The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-08-30
HIS s1EnosRAPHER
BY cATHARINE cRANMER.


Returning from the files with an
armload OF correspondence, John
Grover halted suddenly as he ap
preached his desk. Between the up
per rim of his spectacles and MS
bushy, gray eyebrows he stared ou'
at the small, white pique clad young
woman who was perched upon the
wooden railing that inclosed his de-
partment.
F., I'm Lydia Raymond. the new
stenographer," said the young woman
..Mr. Wilson brought me over. but he
was called away to the telephone.
"Wilson's a bird when 1t comes to
hiring help" muttered Grover. OF
whom it was alleged around the once
that his middle name was Crouch.
Turning toward Lydia. he grudsingiy
extended q pudgy hand. Growers my
name Can you turn out work pretty
fast?"
"Oh, Just Is easy" And Lydia
smiled bewitchingly, but It was pearls
before swine, for Grover didn't see
the smile.
IAN right, now: let's start on this
pile and well see what you call easy
| And Grover launched into his most
vigorous dictation pace while Lydias
fingers fitted over the pages. AS ne
looked up from the last letter ne
found Lydia sitting with her hands
clasped around one knee and looking
straight at him.
I'm awfully glad you aren't
grouchy." she said. with childish can
dor. AT first thought you were the
very man who put the ouch in crouch.
but l guess it was just a Monday
morning crouch, wasn't it?"
81 guess we haven't got time to talk
nonsense; look at this pile of work.
Lydia turned her head to one side,
stuck out her red lips and frowned
Just little.
"Oh but look how we'll we work to-
gether! I'll tell you what lets do
enthusiastically Let's work real last
and get that whole pile finished and
then we'll take the ouch out OF
ErOucn, anu put lhc sVhoo ~ i'S''
sense. Shall WEI
I'VE might" said Grover. with an
awkward smile and bungling move
ment to get hold Of letter that
would give him chance to fasten his
, eyes somewhere.
A month after Lydia's advent the
credit department was running SO
smoothly that John Grover went about
} wearing satisfied expression that
was a nine days wonder to the oh
servant office force. But there came
rainy malarial morning late In Au
gust when Lydia came droopingly tc
her desk, with swollen eyes and
, colorless face. She tried to smile az
they began their morning work. but
made such pitiful failure that Grover
pushed the pile Of letters away ant
|. looked intently at her.
. Child, there's something wrong
4 can l be Of any help?'
I'm afraid you can't, for I've spoiled
everything" Two tears splashed OF
A her note book before she could fint
her handkerchief, Then she con
tinued: Last night when Clarence
!. started home-Clarence Is, you know
\ or was my, my"
n Yes, yes. know; and what did h
|. do?'
n "Oh, was the one to do the mis-
n chief. Clarence said II ! didn't TAX
= of a suffrage pin l was wearing h
! wouldn't--wouldn't bid me goodnight
o ] said I'd promised Miss Bee to wea
d the pin a week and tell her what pet
"a pie said about II. Then he said ! wa
n getting crazier every day. but h
" wouldn't listen any longer to my moi
n sense. I didn't say a word then, br
after while ! said: There doesn
n seem to be any nonsense to listen I
in except when you are talking H
~ whirled around and rushed out of tn
n door, and I looked down at that oil
nj rim and Just boo.hooed."
w well, what in the dickens doc
w that ranting suffragette mean B
10. placarding you as one of her kind
ar growled Grover.
n. "Oh. but Miss Bee doesn't rant, ar
Id she isn't freak, and she knows nea
or " everything. And there she is, rigl
10. this minute! exclaimed Lydia. Isl
he must be bidding on that big mime
Oh graph job in our advertising depaI
I ment. Goody she's coming over
Jet speak to me-
nd John Grover grew red and Beatri
re Morris grew pale when they were
nd troduced by Lydia who didn't kno
er until afterward that they had part
at ten years ago much as she and Cls
he ence had parted only the night
nix fore She mad her first inkling OF
ng when John Grover broke the emb;
raised silence which followed the fir
e? formal greetings.
to Beatrice, ne began, hating
i've changed my mind this morni
en- about several things. but didn't 10
lid 1t and | won't If you'll let me bu
ne a home for you now instead Of but
we ing one yourself two years later"
course. ne had not meant to say tn
nj. but after II was said II had to be ;
,r.' swered, and Beatrice gave an answ
od that was as satisfactory to him as
,at was surprising to her Grover turn
rs. abruptly to the astonished Lydia.
Ring up that young rascal of
.ly Clarence he commanded, and q
viii him to make one OF a luncheon pa
to OF four at Sherrys at twelve o'clc
ks today"