The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-11-08
EOening Story
1.-TWO Hours. .
BY VINCENT G. PERRY.

Three o'clocki Two hours more to
work The thermometer was doing
away up the eighties, despite the fact
that the sun was hiding behind the
Clouds and had been hiding all day.
The sultry heat seemed suItriest right
quite made up her mind she was
ready to die" She hated office work.
The feeling had come over her for the
first time that afternoon How she
had stood the toll of the city all those
years was, more than she could tell
and up until then she had said she
loved it.
"Two hours more to work." The
exclamation came from IGNORES lips
with a groan.
The girls and men in the office
stopped their work and stared. There
was not one there who could have
believed such an exclamation would
come from her lips if they hadn't
heard it.
Lenore-or as she was known to the
staff Miss Tibetts saw those sur
prised glances, recognized their mean
ing, and her heart seemed to flare up
with anger.
That's it," she shrieked, for the
first time in her business career be-
coming excited and raising her voice
above itsxusual business-like tone
That's it., stare, you ninnies, stare.
Don't you think I'm human" she
cried on, Don't you think this ever
lasting grind, day in and day out,
would get under my skin some day?
1 hate office work, hate it just as
much as all of you put together hate
it,
At that moment the buzzer sound
ed, and Miss Tibetts knew she was
wanted in the presidents private Of
flee. A slave to habit, in spite of her
momentary rebellion, Lenore grasped
l.. IL 4 ia 49,
than walked, into the presence Of her
superior.
miss Tibetts. take these letters
please"
Lenore had always prided herself
in the thought that the president could
not give dictation to any of the mere
office help but this day the thought
seemed to enrage her.
'Mr. TOLL" she addressed him. in a
tone he had never heard her use be-
fore, you'll have to give your letters
to some One else-Im thru taking die
tation.'
''My dear Miss" the president be-
gan in thunderstruck tone
TT simply means" Lenore cut in
without waiting to be asked for an ex-
PLANTATION, that I'm leaving your en-
ploy. 1 am leaving tonight-today-
this minute. 1 can't even think of
wasting the two hours that remain of
this working day in this ungodly
sweatshop. I'm too young a woman
to waste one hour more
but what can you do in two hours"
the president begged to know Iamely.
Calm yourself my dear. calm"
Calm myself nothing! I've been
calm all my life. I've Gained all my
good times away. What can I do in
two hours. you ask-I can do lots of
things drown myself, rob a bank, get
married"
hoDa LOW xyo,,
considering the latter" Mr.. Toll was
really frightened now. Anything but
the latter in your frame of mind"
'I will get married" Lenore cried
just to be contrary. Everyone here
thinks I am incapable of getting mar
ried-thinks I am too old or too set
in my ways-but I'm not. I can get
marrfed-and inside of two hours at
that-and 1 will! I'll marry the first
man who asks me-"
Lenore Stopped to see what effect
her speech had on the man before her.
lighted upon third person. A quietly
dressed, middle-aged man of the
younger type had been sitting thru all
this scene unobserved. Lenore caught
her breath a little, some of the old
office decorum coming back to her, no
doubtful the blood of rebellion was
too strong in her veins She glared at
this stranger also.
DO you really mean you will marry
the first man who asks you. this
stranger inquired seriously
I mean just that" Lenore replied
briskly.
"Then, Miss Tibetts, may I have
the honor of asking you to become my
wife?'' this dapper man asked in such
a matter of fact way that the aston
ished Mr.. Toll nearly collapsed
Lenore was not in the least nom
plussed.
Il will answer yes on one condition -
she replied. THE condition is that
the marriage take place at once"
'fIn this office if you wish" the man
agreed. MY friend Mr.. Toll will tele-
phone for a clergyman while am out
arranging for a marriage license"
at will be necessary for you to
have all particulars my birthday, par
entage, etc. Lenore cautioned him.
Those particulars can be obtained
from the office records the stranger
answered coolly Have those rec
ords sent to me, and then my dear, if
you will take my advice. you Will
calm yourselves before the ceremony
takes place."
It was just an hour later when the
strange marriage ceremony began
Lenore had insisted that work in the
office cease, and the almost dumb
stricken president was only too will
ing to accede to her wishes. So the
whole staff of breathless, hardly-able-
to-believe-it girls and office men
crowded into the spacious office of
the president. Like a naughty queen
Lenore faced them all and went thru
with the wedding without the quiz 4
of an eye-1ash. Indeed at the end of
the ceremony the hitherto impregna-
BILE Miss Tibetts looked quite sweet
and girlish as she tilted her lips for
the kiss that sealed the marriage
bond.
When it was over, the staff, without
being asked to do SO, filed out as
quietly as they could Just one other
official remained with the president
to sign the register
For tho fret +ir,. o-o--