The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1912-04-05

confess to himself that she did not
lcol, It.
"IIave you had any experience in
this capacity" he asked
None. whatever" she answered.
"But | have good education and
have fitted myself carefully for such
a position. and feel can meet all
the requirements set forth in your
somewhat unusual advertisement"
1T was little out OF the ordinary.
wasn't it,"
Yes"
But there was a reason for 1t.
During the last three years | have
lost no less than four stenographers
through matrimOny. 1t was desire
to secure some one who would view
business as other than stepping.
stone to marriage that prompted that
adj"
Il 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.. Hol-
brook reflected, also, that he had
never recognized so many good quail
ties in an applicant before. He there.
fore engaged her, and In few weeks
found reason to congratulate himself;
for she developed an efficiency even
above that of her very eficient pre-
decessors. In a 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 dictat.
ing to her one day. he on the one side
of the big. fiat Office table. and she
on the other, facing him. While
grasping for some solution to q
knotty business problem. he allowed
his mind to wander. The plainly
furnished office faded from his vision.
The table became a dining table, COW
cred with snowy linen upon which
silver cleaned and crystal sparkled-
such q dining table as one sees IN q
home; but Miss Holmes faded from
the picture not at all. In his reverte
he saw her sitting opposite him at the
dream table-and then Benjamin Hol'
brook. bachelor. aged forty. came
back to earth with q rush. He was IN
love. He was certain OF 1t. despite the
novelty Of the sensation.
Mr.. Holbrook was accustomed to d.
rect methods.
Miss Holmes. can you still safely
say that there is no prospect of your
making business a stepping stone to
marriage?" he asked suddenly.
| Miss Holmes was also in reverie.
She came out of 1t In confusion.
IL think So" she managed to
gasp.
"Then there is a doubt?"
Eyes: there 10 doubt" she ad'
mitted.
II ask you to give me the benefit Of
It."
"Oh, l am not thinking Of resign
Ing" she protested.
II am not asking you to give the
business the benefit Of the doubt,
Miss Holmes: I am asking you to give
It to me. desire you to resign. Can't
you see what am getting at! ! love
you. I want you to be my wife,"
wouldn't that be playing hob with
the business?" she asked after .
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 Is Injured to such ex'
periences by this time," he laughed.
still going toward her. "You must r.
member that my own romance has .
quartet Of presidents right here in the
ONCE. However. 1t shall be the last;
for my next confidential stenographef
shall be Q man."
Miss Holmes covered her face with
her hands as he reached for her.
III that Is the case. B-Benjamin."
she murmured, you might begin to
look around for the man."