The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-09-02
EVENING STORY
Maizie Dreams True
BY LINCOLN ROTHBLUM

trillion million dollars" always seemed |
the most fun. What wonderful times
we could have and what wonderful |
things we could do as we simply drew |
at Will upon imaginary and unlimited |
sources of treasure!
But different desires foster thoughts |
of this pocketbook eternally full. Some |
dream of wardrobe permitting new |
garment each day; others of the pow
err coincident with high social position; |
while some aspire to help those less
fortunate. With Maize Sloan, how
ever, it was neither a case of style. |
society, nor sympathy.
Forced by the precarious earnings
of a rheumatic father to increase the
family revenue, she had been obliged
at the age of fourteen to regard the
elementary grades as a fitting limit
of education and she had accordingly
nipped a great desire to attend high
school before the bud had had an
opportunity to bloom forth into the
flower of decision. An innate dislike
for the drudgery of manual labor
helped to make attendance at night
school less burdensome and it surely
seemed a step forward as she diff
IDENTIFY entered the office of Franklin
stenographer. The very sign on the
door, "Stock and Bonds" seemed to
spell realization of her dreams.
For Maize Sloan dreamt of COM
fort-comfort in every senSe OF the
word. Wouldn't it be great to sleep
as long as you wanted to- she thought
as 6 o'clock every morning found her
trying to lace her shoes with eyes naiI
closed. wouldn't it be grand not TO
have to wash Dishes" accompanied by
the securing of greasy pots. "Wouldn't
it be nice to have laundress 40 your
stuff" made the work lighter as
knuckles Redeemed on the ridges OF the
scruhbing board.
Maize brushed the front of her
shiny skirt of blue serge. She hoped
the ripped seam where she had sewed
If with black thread would not be no.
ticed. She did want that position with
the many additional comforts the
larger income would bring. Already
she had figured out what she Woulo
do with the extra hour in the evening.
To be thru at 8 o'clock! Not TO get
down to work until 8!
'Mr. Franklin will see you now"
announced a girl at the switchboard.
and Maize came back to earth. Again
the skirt was hitched up at the belt
and quick touch assured her that the
mended seam was invisible.
'Sit right down." invited her pros
pective employer, and as he glanced
at the card of Introduction from the
agency, added. Miss Sloan"
Maize clasped her hands very tight
Nv to see if she coAld feel them. The
teous invitation TO be seated, and Mr..
F'ranklin's eyes of soft brown, had
taken her by surprise. She looked up.
Have you had any previous ex-
perience?"
mo. sir. but I'm willing to learn
Perhaps fate was kind or perhaps
Mr.. Franklin was not able to refuse
Maizie's wistful, appealing gaze, but
the position was open to her 1t she
cared to accept. Cared to accept?
Maize took off her black straw sailor
hat. 'I'd like to start in right away
she announced.
And Maize did learn very quickly.
It did not take the switchboard oper-
ator very long to discover that when
Mr.. Fran in telephQned into the out
er office for a stenographer. it was
Maize Sloan he meant. He seemed
her accurate, painstaking work. OF
course, it was not because, as the girls
in the outer office gossiped, he liked
her personally; altho, when single
man of thirty exhibits a preference for
particular female assistant, the indi-
cations would seem to point that way.
But whatever favor Maize found in
her employers eyes did not seem to
affect her in any particular. She was
learning to her surprise that the in
creased income did not necessarily
carry with it surcease from work and
that her position demanded an immac-
ulate appearance unthought of in the
factory. So the extra half hour of
sleep in the morning went for more
| elaborate toilet and the evening was
devoted to the washtub over which
she alternately scrubbed her two
white shirtwaists. But Maizie contin-
ued to dream of that Utopia where
work was existent.
Mr.. Franklin wishes to give you
some dictation, Miss Sloan" called the
~ r-Qf tor 81, Tod he v,11r
of the switchboard. With notebook
and sharply pointed pencil in one
hand, Maizie patted her hair into
| shape with the other and crossed the
rug. Somehow she could not become
| accustomed to its cushiony softness.
Mr.. Franklin fused with his watch
charm "Just a short letter. he apol-
ogized. Maizie sat motionless, pencil
poised ready to inscribe the mysterious
Times and curves which she alone
could decipher.
Its tots to" he stammered.
'it's to Miss Maizie Sloan" Mr.
| Franklin gulped. Maize was sur
prised but glued her eyes to her book.
81 beg to advise you" he began very
quietly, that sometime ago I deliv-
cred to you my-heart Will you
kindly acknowledge receipt he hun
ried on, land let me know if it meets
with your approval"
| Mr.. Franklin did not quite antici-
pate that his stenographer would get
| up and leave the room. But how was
he to know that Maize wanted to
marry him-not because she loved
him, but because his money could
make her dreams come true? And
| how was he to know. that she flew
from him to avoid committing this in
| suit to her ideal of honor? He thought
he had frightened her into refusing
him. That is why later he was filled
with surprised gladness as he read her
| answer.
] Dear Sir:-I beg TO acknowl-
| edge receipt of your consignment
| and wish to advise it meets with
my earty-approvaL When do you
| wish payment nader"
The days flew by very quickly for
Maize. With funds supplied by her
| future husband, she prepared a dainty
| trousseau and never were her dreams
so vivid as when she thought of her
approaching marriage. Servants she