Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1921-01-20
A Revealed Secret
BY HELEN CLARFT
3 ls2l. western Newsp. eer Unlon.l

tainly. hope so, for am too happy TO
draw long breath. What is it that
has made me so wildly joyous, oh lit
tie typewriter of mine? | will tap out
the story ON your keys, for you are in
directly responsible for IL 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 il. 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. OF course my work was taking
the letters of the Head, and occasional
by ones from the rest. although they
talk so slow that l can write them right
off on you The Head can rattle them
off so fast that it keeps my pencil fly
ing to keep up. It's hiSd 70 tell you
just what the Head looks like, for
you aren't a girl with eyes in your
head; but he's great and big and such
a man His eyes look right into
yours, and woe is me if you ever tell
even tiny fb; but l never have.
There is something about such man
that inspires confidence, and, yes,
love; ! might rs well write it and get
1t over. Some of the fellows in the
outer office said that he was a woman
hater. but | 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 q
home very much indeed. Perhaps she
is right, but | wonder why. OF course
mans stenographer does know him
better than his home folks, in a way,
but when heshaS only nice traits of
character to show, why shouldn't she
love him all the more? When a girl
sees Il man bear up under misfortune,
Seep his temper, show consideration
under circumstances that would make
a saint long TO break all ten of the
commandments, why that tends to
show how awfully nice he is, doesn't
it? think So At last, yesterday
morning things came to "A climax The
bOokkeeper had piled things up on me
the day before 50 that it was nine
o'clock before / left the office. and l
had not stopped for dinner. | left
the work on the desk ready for him,
but when | came down in the morning
/ 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 he.p IT'D that my hands
We're shaking when | went in for dicta-
tion, and everything looked blurred
before my eyes.
The Head began, speaking in his
usual rapid way, but ii really seemed
to me that he, too, was nervous sud
denly | found that he was beyond me,
and ! sad, my voice trembling
Excuse me, but you are talking too
fast"
He stared at me, and no wonder,
for it was the first time | had ever
asked him to speak slower.
whats the matteF1" he asked kind,
ly, and l broke down. Just think OF
1t, cried like baby, and all the. time
he was patting my shoulder with the
ruler which he had Snatched w in his
excitement, not knowing what to do
with a sobbng girl. | kept on crying
harder and harder, and he kept on
patting my shoulder with renewed
force, until at last l couldn't stand IL
any longer, and so l gasped out
PLEASE don't hit me any more,
you're fairly pounding me- AVID then
he looked &C the ruler ana realized
what he was doing. He gave gasp
himself, and said kind Of breathlessly.
why, bless my soul what have
been doingT and gazed al me, as I
could see through my fingers. for my
hands were over my face,
Il didn't mean to do this way" Il
began to apologize.
And | never meant to pound you,'e
har explained, still holding the ruler
aSd looking from 1t to- me and back
again. The funny side of it struck me
and | began to lauen through my
tears, and then to cry again and then
i all happened so suddenly.
. He bent nearer, asking in that Kind
nice way Of his: MY poor little. girl.
what is it? Who mas been insposine
ON YOU? Bless me. can't bear 30 see
woman cry.
My dear Miss Hart / am goipa
Tea ask you a yaBy strange thing"
"ies,' l said encouragingly
Il am wondering If you would feel
hurt If asked for your resignation"
he burted out
Why I asked simply.
He turned. towards me. and caught
my eyes. aid not try 10 hide my SO,
cret any more. There was no need
The dear reached forward. caughf my
hands ID ais own. asking eagerly.
Tell ice. little girl, il il is possible
that voa can care for an old crusty tel
low like me?' Dear typewriter. he is
only thirty-fye, and TO call himself