The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1921-09-01
"A Revealed Secret
By HELEN CLARKE
70. 1921. Western Newspaper Union.

tainly, hope so, for am too happy TO
draw long breath. What Is II that
has made Inc SO wildly joyous, oh lit
tie typewriter of mine? l Will tap ont
the story on your keys. for you are u.
directly responsible for II all.
First do you need an introduction to
me? If So am Clara Hart, stenog-
rapher and happiest girl In the world,
just nineteen. Yesterday could have
said nineteen and never kissed, but
today, well, typewriter. I'll tell you all
about It. I've had several other places,
but came here six months ago, and am
the only girl In the business, the 9TH
er employees being all men and boys.
from the head down to Red the office
boy. or course my work was taking
the letters OF the Head, and occasional
ly ones from the rest. although they
talk so slow that can Write them right
off on you. The Head can rattle them
of so fast that 1t keeps my pencil fly
ing to keep up. It's hard to tell you
Just what the Head looks like, for
you aren't girl with eyes in your
head; but he's great and big and such
man His eyes look right into
yours, and woe Is me If you ever tell
even a tiny tib but 1 never have.
There Is something about such a man
that inspires confidence, and yes,
love; l might as well write IL and get
1t over. Some OF the fellows in the
outer office said that he was woman
hater but l never believed that, for
there are kind lines about his mouth,
and when he smiles his whole face
lights up. and you feel better and
stronger for having known him.
Some one once told me that no girl
ever married her employer unless she
was fearfully in love or wanted
home very much indeed. Perhaps she
Is right, but l wonder why. OF course
a mans stenographer does know him
better than his home folks, In way.
but when he has only nice traits OF
character to show, why shouldn't she
love him all the more? When a girl
sees man bear up under misfortune.
keep his temper, show consideration
under circumstances that would make
a saint long to break all ten of the
commandments. why, that tends tc
show how awfully nice he Is, doesn't
1t? l think so. At last, yesterday
morning, things came to a climax. The
bOokkeeper had piled things up on me
the day before so that 1t was nine
o'clock before left the Office, and
had not stopped for dinner. l left
the work on the desk ready for him,
but when l came down in the morning
L found RED" the Office boy nearly
frantic because he had spilled ink all
over This upset me- so Though didn't
say word to Red" poor little chap,
he couldn't help IT'D that my hands
were shaking when | went In for dicta.
ton, and everything looked blurred
before my eyes.
The Head began, speaking In his
usual rapid way, but IL really seemed
TO me that he, too, was nervous. Sud.
denly found that he was beyond me,
and said, my voice trembling:
Excuse me, but you are talking too
fast"
He stared at me, and no wonder.
for 1t was the first time 1 had ever
asked him to speak slower.
whats the matter2" he asked kind.
ly, and / broke down. Just think OF
1t, cried like a baby, and all the time
he was patting my shoulder with the
ruler which he had snatched up In his
excitement, not knowing what to do
with a sobblng girl. kept on crying
harder and harder, and he kept on
pattlng my shoulder with renewed
force, until at last couldn't stand 1t
any longer, and so 1 gasped out:
please don't hit me any more,
you're fairly pounding me-" and then
he looked at the ruler and realized
what he was doing. He gave gasp
himself, and said kind of breathlessly
'Why, bless my soul, what have
been doIng7" and gazed at me- as /
could see through my fingers. for my
hands were over my face.
81 didn't mean to do this way"
began to apologize.
"And I never meant TO pound you"
he explained, still holding the ruler
and looking from 1t to me and back
again. The funny side Of 1t struck me
and began to laugh through my
tears, and then to cry again, and then
1t all happened so suddenly.
He bent nearer, asking In that kind,
nice way of his: "My poor little girl,
what Is It? Who has been imposing
on your Bless me, can't bear to see
a woman cry.
my dear Miss Hart, I am going
to ask you a very strange thing"
"Yes," said encouragingly.
II am wondering IL you would feel
hurt II asked for your resignation"
he blurted out.
"WhyT I asked simply.
He turned towards me, and caught
my eyes. / did not try TO hide my Sc
cret any more. There was no need.
The dear reached forward. caught my
hands In his own. asking eagerly: