The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1916-07-11

You Will PROBABLY nave 70 WORK ov.
ertime this evening. he continued.
Mr.. Brett has left me big piece Of
work.
She hesitated for an instant.
had rather important engage
ment, she said, but I can break It.
wish you would. He tried to make
his tone business like. It may only
be for an hour or so.
He returned to his desk, worked
long and earnestly for the next two
hours, and then turned to his steno-
graher for dictation. She took his let.
tiers easily, but when she turned to
transcribe them she uttered an excla-
nation OF dismay.
The carbon paper Is all gone, she an.
nounced. Shall run downstairs and
buy some?
wish you would.
A few minutes later she returned
with box OF new carbon. The time
passed quickly for them both until
four.thirty; but at that time the girl
found herself idle.
Any more dictation? she asked.
Not now, Miss Maitland.
Do you mind II ! type letter Of my
own? She blushed slightly as she
spoke.
Why, of course not. I'll be ready
for you In about ten minutes.
Very carefully the girl extracted a
new sheet OF carbon paper, placed it
between two Of Sherwood's letter.
heads, and typed for brief two min.
utes. She folded the completed let
ter, placed II in an envelope and ad.
dressed it to Mr.. Elmer Savage. She
was ready for Sherwood when he
| turned 10 her. He dictated for half
hour. and just when he had finished
the door opened and Savage breezed
/ into the room.
Are you ready. little girl? He spoke
with proprietary air. It seemed 10
Sherwood that Edythe's face was pal.
err than usual.
l can't 60 with you tonight, she an.
swered steadily. Mr.. Williams is very
busy. Here is the note promised to
give you.
She handed him the unsealed en-.
yelope. anu he took 1t rather ungrac.
iously. With brief nod at Sherwood
and whispered word with Edythe, be
left the office.
The lawyer turned to the girl.
You might go downstairs, he sug.
gested. and get bite TO eat before
you type those letters.
II you don't mind, ! think / will.
She seemed grateful for his sugges.
tion.
When she had gone. he walked over
to the typewriter. Without thinking
he took the carbon paper she had used
in writing her letter and held It 10.
ward the light. He read the'first line
unconsciously, and then his heart al.
most stopped beating. for the type.
written words told him something he
had not dared to hope.
My dear Mr.. Savage, they said,
am sorry, but cannot accept your pro-
posal OF last night. ] greatly apprec.
late the home you have conferred up.
on me, but cannot marry you because
| love some one else.
With beating heart, Sherwood In.
serted the same carbon between two
sheets OF paper, and laboriously typed
a letter OF his own.
Dearest, 1t said, love you. Will
you marry me?
When Edythe returned to the Office
he addressed her directly.
! I've Just done something / ought to
be ashamed Of. read your letter to
Mr.. Savage.
Oh! She looked at him with wide
open eyes.
And I've written letter of my own
to you, he continued. You can see II
on the carbon paper.
After she had read his message. she
inserted the paper In the typewriter
again and wrote one word. 1t was
Yes.
Ages afterward, they stood together
looking out over the lighted city.
This has been the biggest day Of
my life, he said softly. And he added
whimsically. I'll have to get q new
stenographer. after all.