The Columbus dispatch. (Columbus, Miss.) 19??-1922, 1921-02-20
A Revealed Secret
By HELEN CLARKE
"a. 1871. western Newspaper Unlon.l

the story on your keys, for you are en-
directly responsible for it all.
First. do you need an introduction to
mel II so, ] am Clara Hart, stenog-
rapher and hanpiegt girl In the world,
just nineteen. Yesterday l 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. OF 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 a 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 II you ever tell
even tiny fib; but l never have.
There is something about such a man
that inspires confidence, and. yes,
love; l might as we'll write 1t and get
1t over. Some of the fellows In the
outer Office said that he was 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 sten0grapher does know him
better than his home folks, In a 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 to
show how awfully nice he is, doesn't
1t? I think so. At last, yesterday
morning, things came to climax. The
bookkeeper had piled things up on me
the day before so that It was nine
o'clock before ! left the office, and I
had not stopped for dinner. ! left
the work on the desk ready for him.
but when came down in the morning
I found RED" the Office boy nearly
frantic because he had spilled ink all
over. This upset me. 50 Though ! didn't
say word to RED; poor little chap,
he couldn't help III that my hands
were shaking when went in for dicta-
tlon,. and everything looked blurred
before my eyes.
The Head began, speaking In his
usual rapid way, but 1t 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 it was the first time had ever
asked him to speak slower.
''What's the matter?" he asked kind.
ly, and broke down. Just think OF
1t. l 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 sobbing girl. l kept on crying
harder and harder, and he kept on
patting my shoulder with renewed
force, until at last I couldn't stand II
any longer, and so I 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 a gasp
himself, and said kind OF breathlessly
"Why, bless my soul, what have
been doing?" and gazed at me. as
could see through my fingers, for my
hands were over my face.
II didn't mean to do this way"
began to apologize.
"And never meant to pound you
he explained. still holding the ruler
and looking from 1t to me and back
again. The funny side Of It struck me
and l 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 1t? Who has been imposing
on your Bless me, l can't bear to set
woman cry.
"My dear Miss Hart, l am going
to ask you very strange thing"
| "Yes," said encouragingly.
II am wondering if you would fee
hurt II ! asked for your resignation,
he blurted out.
"WhyT | asked simply.
He turned towards me, and caugh
my eyes. / did not try to hide my sc
cret any more. There was no need
The dear reached forward, caught IN!
hands in his own, asking eagerly:
. 'srell me. little girl, II II is possible
that you can care for an old crusty fel
low like mel" Dear typewriter. he Il
only thirty-fve. and to call himself
old
ut not only is possible, 1t Is" I said