The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1872-06-15


walked in.
But his courage failed him as he
came opposite the desk where she sat,
and he passed by, glancing sidewise at
the unconscious occupant, who did not
lift her head as he approached.
After speaking to a clerk at the end
of the room, he walked slowly back to
where the young lady sat, and who, as
he paused by the desk, raised a pair of
soft blue eyes, shooting "a swift bewild-
ering glance in Smiths, that ne felt to
the toe of his boot.
" Miss 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 that you will find your situation
rather unpleasant.
find it very pleasant and comfortable. !"
''Ahem!-but l fear you will hardly
be equal to the discharge of its duties. !"
81 hope not. If you will run your
eye over the balance sheet you will find
everything correct"
With desperate hope that there
would be something amiss, Smith d1d
SO, but was disappointed.
{" hope you have no fault to find ;"
said the clerk, rather anxiously, on
perceiving That he hesitated
"You are woman"
Here, whether abashed by the sud-
den display of dimples in the pink
cheeks, that grew still more pink at
his rather unnecessary assertion, Smith
came to an abrupt pause.
At this the smiling face settled into
an expression of demure gravity.
Il must plead guilty to the charge
of being woman. But though it may
be misfortune, it can scarcely be call
ed fault; at any rate, 1T is one for
which l am not answerable."
"YOu misunderstood me, ma am
What l meant to say was, that there
are certain duties connected with your
Office, such rs opening the store, going
to the postotlice, etc, which you can
not very well perform"
4 assure you, sir, that / shall like
nothing better than an occasional walk
IN the open air. And as to opening the
store, and sweeping and busting, L
don't know why it should be the hard
er to perform that office for store than
for II house"
81 claim no consideration for my
sex, resumed the young lady, casting
a reproachful glance at the perplexed
countenance of her employer, {" but /
ask IN common justice, if | perform my
duties satisfactorily, that you will not
discharge me simply because / am q
aUOn1otn
Muttering disclaimer of some kind.
he hardly knew that, Smith beat sud
den retreat to his own room, assuming
a bold front as he met his partners IN
curing eye, but with an outward con
seriousness that he had been totally
routed by the enemy.
"Going?" said jenkins, with non
chalance most provoking.
Well, no, not to-day. What the
ID are You grinning at?"
" Oh, Eothing-nothing at all, " res
pended Jenkins, throwing himself back
IN his chair and regarding intently a
fly upon the ceiling.
What | was going to remark was. y
resumed Smith, with quite an uuneces-
sary assumption of dignity, that /
have conceded to let the young lady re-
main until | can find some situation
for her more III accordance with her
sex"
Very kind and ccnsiderate in Won, >
said Jenkins, dryly. a" especially tax
ing into view that she does her work
better than any clerk we ever had, and
for less pay, too"
Smith was by no means the orge he
seemed. Aside from his prejudice, he
was sensible, kind hearted man.
Georgiana was not called upon to open
the store or run errands, though she Of
fered to do both. Curious to relate. as
days and weeks passed, Smiths repug-
nance to her presence not only vanish.
ed with them, but he began to regard
1t with positive pleasure.
He used often to look through the
glass door, watching the graceful poise
OF the little head and the motions OF
the deft little fingers as they glided
over the paper. Until at last curious
fancles seemed to creep through his
brain, and he began to indulge in glow
ing dreams of how wonderfully such a
little woman as that would brighten IN
his lonely and cheerless homo.
But he determined to proceed eau
oi'uoit' liz Hfttt H. Ills DOuSekepDPI
was about to leave he would offer
Miss Gardner the situation-and then
Having formed this resolution. his
next step was to request the young
lady's presence in his private office, a
summons that was promptly obeyed.
Miss Gardner, don't you think the
situation as housekeeper in quiet
home, like mine for instance, would be
preferable to your situation here y
'sPerhaps, in some respects it might, "
said Georgiana, coloring at this abrupt
inquiry and the Look which accompani-
ed it.
Was the old gentleman about to
make her an offer?
But his next word relieved her of This
apprehension.
my housekeeper is soon to leave
me, and l should be very glad to have
you supply her place. "
Georgiana's cheeks grew red and
her mouth dimpled the smiles that she
strove valnly to suppress.
9 You are very kind, sir, but the
fact is, MIR. Jenkins has spoken to me
first -
Mr.. Jenkins 2"
Yes, Sir He asked me to be his