Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1871-07-28


men and got you one. It's an easy mat
ter TO send her off,
"Of course 1t is" rejoined Smith, bright
ening at the suggestion. "Just tell her she
don't suit, and that we shant need her af-
ter today"
"But she does suit-me and if you're
not suited, all you We got-tutio is to tell her
so."
"You hired her"
"And for that very reason shall not dis
charge her unless have some good caHse."
"No natter" returned Smith, with an
air of lofty indifference. 81 can discharge
her, think am equal to that much"
jenkins, who had left the room, put his
head back a moment later.
"Bet you hundred dollars you don't do
it."
with this parting shot he Immediately
disappeared
Now, Smith had a nervous horror of wo-
men, as his partner well knew, especially
of young women, and never spoke to one
if he could helpi it.
Had it been a man he would know what
to say, aud experience no difficulty in say
ing it, but woman was quite another
thing.
But his partners last words had touched
his pride, and summoning all his resolu-
ton and courage, he opened the door and
walked out.
But his courage failed him as he came OPP
posite the desk where she sat, and he pass
ed by glancing sideways at the uncon-
scious occupant, who did not lift her head
at his approach.
After speaking to clerk at the further
end of the room he walked slowly back to
where the young lady sat, and who, as he
paused by the desk, raised pair of soft,
blue eyes, shooting a swift, bewildering
glance in Smiths that he felt TO the toes of
| his boots.
"Mss-Miss," he stammered.
"My name is Georgiana," said the young
lady, smiling Some call me George for
short"
"Well, Miss George-Georgiana I'm
afraid you find your situation rather un-
| pleasant"
"Not at all, sir; on the contrary, find
| it very pleasant and comfortable"
"Ahem But | fear that you will hardly
be equal to the discharge of its duties r.
81 hope not. If you will run your eyes
over the balance sheet you will find every
thing correct"
With desperate hope that there would
be something amiss, Smith did so, but was
disappointed.
81 hope you have no fault to find," said
the new clerk little an xiously, on perceiv-
ing that he hestated.
"You are a woman"
Here, whether abashed by the sudden
display of dimples in the pink cheeks, that
still grew more pink at this rather unnec-
essary announcement, Smith came to an
abrupt pause.
At this, the smiling face settled into an
expression of demure gravity.
81 must plead guilty to the charge of be- |
ing woman. But though it may be |
misfortune it can hardly be called a fault,
at any rate it is one for which am not an
swerable."
"You misunderstood me, maan. What |
| meant to say was, that there are certain |
duties connected with your office such as
opening the store, going to the post-oflice, |
etc., which you can not very well perform"
81 assure you, sir, that | shall like moth
ing better than an occasional walk iuj the |
open air. And as to opening the store and |
sweeping and dusting, don't know why |
it should be harder to perform that Office |
for a store than for a house"
~ claim no consideration for my SEX"
resumed the young lady, casting slightly |
reproachful glance at the perplexed coun-
tenance of her employer. "But / ask in
common justice, if perform my duties
satisfa 'torily, that you will not discharge
me, simply because am woman"
Muttering n disclaimer of some kind, he
hardly knew what, Smith beat sudden
retreat to his own room, assuming bold
front as he met his partners inquiring eye,'
but with an inward consciousness that he
had been totally routed by the enemy.
"Going?" said jenkins, with provok-
in nonchalence.
"Well, no, not today. What the ID are
you grinning at?"
"Oh, nothing; nothing at all" respond
ed Jenkins, throwing himself back in his
chair, and regarding intently a fly upon
the ceiling.
'What / was going TO remark was,' re-
sumed Smith, with quite an unnecessary
assumption of dignity, "that | have con-
cl uded to let the young lady remain until
can find some situation for her more in ac-
cordance with her SEX
Every kind and consderate in you,'
said jenkins, somewhat dryly; "especial-
ly taking into view that she does her work
better than any clerk we ever had, and for
less pay, too"