The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1872-07-04
Chr 8atnitg Girtle.
SMITHS NEW CLERK

Jones?'
discharged him. An idle, ez
trayagant young dogr'
"True enough, and the new on
won't do any better. Drinking
gambling, late hours, fast horses
that's the way with them all"
And Smith groaned.
Jenkins eyes twinkled. He we
knew the peculiarities of his good
hearted but eccentric bachelor part
ner.
''Weli, the new clerk don't drinl
nor gamble, I'm certain of that, anC
has thus far been very industriou
and attentive"
"Thus far! Oh, yes. Wait
month. New brooms sweep clean
ooh, well, if the new clerk dom
suit you, can send the new clerk
adrift, that's all. I only took her
ah'm-the new clerk on trial"
Mr.. Smith stared at his partner.
81 suppose the clerk has aname?
he remarked, dryly.
"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 oi
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
see all that was going on in the
store.
As his eye fell upon the occupant
Of desk near the door, he started
whats that?' he said, turning
sharply upon his partner, who had
followed him.
Jenkins gazed very composedly
upon the slender form, whose grace
ful head was bent intently over a
ledger that lay open npon the desk.
"That? Why that's the new
clerk"
Smith rubbed his eyes, and looked
again.
"Why, it's a womanr' he exclaim-
ed, with an air of incredulity and
horror.
Il should say it was" said Jen-
kins, coOlly, "and a cOnfOundedly
pretty one at that"
Smith gave his partner a look of
virtuous indignation.
"Mr. Jenkins, this is no place for
a wemanw
Think? Now it strikes me that
she fits the place very nicely"
THE proper place for a woman is
the sanctuary of home"
This was a pet observation of Mr..
Smiths which he had read some
where, and which he considered as a
clincher in such an argument.
But suppose she hasn't anyT'
This was a poser, and in his efforts
to surmount it, Mr.. Smith got excl
ted.
Hasn't any? Why sir, she must
she ought to have one"
"Very true. In fact, so confident
am on this point that l have
thought of offering her mine-or, at
least, to share it with her"
''Alr. Jenkins, this is not a fit sub
ject for jestn'
Its a serious matter, know; so,
on the whole, perhaps I'd better
think it over a while longer. Be
sides, there is no knowing if she
would accept my offer together with
the incambrance that goes with it."
Jenkins" returned Smith, Sc
verely, "tgiE you cease trifing and at
tend to the business in hand? This
woman must CO."
Every well; you told me you wan
ted n clerk that would be faithful
and industrious; that didn't spend
his salary, and all he 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 don't 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 dis
charge her withaut some good
cause"
"No matter" returned Smith, with
an air of indifference. Il can dis
charge her. 1 think l am equal to
that much.'
Jenkins, who had left the room,
put his head back a minute later
"Bet you a 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 young wOmen-and ne
yer spoke to one if he could help it.
Had it been a man he would have
known what to say, and experienced
no difficulty in saying it, but q wO-
nan was quite another thing.
But his partners last words had
5Ouched his pride, aud summoning
Ill his resolution he opened the door
md walked in.
But his courage failed him as he
,ame opposite the desk where she |
jat, and he passed by, glancing !
.idewavs at the unconscious Occu-
,ant, who did not lift her head as
lie approached.
After speaking to a clerk at the
urther end of the room, he walked
lowlv back to where the young lady
at. and who, as he paused by the
.esk, raised a pair of soft blue eyes,
hooting a swift bewildering glance
D Smiths, that he felt to the toe of
is boot.
"AIiss-NIiss'-he stammered.
"My name is Georgianna," said
he young lady, smiling. "Some call
ne George for short"
"Wen, Miss GeOrge-Georgianna,
m afraid that you will find your
ituation rather unpleasant" -
Not at all, sir. On the contrary,
find it very pleasant and comfort
ble." -,
s.Ahem but I fear won will
ardly be equal to the discharge Of