Search America's historic newspaper pages from 1756-1963 or use the U.S. Newspaper Directory to find information about American newspapers published between 1690-present. Chronicling America is sponsored jointly by the National Endowment for the Humanities external link and the Library of Congress. Learn more
Image provided by: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Library, Urbana, IL
Newspaper Page Text
"Then ph. then, won't we luxuri ate!" Flora reached the office of Fairfax & Co. She told her business to the information clerk, who went into a private offiffice, and, returning, stat ed that Mr. Fairfax wished to see her. Flora was impressed with the kindly face of the young man, who, it seemed, was the head of the busi ness. He nodded intelligently as he read the letter and wrote a line on a card. 'Take that to Mr. Doane, the office manager," he said. "He will assign you to your work at once. I hope you will like your tasks here. Your references were excellent." "My references?" repeated Flora, in a puzzled way. "Why, sir, I sent none but I have them with me." "That is strange," observed Mr. Fairfax, and he reached over and lifted a large envelope from a little tray. "I thought I was right. Yes, here they are." In wonder, and then in sickening despair, Flora glanced over the re commendation of Miss Flora John son, but another Miss Johnson, at entirely different address. She felt faint as the truth dawned upon her: Whoever had sent the letter had looked at the directory and had ad dressed the letter to the wrong Flora Johnson. There were tears in her eyes as she faltered out an explanation. Blindly she tottered from the room, reached the outer office and then all became blank. "Poor little soul!" were the words that greeted her as she opened her eyes, and two typist girls were bend ing over her as she lay on a settee in one of the inner rooms of the suite. "Mr. Fairfax is quite interested. It seems this girl had her hopes raised by receiving a letter intended for an other of her name. That poor lunch in her handbag! Isn't it a pity? Prob ably her heart was set on this posi tion." "Mr. Fairfax wished to know when she recovered," spoke the other girl, and Flora, sitting up a minute later, was confronted by the young busi ness man. "You seem to have come first," he said, an expression of real interest and sympathy on his -face, "your namesake has not reported, so I think we may take you on " - "Oh, no, sir!" spoke Flora imptu ously. "It was this other Miss John son who qualified for the position. Perhaps she, too, is depending upon it to relieve to pay her way! I could not think of causing her disap pointment," and Flora arose and left the room. "The brave, unselfish girl!" spoke Mr. Fairfax in tones of profound ad miration. "We have her address and I will look into this." He could not get rid of a memory of that solent, pleading face all that day. He was eager, glad, as one of his clerks, sent to investigate at the address they had, returned and re porited the circumstances surround ing the Johnsons. "What did you learn?" asked Mr. Fairfax of his envoy, and his sympa thetic face was tense and concentrat ed as he heard the sorrowful story of the struggling girl. But a new life opened for Flora within the next fw days. A letter came from a large brokerage firm, stating that her address as an expert stenographer had been furnished them and asking her to call. Flora found herself in the position of her life. Her companion workers were charming, her employers con siderate and liberal. Within a week all of the bloom had come back into Flora's face and renewed courage was restored to her tried but intrepid soul. One noon, as she sat down at a table in a restaurant where she ate her lunch, a pale-faced, frail-looking young woman abruptly took the seat opposite her. She introduced herself as Mfss Flora Johnson. She was the, young lady - -- --AAAAAAAJ AAiflfliiMflittifll