New Oregon plaindealer. (New Oregon, Iowa) 1859-1866, 1864-01-08
NEW OREGON HOWARD COUNTY IOWA JANUARY 5, 1884

while my last visitor was having and
hemming preparatory to introducing
his business,
| You are Mr.. Clermont, sir, s'pose.
| Whats your business with me, my
friend?' said 1, amiably.
| We'll, I'm glad I've catched you at
home for once.' was the answer, with
fendish satisfaction. I'D be very
much obliged if you'd pay this little
bill?:
And he extended a crumpled piece
of paper-a bill for something or other,
1 didn't know nor care what, except
that the sum total was twenty dollars,
which 1 paid with my exultation con-
siderably toned down. Why couldn't
l have said that wasn't Jack, and
didn't know when Jack would be at
home.
My most interesting adventure was
yet to happen, however. Just as 1
was beginning to yawn, and contemplate
the propriety of shutting the little Of
fee up for the day-just as the level
brightness of glorious spring sunset
was streaming IN long bars Of gold
through the dusky panss of glass be-
side me-the silence was broken by a
tiny tap on the Office door.
Come in! 1 said, expecting to see
little boy with letter, or some prefer
naturally bashful client, as I laid down
the poker, and wheeled my chair round
What was my astonishment, on the con
trary, to behold tall, slender young
lady, with fresh clear compexion, just
tinged with healthy pink, that somehow
made me think of the wild honey-suck-
les in my favorite woods, and hazel eyes
that appeared perfectly ready either to
sparkle into brilliant laughter, or melt
into misty tears.
There she stood, and there 1 sat! I
never had heard of Jacks having any
female clients, and consequently it took
several seconds for me to recover, as it
were: my mental equilibrium. Then
1 sprang up, and politely proffe'ed her
the only chair in the office. while 1 en-
ttoroned myself on the wood box.
Mr.. Clermont?' she asked softl "a
very sweet, musical sort of a voice,
1 noticed, even through all my pertur-
baton.
4 shall be happy tc be of service to
you ma'am.' a...
Who would have supposed it! The
young wood nymph didn't wanta divorce
from her husband, (that is, taking it
for granted she had happened to have
such an appendage) nor did she desire
to quarrel with her heighbor's boundary
fence. or stray bovine animals
who had deprecated the the paternal
cornfelds. Not at all; she merely
wanted certificate to teach district
school, and and the other trustees had
sent her to Mr.. Clermont to be examin-
, ed.
, Here was pretty kettle of fish 70,
, bashful young man who was sailing
under false colors! How was to know
t whether she was qualified to be a school
/ ma'am or not! And how, in the nam'
of all that was desperate, was I to ge
f myself out Of this highly embarrassing
business, unless I confessed my inc
, quality to the emergency, by running
away AID beating an ignominious re
g treat through the back office door int
e the pine woods beyond!
Never, quoth 1 to mystf. I'll di
at my post sooner, even if forty thous
and school ma ANS come after certificate
|: WHAT'S is your name ma,am!' de
e manded, in a business like manner
r drawing sheet of paper towards m
: and dipping my pen in the ink stand,
Jessie Gray. sir
a knew couldn't stand the arcl
n half mischievous twinkle of those brow
10 eyes if looked at her too often; so
:. proceeded on firmly:
Of How old are you?'