come over here
to thish window. There! Look out
winder. Shee church over there?
Thash Trinity church. Sure's nv
names Jack Wayburn. I'm going TO
take you over to that church an we'll
do the thing up proper. Nobodyll
have anything on ush. All RI. n
you won't come today. you'll come 4.
morrer."
Il was so scared that don't know
how | ever got home. but | did and
had to send him note the next day
instead of coming to his beautiful Of.
nee any more. But. oh. I had to 20
without the shoes after all. And the
hat And the landlady began TO get
sarcastic. But I soon got this lob.
and I'll hold onto II until It's time
for me to 60 into the Old Ladies'
Home"
The Audience Of One took down the
red ink pen from behind Its ear.
reached for the ledger and sighed.
You poor little girls do have kind Of
. hard road to travel sometimes DOM
you? But what did you see In thu
window Just nowf"
"Oh. that's the funny part INST
casually glanced over at those vim.
dows. wondering II the Dasn,ns NJ.
tective still had his ofices there vn.,