Whig and tribune. [volume] (Jackson, Tenn.) 1870-1877, 1872-01-06
SMITHS NEW CLERK.
HY - aRAcE HALpINE.

has thus far been very industrious
and attentive"
"Thus far? Oh, yes. Wait a
moHth. New brooms sweep clean"
"Oh, well, If the new clerk dOn't |
suit you, YOU can send the new clerk |
adrift, that's all. / only took her
ahem tho new clerk on trial"
"Oh, yes. Her, that is to say, the |
new clerks name is Gardner. But
here we are"
As was his usual custom, Mr..
Smith went through the store, past
the array of clerks on either side of
the counter, without glancing TO the
right or left. But when he reached
his private office, at the further end,
he looked through the glass door,
which was so situated that he could
ses all that was going on in the
store.
As his eyes fell on the occupant OF
a desk near the door, he started:
whats that 20 he said, turning
sharply upon his partner, who had
followed him.
jenkins gazed very cOmpOsedly
upon the slender form, whose grace
full head was bent intently over
ledger that lay open upon the desk
THAT? Why, that's the new
clerk"
Smith rubbed his eyes, aud looked
again.
"Why, it's a woman ~ he exclaim-
ed, with an air of incredulity and
horror.
Il should say it was" said Jen-
kins, cOolly, "and cOnfoundcdly
pretty one at that"
Smith gave his partner look Of
virtuous indignation.
"Mr. Jenkins, this is no place for
a womanl"
"Think not? Now, il strikes me
that she fits the place very neatly"
"The proper place for woman is
in the sanctuary of home"
This was a pet observation of Mr..
| Smiths, which he had read some
where, and which he considered as
4 clincher in any such argument.
''But suppose she hasn't any :"
That was poser; and, in his ef
forts TO surmouut u, Mr.. Smith got
I excited.
"Hasu't any? Why, sir, she must
she ought to have onew
VERY true. Ia fact, so confident
aIF / on that point, that have some
! thought of offering her mine or, at
least, to share il with her"
''Mr. jenkins, this is not fit sub
ject for jestp
"It's n serious matter, j know /;
SO, on the whole, perhaps I'd better
think IL over while longer. Be-
sides, there's no knowing If she
would accept my offer, together with
the incumbrance that goes = ith il"
Jenkins" returned Smith, Sc
vercly, twill you cease tri1ing, and
attend 10 the business in hand !?
This woman must gow
'Very well. You told me you
wanted n clerk that would be faith
fol and industrious; that didn't
! spend his salary, and all he could
steal, on fast horses and faster wo-
men and l got you one. las an
easy matter 20 send her of.
. OF course it IS" rejoined Smith,
Frightening at the suggestion. Just
tell her that she don't exactly suit,
and that we shaH't need her after
| to-day
"But she does suit-me; aud If
you're not suited, all you've got 10
do is TO tell her So"
'.You hired her"
"And for ;hat very reason won't
l discharge her without some good
cause"
s'No matter" returned Smith,
with an air OF lofty Indifference. u
can discharge her. / think l am
( equal to that much"
Jenkins, who had left the room,
! put his head back moment later.
Bet you . hundred dollars You
! don't DO it," -
with this parting shot he disap-
peared.
| Now, Smith had a nervous horror
OF women, as his partner well knew
/ especially of young wOmen-and
never spoke TO one il he could help
it.
Had it been man, he would know
what 10 say, and experience no diff
Guilty in saying il; buta woman was
quite another thing.
But his partners last words had
touched his pride, and summonins
all his resolution, he opened the door
and walked out.
But his courage failed him as hc
came opposite the desk where she
sat, and he passed by, glancing side
| ways at the unconscious occupant.
who did not lift her head at his ap.
prOach-
} After speaking to q clerk at the
further end of the room, he walked
slowly back TO where the young lady
sat, and who, IS he paused By the
desk, raised a pair of soft blue eyes,
shooting a swift, bewildcring glance
in Smiths that he felt 70 the toes oi
his boots.
''AIiss-Mlss"-he stammered.
''My name is Georgiana," !" said tho
young lady, smiling. "Somc call mr.
George, for short"
''Weu, Miss George Gcorgiana
I'm afraid that you fnd your situa.
tion rather unpleasant"
Not at all, sir. On the contrary
ind livery pleasant aud cOnforta.
ble."
"Ahem!-butI I fear that YOU viii
be hardly equal to the discharge oi
its duties"
Il hope not. IfyOu will run youI
eye over the balance sheet, you viii
| find everything correct"
With desperate hope that there
would be something amiss, Smith
did so, but was disappointed.
II hope yOu have no fault 10 find =
said the new clerk, little anxious
ly, on perceiving that he hesitatsd
"1ou are woman"
Here, whether abashed by tho
sudden display of dimples in tho
pink cheeks, that grew still more
pink at this rather Unnecessary an.
nouncement, Smith came to an alb
rupt pause.
At this, the smiling face settled
into an expression of demure gravi
ty.
4 must plead guilty to the charge
of being a woman. But though I
may be a misfortune, it can scarcel,
be called a fault; at any rate, ii i
one for which am not answerable.' :
"EOu misunderstood me, ma'am
What l meant TO say was, that ther,
are certain duties connected will
your Office, such as opening the store
going TO the post-o1iice, etc whicl
you cannot very well perform"
Il assure you, sir, that l shall lik
nothing better than an octasiona
, walk in the open air. And as I,
opening the store, and sweeping ant
, busting, | don't know whyit shoul,
be harder TO perform that office 70
a store than for a house."
IL claim no consideration for IN,
EeX," resumed the young lady, cast