American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1872-06-08
VOL. XNII.

| tenance of her employer, "but | ask, in
common justice, if | perform my duties
satisfactorily, that you will not discharge
me sinply because 1 am scoman.'"
Muttering disclaimer of some kind
he hardly knew what, Smith beat sudden
retreat to his own room, assuming bold
| front as he met his partners inquiring
1 eye, but with an outward consciousness
that he had been totally routed by the
enemy.
"Goings ?" said jenkins, with nonchal-
ance most provoking.
"Well, no, not to-day. What the deuce
are you grinning at ,"
"Oh, nothing-nothing at all, " respond
ed jenkins, throwing himself back IN his
chair and regarding intently a fly upon
the ceiling.
"What | was going to remark was" re
sumed Smith, with quite an unnecessary
cluded 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"
said Jenkins, dryly, g 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
a sensible, kind hearted man. Georgiana
was not called upon to open the store or
run errands, though she offered to do both
Curious to relate, as days and weeks
passed, Smiths repugnance to her pres
ence not only vanished with them, but
he began to regard it with positive pleas
ure.
He used to often look through the glass
door, watching the graceful poise of the
head and the n.otiens 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 Won
derfully such little woman as that
would brighten up his lonely and cheer
less home.
But he determined to proceed cautious
ly. He had it. His housekeeper was
about to leave he would offer Miss Gard
ner the situation-and then
Having formed this resolution, his next
step was to request the young lady's pres
ence in his private office, a summons that
was promptly obeyed.
"Miss Gardner, don't you think the
situation as housekeepcr in quiet home,
like mine, for instance, would be prefera-
Bile to your situation here ?"
"Perhaps, in some respects it might"
inquiry and the look which accompa
MED it.
Was the old gentleman about to make
her an offer
But his next words relieved her of this
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 |
vainly to suppress.
"You are very kind, sir, but the factis,
Mr.. jenkins has spoken to me first"
"Mr. Jenkins?"
eyes, sir. He asked me to be his house |
keeper, and told him l would"
but, my child, Mr.. jenkins is a young |
man-it would not be proper for you to |
keep house for him. Now with me it is |
different"
And Georgiana inwardly agreed with |
him. In fact, there was all the difference
IN the world to her.
But he asked me to be his wife as well
Is housekeeper."
"O-o-o-h,"
e,rrrftfr.y f1rrr fuc1IHS was IIIdI or
his next, of quite as strong
;hagrin. But it all ended in an emotion
IF thankfulness that he had not COM
nitted himself.
But his disappointment could not have
'ankled very deeply, for he attended the
viewing, with smiling tranquil
v, the ceremony that transformed his
lew clerk into the happy wife of his for
innate partner, Jenkins.