The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1872-07-26

passed by, glahcing sloeways ~ the uu'
conscious occupant, Who did not lift her
head - he approached.
After speaking 70 elerk ut the fur
ther end OF the room, he walked slowly
back 10 where the young lady sat, and
who, = he paused BY the desk, raised
. pair Of sofl blue EYES, shooting a swift
bewildering glance in Smiths that he
ielt to the toe Of his boot.
"Niss- Mrs" he stammered.
Ny name is Georgians,' said the
young lady, smiling. "Some call me
George for short" GO
"Well, Nis George Georgiana, I'm
afraid that you will fad your situation
rather unpleasant.
= "Not at all, sir. On the contrary, l
flnd il very pleasant and comfortable. :"
~Ahem i--but fear you will hardly
be equal 70 the discharge of its duties
III hope will. If You will run your
eye over the balance sheet you will find
everything correct" 81
With desperate hope that there would
be something amiss, Smith did SO, but
was disappointed. y
~ hope you have no fault to find"
said the clerk, rather anxiously, on per-
ceiving that he hesitated.
You are a woman
Here, whether abashed by the sudden
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 q woman. But thoogh it may be
a misfortune, it can scarcely be called a
fault; al any rate, it is one for which l
am not answersble."
"You misunderstood me, ma'am.
What meant to say was, that there are
certain duties conn ected with our Office.
such as opening the store, going to the
postofice, etc., which you cannot very
well perform"
~ assure you, sir, that l shall like
nothing better than an occasion al walk
in the open air. And as to opening the
store, and sweeping and busting, don't
know why it should be harder to per-
form that Office for store than for q
house." % .v
~ CLAIM no consideration for my
SEX" resumed the young lady, casting
a reproachful glance at the perplexed
countenance Of her employer, "but l
ask, in common Justice, if perform
my duties satisfactorily, that you will
not discharge me sisply because I am a
soonsan 7"
Muttering disclaimer of some kind,
he hardly knew what, Smith beat a
sudden retreat to his own room, assum-
ing bold front as he met his partners
inquiring eye, but with an outward con-
seriousness that he had been totally
routed by the enemy.
"Goingf" said Jenkins, with nom
chaLanee most provoking.
swell, no, not to-day. What the
d. are you grinning atY'
"Oh, nothing nothing at ALL" re-
sponded Jenkins, throwing himself
back in his chair and regarding intently
. fly upon the ceiling.
"What / was going to remark, was,"
resumed Smith, with quite an unneces-
sary assumption Of dignity, that have
concluded to let the young lady remain
until can find some situation for her
more in accordance with her SEX"
"very kind and considerate in you,"
aaid Jenkins, dryly, especially taking
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 ogre he
seemed. Aside from his prejudice, he
was q sensible, nd-hearted man.
Georgiana was not called upon to open
store or run errands, though she offered
to do both. Curious to relate, as days
aud weeks passed, Smiths repugnance
to her presence not only vanished with
them, but he began to regard it with
positive pleasure.
He used often to look through the
glass door, watching the graceful poise
of the head and the motions Of the
deft little fingers as they glided over
the paper, until at last curious fancies
seemed to creep through his brain, and
he began to indulge in glowing dreams
Of how wonderful such little woman
as that would brighten, up his lonely
and cherries home.
But he determined to proceed eau.
tiously. He had il. His housekeeper
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
ladys presence in his private Office, q
summons that was promptly obeyed.
Miss Gardner, don't you think the
situation as housekeeper in a quiet
home, like mine for instance, would be
preferable to your situation here 2"
Perhaps, in some respects it might"
said Georgiana, coloring at this abrupt
inquiry, and the look which accom-
panied IL.
Was the old gentleman about to make
her an offer?