Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1920-07-14
THE AREA-WAY
BY EVA GILBERT.

iy tapping the Keys OF a typewriter
tapping them all day long with her
ear 10 the dictanhone; without even
the respite OF shorthand. Rotten how
the progress OF invention had to drive
pretty girl
For she was pretty, in sweetly ma
ture way. as 10 she had known some
thing Of the depth and breadth Of life.
Al least so thought a stalwart young
fellow who bert over draughting
board Just within a window across the
area-way.
He had felt that all women were
falthless because one had been so: and
1t was like a breath Of springtime 10
glimpse such a face. II renewed his
faith in womanklnd. He smiled wanly
as he caught her eye In a tieetins
glance-smiled with lips for days un-
used to smiling. He would watch for
her leaving hour, and casually. Wen.
he would find a way to meet her.
She was really sweet. Fact Sc
conceded the dark-eyei youth Of rath-
or generous proportions. sidewise, who
was putting up very good speed on
typewriter In another window across
the area-way She was quite attrac-
tive. but be could give her some points
on lingering. a kink Of his own added
10 the latest business college method.
Yes. she was almost pretty, In gentle.
unassertsng way. But for her perfect
poise. she would have seemed shy ;
(she had glanced out Of the window
while her busy fingers were reeiing Of
the lines. and catching his gaze. had
turned deliberately away. Wei. she
had some splriti He'd like to work
with her, just to jolly her along. Come
to think Of It. that's the kind Of girl
that makes a good wife-nnd boarding
house fare does pail. He'd watch her
quitting time and get closed view OF
her. somewhere on the way 70 the
street
She was positively wonderful, So
thought the red-haired giant who WAS
writing figures In great Iedgers Just
within another window across the area
way. So nifty and neat, and still so
bnslnesslike: so dainty and feminine
and nill with such a worthwhile air !;
as II she could make an awkward
fright Of a fellow comfortable, and
really treat him humanlike. She was
giancing his way--just casually. he oh
served--and there was absolutely no
hint Of the fiippancy which most young
girls Of the day consider quite de rig
ueur. She almost smiled. yet there
was not the slightest suspicion Of
amusement about IL; Just wonderful
friendliness.
What a wife girl like that would
make, Suddenly he felt the quick. de
textable color covering his face and
mounting to his temples: and be
squirmed In his high-desk chair and
ran his fingers through the heavy hair
that he hated. and grinding his teeth
he mutterel: I'm filming some movie
for her entertainments
II might be her sister. thought the
boy In khaki. In the still. breathless
way he always recalled certain nervy
little English nurse He was just with
in another window across the area-way
doing stunts In show-card printing
instead of iylngl But the sight Of
thar sweet girl brought back the mem
DRY OF the other. whom a thousand
poor devils worshiped In the field hos
pitfalls overseas.
She could marry but one OF them
but she had her plcki That was one
satisfaction 70 the others Maybe here
was another girl like her--a little. He
must get next 20 the force in her Office
and some time perhaps In the distant
future he might be comfortel. He
looked al his watch. strucS by sud.
den thought They quit al tive, too
Meanwhile he Strengthened his shout
ders, smoothed his hair. and very cas-
ually Indeed turned toward the window
the sleeve that bore the one red and
the two gold stripes. and when she
glanced his way he frankly smiled.
At Eve there was action in four OF
fees across the area-way, for the little
blonde typist covered her machine. as
sumed simple hat and modest fur
and drew on pair Of spotless era,
gloves. She looked distinguished
Casually. oh. so very casually. /;
stalwart youth. red-haired giant. I
chap Of rather generous proportions
sidewise. and a soldier boy OF gallan
bearing happened to meet at the ele
vators just as she reached them.
An odious. overgrown Office DO!
from the floor below alighted from al
ascending car and she looked upon hin
with the JOY Of possession as he haile'
her. This is what he said:
Hello. grandma; how'd you max
it?"