South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-05-22
The Second OHense
BY Edmund MoberIy

cants 20 me. I intend TO pick one
that Will stay put"
Dutton's advertisement brought
a great influx OF young and attract
i've applicants Mr.. Haynes gently
hut firmly told each that he would
hle her application for future ref
erence. and kept the "ad" running.
The tenth or the month came
and Miss Powell departed. Two
days later the presidents persist
ence was rewarded. A mature,
sweet faced woman presented her
self
"I am Mrs. Thompson" she ex-
planned Il came in response to
your advertisement for a stenog-
rapher."
Are you fitted for such a posi-
tom"
II was proficient in steEography
before was married When my
husband died three years ago.
again took IL up and have been en-
eaged at il ever since"
MY greatest complaint against
the young women who have held
this position is that all have seem
ed 20 regard business as a stepping
stone 10 marriage" said Mr.. Haynes.
after a short test had convinced
him OF her proficiency. 1T appears
that you have been guilty Of the
same offense once in your life"
Il assure you there is no prob
ability Of my repeating it," she re-
Piled with a smile.
every good. Ny belief that you,
OF all those who have applied. are
least likely TO jolt my confidence
in this respect impels me 10 give
you the position You may consider
yourself engaged"
With the younger predecessors Of
Mrs. Thompson Mr.. Haynes had al
ways maintained a severely imper-
scnal attitude. In cOnversing with
these young women he had been
very perfunctory indeed, when top
les outside the office routine were
discussed. With Mrs Thompson he
found this attitude difficult to main
tain. IT seemed that her warm sym
pathy and quick intelligence made
il rather hard at times TO keep the
talk from leaving the Haynes Shoe
Co, and straying into the domain
OF things far removed fror. that
staid mercantile establishment.
AS the months rolled by Mr.
Haynes was obliged TO confess. with
something of a shock 10 himself.
that il was he who was most fire.
quently guilty Of leading these con-
versatiOns with his stenOgrapher out
j OF the channels Of business. He
was amazed at himself. Hereto
! fore he had endeavored 10 make Of
flee hours sacred 10 the cause Of
business alone; now he found him
self often engaged in airy chatter
/ in those precious hours. and fur
[ thermore found himself obliged 70
admit that ne was stimulated and
/ broadened by the aforesaid chat
| ter
Mr. Haynes had a keen and log
\ ical mind and when he finally de-
/ duced why IL was that he so much
/ enjoyed conversing with Mrs
| Thompson he lost no time in act
/ ing.
do you know" he said TO her
[ one day, 81 sometimes think I was
L
the young women who left my en-
ploy to get married? They may
have done it because ii was the
natural thing 10 do"
1T was, undoubtedly, was her
| reply. 1T meant a little world for
\ each of them to center her inter
\ est on-a home"
do women desire such a career
above any other?"
Quite a number Of them do"
do YOU think you could center
your interest on a little world that
you and 1 might create. Mrs. --
. Myra p"
I'm sorry. but ] made a promise
TO my employer which prohibits me
from entertaining such a proposal "
she replied, smiling down at her
note book.
"Oh, hang that promise." he ex-
claimed. THAT was made TO a mar
row old bachelor who had never
known a woman like YOU. I re-
/ lease YOU from that, and ask you
for another-will you marry me,
. Myra?"
Yes Frederick, if you will prom
ist never 10 remind me that / twice
made business a stepping stone to
Inatrimony," she answered with a
rosy smile.
WHY BE STOUT?