The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1872-12-21
The NeaO CZerE.


SLOWS business 2" inquired the latter.
"All right; got new clerk"
"Got a new clerk, eh Where is Jones2"
discharged him. An idle, extravagant youn[
dog p
"True enough, and the new one won't do any
better. Drinking, gambling, late hours, fas
horses-thats the way with them ALL"
And Smith grosned.
Jenkins eye twinkled. He we'll knew the pc
cularities of his good-hearted but eccentric bach
elor partner.
swell, the new clerk don't drink nor gamble
Pm certain of that and has thus far been very
attentive and Industrious
"Thus far Oh, yes. Wait a month. New
brooms sweep clean"
ooh, well, if the new clerk dom I suit you, you
can send the clerk adrift that's all. l took her
--ahem-the new clerk on trial.
Mr.. Smith stared at his partner.
81 suppose the new clerk has a name" he re-
marked, dryly.
"Oh, yes. Her-that is-to say-the new
clerks name is Gardner. But here we are."
As was bis usual custom, Mr.. Smith went
through the store past the array of clerks on
either side Of the counter, without glancing either
10 the right or left. But when he reached his
private Office, the fnther end, helooked through
The glass door, which was so situated that be
could see all that was going on in the store.
n
near the door, he started.
"What's that ?" he said, turning sharply to
his partner, who had followed him.
| Jenkins gazed composedly at the slender form,
| whose graceful head was bent intently over q
ledger that lay upon the desk.
| "That? Why, that's the new clerk"
| Smith rubbed his eyes and looked again.
| "Why, it's woman p he exclaimed with an
air of incredulity and horror.
81 should say it was" said Jenkins, coolly
"and confoundedly pretty one at that"
| Smith gave his partner look Of virtuous in
| dignation.
''Mr. jenkins, this is 40 place for woman"
"Think not2 Now it strikes NE she fits the
place very nicely"
"The proper place for woman is the sanctua-
| ry of home, which be had read somewhere aud
| which he considered as clincher in such an
| argument.
'But suppose she hasn't auy2'
This was a poser and in his efforts to sur
| mount it Mr.. Smith got excited.
'Hasn't any2 Why, sir, she must-she ought
| to have one."
"Very true. In fact, so confident am on this
point that have thought of offering her mine
| or, or at least, to share it with her."
"Mr. jenkins, this is not fit subject for jest"
"lts serious matter, know so on the whole,
perhaps had better think it over while longer.
Besides there is no knowing if she would accept
my offer, together with the incumbrauce that
goes with it,"
This was pet observation of Mr.. Smith
Jenkins" returned Smith, severely, "will you
cease trifing and attend to the business in hand
This woman must CO."
"Very we'll you told me you wanted clerk
who was faithful and Industrious, that didn't
spend his salary and all be could steal on fast
horses and the like, and got you one. It's an
easy matter to send her off,"
''Of course it is, rejoined Smith, Frightening
at the suggestion. 'Just tell her she does not
exactly suit, and that we shan't need her after
to-day"
''But she does suit me- and if you are not
suited, all you have got to do is to tell her so."
"You hired her."
"And for that reason I won't discharge her
without some good cause"
"No matter" returned Smith, indifferently.--
IL can discharge her. | think am equal to that
much"
Jenkins, who had left the room, put his bead
back minute later.
'Bet you hundred dollars you don't do it."
With this parting shot he disappeared.
Now Smith had nervous horror of women,
as his partner well knew-especially young wo-
rlen-and never spoke to one if he could help it,
v Had it been man he woulo have known what
to say, and experienced no difficulty in saying it,
bat woman was quite another thing.
But his partners last words had touched his
pride, and summoRing all his resolution, he walk
ed in.
But his courage failed him as he came opposite
the desk where she sat, and he passed by glanc-
ing sdewise at the unconscious occupant, who
did not lift her head as he approached.
After speaking to a clerk in the further end of
the room, be walked slowly back to where the
young lady sat, and who, as he passed, raised
pair of soft blue eyes, shooting bewildered
glance in Smiths that he felt TO the toe of his
boot.
'Miss-Miss-" be stammered.
''My name is Georgianna," said the young
lady, smiling. Some call me George, fOrshort."
''Well, Miss George-Georgianna, | am afraid
you will find your situation rather unpleasant"
''Not at all, sir. On the contrary, lind it very
pleasant and comfortable"
"Ahem-but fear you will hardly be equal to
the discharge of its duty"
81 hope not. II you will run your eye over
the balance-sheet you will find everything cor
rect"
With a desperate hope that there would be
something amiss, Smith did so, but was disap- |
pointed.
81 hope you have no fault to find ?" said the |
clerk, rather anxiousy, on perceivirg that he
hesitated
"You are a woman"
Here whether abashed by sudden display Of
dimples on the pink cheeks, that grew more pink |
at this rather unnecessary assertion, Smith came
to an abrupt pause.
At this the smiling face settled into an express
sion OF demure gravity.
81 must plead guilty to the charge of being a |
woman. But though it may be misfortune, it |
can scarcely be called fault at any rate it is |
I m
"Y0u misunderstood me, nam. What | |
meant to say was, that there are certain duties
connected with your office, such as opening the |
store, going to the posoice, etc., which you can
not very well perform"
81 assure you, sir, that like nothing better |
than an occasional walk in the open air. And as |
to opening the store, and sweeping and busting, |
| don't know why it should be harder to perform |
that Office for a store than for house."
81 claim no consideration for my sex, resumed |
the young lady, casting reproachful glance at
the perplexed countenance of her employer, "but |
ask in common justice that you will not dis |
charge me simply because l am a woman"
Muttering disclaimer of some kind, be hard |
ly knew what Smith beat sudden retreat to his
own room, assuming a bold front as he met his |
partners inquiring eye, but with an inward con-
sciousness that he had been completely routed by |
the enemy.
OOlug! Salu JeuhlnSi WIN uouChalauSS InOS' |
provoking.
"Well, no, not to-day What the deuce are
you grinning at?" i
''Oh, nothing-nothing at all, responded |
jenkins, throwing himself back In his chair, and |
regarding ntsntly fly on the ceiling.
''What | was going to remark was, resumed
Smith, with quite an unnecessary assumption OF
dignity, ''that have concluded to allow the |
young lady to remain until | can find some stu
alton for her more in accordance with her sex"
every kind and consderate of you, " said Jen-
kins, dryly, especially taking into consideration
that she does her work better than any clerk we |
ever had, and less pay, too."
Smith was by no means the ogre be seemed
Aside from his prejudice, he was sensible, kind
hearted man. Georgianna was not called upon |
to open the store or run errands, though she Of
fered to do both. Curious to relate, as the days |
and weeks passed, Smiths repugnance TO her |
presence not only vanished with them, but he be-
gan to regard it with positive pleasure.
He used to often look through the glass door,
watching the graceful p0ise of head and the mo-
ton of the deft little fingers as they glided over
the paper, until at last curious fances seemed to
creep into his brain, and he began TO indulge in |
glowing dreams of how wonderfully such little |
woman as that would brighten up his lonely and |
cheerless home.
But he determined to proceed cautiously. he |
had it. His housekeeper was about to leave he |
would offer Miss Gardner hesituation-and then. |
Having formed this resolution, his next step |
was to request the young lady'e presence in bis |
A. II