The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-04-06
Wanted:
A Stenographer
By JANE OSBORN
iCopyright. len, by Assoelated Literary Press,

propped his feet uncomfortably on his
waste-paper basket and looked vaguely
into the sleet-flled atmosphere visible
from his twentieth story office win
dow
William had come to the startling
discovery that he was in love with his
stenographer. Constance Peck. He did
not know much about her save that
year before she had been left an or
with its chances of work; that she had
turned to stenography as a means Of
making a living; that she had been
sent to him In answer to a request at
the business school where she had
studied; and that she lived alone in a
third-rate boarding house.
But about Constance, the young wo-
man he had fallen in love with, he
knew a great deal He knew that her
soft brown eyes made him forget the
worries and discouragements Of his
struggling young law practice; that
her sweet voice reminded him, some
how. of bird that used to sing in his
child; that her comforting presence
had become a real necessity to him.
and thousand other things about her
that he unused on by himself.
But William was troubled. 1t was
one thing to be in love with the young
woman who worked for him; it was
another thing to tell her. He could
not, as he would have done IL Con-
stance had been anyone else than his
stenographer, lead up gradually to the
all-important question. Constance, he
knew from experience. would refuse
invitations to dinner or the theater on
the ground that he and she were only
business acquaintanceS. and love max
ing when he was debating business
letters or talking over office work was
out of the question to a man like Will
liam
Bother it all" said William; II
don't even know where her boarding
house is. and don't dare ask her to
let me call: she'd think | was plying
her, and girl like Miss Peck woudn t
stand for that"
So William decided to let things go
on as they were; as long as Constance
worked for him, she would at least be
near him. and in course of time, he
hoped, she might come to feel as he
did.
Though don't see how a girl like
Constance could care for a duffer like
me-" he said.
In the little outside office, where
freckled Johnny jerks, the office boy
and waiting clients-when there wer,
any-usually kept her company, Con
stance Peck sat before her typewriter
Her brown eyes were filled with trou
BILE, and her thoughts wandered from
the quirls and flourishes in the note
was owning to herself that she was /
love with her employer
81 ought to leave" said Constanc
to herself 1T isn't his fault, though
and | suppose leaving would put hir
in hole for another stenographe
sometime-No; man like Mr.. Go
don couldn't care for girl like m,
that's certain. Anyway, if | stay L
be near him every day. and that
something"
Johnny's chatter broke in unplea
antly on her speculations
Jaw, pshaw!" said Johnny "You'r
worse than the boss The two
you've got something on your minds
and he nodded wisely as he tried I
get a telephone number.
Johnny" said Miss Peck, I've &,
work done. I'll give you dime
you'll go take little walk for a ha
an hour"
So it was that, some twenty minut,
later, William Gordon. his resolve
"let things CO." resolutely in his min
walked into the outer Office to find h
stenographer, struggling with a sin
lar resolve, sitting alone before h
typewriter Tears shone in her da
eyes.
where's that scamp of a boy?" &
manded William. fiercely, thinking p,
haps the boy was the cause of t
tears.
II bribed him to go for walk, sa
Constance Then, without a momen
warning to poor, defenseless Villa
two big tears splashed from her ey
down on the senseless typewrit
keys
IN a moment, William, regardless
all resolutions, had Constance in
arms and was kissing her cheeks; a
Constance, likewise regardless of re
buttons. was crying comfortably on
shoulder. But in another nome
both remembered themselves. C,
stance pulled herself free
II beg your pardon Miss Peck
really didn't mean to- II just could
help it. never could stand tears.
They stood looking uncomforta'
at each other At that moment
door opened, and Johnny, radiant fir
the foolish expenditure of his dime
candy and sodawater entered
room. Constance and William r
dened under his bi.dlike. know
glance.
AS Was just say luS, MI bOI w
said Constance. going to the loci
and getting her hat and coat. Il
going now-and | shall not co
back"
And so, before William could tn
of anything plausible to say,
stance Peck. the stenographer, pas
out of his life.
few mornings later Constance
in her little boarding house room