The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-07-18
Euening Story
A Mere Stenographer.
BY ELEANOR f. DAY.

And we are sorry to state that
we can do nothing to assist you in this
matter.%
| The hand of the unperturbed stem
/ ographer moved swiftly across the
page. She was by no means surprised
at the words of her employer-she was
only too used to, his harsh ways and
methods. She was startled. however,
a few minutes later to note softer
expression on the old mans face than
she had ever seen before. He began
to speak, and soon she realized he was
ungrateful nephew, whom he had
| looked upon as a son. Ibe had intended
| him to enter his firm and finally to
inherit his fortune. In preparation
for the bright future before the lad,
he was sent to college.
| But what dids that young scamp
do" he fairly shouted at the girl,
but run off with the deans stenog
rapher. A boy with his prospects to
marry a mere stenographer. A boy
with his prospects to marry mere
ographer-crimina1i
Miss Faroff moved uneasily in her
seat. Mere stenographer," indeed. 1t
occurred to her that in her employers
mind she was summed up in just those
two words. She had often built castles
of her own, in which she pictured her
self loving and being loved by hand
|
man. But now
The old man went right on without
noticing, or at least without pretend
ing to notice her discontinue.
THAT was rs years ago. I cut him
off without cent and today received
a letter-the first in all that time
asking me to finance his son in some
fool business project. Like as not, the
boy is just like his father, and most
probably will run off with a ribbon
clerk or some blond stenographer."
And with a snort. the irate old man
strobe out Of the office, leaving behind
| him a reSentful little lady, who in turn
shot indignant glances after his re-
treating figure. and patted the light
golden curls that persisted in falling
carelessly around her troubled face.
Life indeed was becoming unbear-
able under him. Mere stenograp her."
/ and with toss of her head she turned
once more to her machine, and soon
the rhythmic "elickety-c lick-click" of
the typewriter was the only sound to
be heard.
An hour later the quiet of the office
was broken by young man who
stepped in and inquired for Mr.. Jack
son, please?"
| He was informed in a soft voice that
the manager would be back at HAS.
And as that voice sounded so musi-
cally in his ear. and because the face
decided to wait
The clock hands reached HAS and
passed it-but no Mr.. Jackson. How
| ever. the visitor was by no means
bored. He informed Miss Faroff that
| he was the son of her employers
nephew. and was seeking a business
loan from him. This brought on
more conversation, sand his listener
was so very attentive that Mr. jack
son, jr., did not even notice the flight
of time He was quite surprised when
she rose to go to lunch, and asked If
he might accompany her Anne
agreed and the two went off.
At 2fo'c1ock the stenographer was
once mora seated at her desk. think
ing things over. She admitted to her
/ hour. or ever conversed with a more
delightful young man. He had left
her with g promise to return the fol-
lowing day. And so he did, but,
strange to say, just after the mana
ger had left OF course he stayed a
while to chat with Anne, and prom
ised to come in the next day. This
went on for a week. Each day he
arrived Just after Mr.. Jackson's de-
parture.
Finally he told Anne he had re-
ceiyed assistance from another source,
and that he was calling to see her and
explanation. he asked permission to
take her to the theater that evening.
and received it.
The next morning Anne was
startled to hear her employer ask:
who was the fine young man I saw
with you last night7s and then in a
sadder tone-.T once had a nephew