The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-04-04
The Epening Story
Tim Austin's Ideal.
(By Jane Osborn.l

was adjusting a typewriter ribbon for
the new stenographer-the pretty lit
tie stenographer who wore earrings
and much-wayed hair in spite of her
extreme youth. But when Tim saw
her, sweeping gracefully through the
offices, her golden hair falling lightly
over her sturdy young shoulders, he
forgot all about the little stenog-
rapher and the typewriter ribbon. The
girl was Madge Jenkins, daughter of
Mr.. Dudley Jenkins, senior partner of
Jenkins & Barr, known in the par
lance of the newest stenographer as
the boss
The girl had gone straight to her
fathers office and few minutes later
was seen going out again at her ia
theirs side apparently to have lunch
with him at his downtown club.
What awful ugly shoes she wearsi'
snapped the stenographer. But just
at that moment Tim had secretly de-
cided that there was infinite class
10 the loW-heeled tan walking shoes
and the easy. unhampered gait of the
golden haired daughter of Mr.. Jen-
kins. The newest stenographer, of
course, hobbled on heels that were
several inches tall.
Somehow the air was fresher and
the day was brighter to Tim Austin
because of that visit of Madge Jen-
kins. She was just in her teens, az
the time and Tim, at 16, was begin
ming his career. He hoped, hoped as
he had seldom wished for anything,
that the girl would come again, and
his prayers were answered. She came
often, for apparently she was her ia
theirs chum and enjoyed nothing more
than to come to see him unexpectedly
when no engagements would be too
pressing to put aside to take her to
luncheon.
Once-it was two years later and by
this time Tim had come to regard the
girl as his presiding divinity-Madge
had brought her dog to the office with
her. She paused in the entrance and
Hooked helplessly about her. Tim was
watching her as he always did and
when she looked up appealingly he
came to her rescue.
Father might not like to have me
take the beast in with me. Would
you be so kind-could you just hold
him in leash till l come out? He IS
quite harmless. as gentle as kitten.
Then, after he had returned the dog
to its pretty owner, after he had been
introduced to her by Mr.. jenkins him
self he realized for the first time the
breach that lay between him. What
must be her contempt for him -? The
fact that he was no longer office boy,
that he had obtained rapid promotion
and had even been taken out to lunch
at the club by the boss seemed to
make no difference. No, she had
given the dog to him to hold much as
her groom would hold her saddle
horse To her he was simply a cog
in machine.
The next time she came to the Of
flee she spoke to him with apparent
cordiality. She had not forgotten him,
was evidenced Then came the day
when Mr.. Jenkins asked him to have
dinner with him at his home.
As they were taking the elevator it
was akin to a blow to have Mr.. Jen-
kins say: my daughter will be dis
appointed not to be at home. But it
is the night of soma sort of school fes-
! tivity. 1 didn't remember it when l
asked you for tonight. But you will
have to come again when she is
home"
Then came a time when Jenkins and
Barr parted company, and for bust
ness reasons Tim was retained by Barr
instead of Jenkins. All that happened
before Tim was two and twenty.
| Now, with any one but Tim it might
have been simply a passing memory
that little experience with the golden
haired Madge. But to Tim it was
much more than that. 1t was even
! enough to account for the fact that
he never took more than a passing
interest in the girls he met. At TWEEN
ty-six or seven, when the sign-o over his
office door read Barr & Austin" he
had earned for himself the reputation
of being immune so far as pretty girls
were concerned.
who asked this question, was a quietly
dressed little person who had been
ushered into Tim Austin's presence by
his office boy as young lady looking
for a job Austin was somewhat an
moved by the intrusion, but as a mat
ter of fact, he needed a new typist
and made a rule always to interview
personally those whose names went
down on his pay roll. This time, how
ever, Tim scarcely looked up at the
hi I,av
eral appearance and in the tone of her
voice assured him that she would be
a satisfactory employee and that was
all he had time for.
For a week or so Tim saw little of
the new typist. Once or twice he
heard Barr say that she was pretty,
but the idea of prettiness in any en-
ployee interested Tim not at all. If
any interest did come to him with re-
/ gard to the new typist it was because
she apparently wanted to avoid him,
because she found an excuse always
to leave any room he happened to
enter.
1t was in March when the big snow
storm of the winter occurred that
wear, and Tim Austin was not espe-
ciaIly surprised that out of the four or
five members of the entire establish
ment who ventured out that day and
arrived at work on time, the new
typist was one. Needless to say.
stenographer had not arrived and
1t occurred to him that the new
typist might be able to take his dicta-
ton.
| Hurried1y he made his way into the
large, light room where she did her
| work. When he opened the door she
gave little cry of alarm. She was
standing before the radiator somewhat
the worst for her encounter with the
storm. She had spread out her coat to
dry and was holding her hands to the
| heat. But what Tim noticed and what
had caused the cry of alarm was that
the new typist's hair was hanging, dis
heveled and moistened by the snow,
over her shoulders.
Tim stopped with sudden surprise
For the first time he looked search
ingly at the girl Yes, it really was