Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1873-07-31

OaCk smile IN ncr eyes anu on ueI lips, III
dicated with her eyes the direction of the
ledger, and said, "That is per O."
Was there ever such position? l
glanced toward the desk. The eyes of the
girl were raised from the book, and met
my doom! yielded to fate. Henceforth,
befel me, my heart and destiny
were at the mercy of ''per c."
There was pause, and growing desper-
ate, determined to explain matters. Ris-
ing, | said:
"Will you grant me grace for five min
utes?"
had turned away from "per c." and
was looking straight into the face of the
older woman. She bowed, just raised her
eyes toward the desk, and l knew then
that "per c." was looking and listening as
we'll.
II am Louis Colman, of Maconville. 1
have written, / suppose, one hundred let
tiers to Goldman IL Co. of Abbetown. The
first ever wrote was in reply to an order
for superior casket,' sent on the decease
of 'Colman,' of Colman & Co. / signed
it per Co. and copied as nearly as I could
the peculiar signature of the order sent.
1t had been notion of mine never to put
it on any other letter. q wished then l
could have seen per C.'s' face) l have
come to Abbetown quite by accident.
The sign it was which attracted my at
tention. l came to see Colman. l want
ed to see per c. Please don't misunder-
stand me- Believe me, did not expect
to find affairs conducted by woman"
The lady addressed, as soon as l had
finished speaking, said:
"Mr Colman," and bowed as she pro-
nounced my name, II give entire credence
to what you have told me. Four years
ago, when you commenced your business
life, we, too, commenced ours. My
father was Colman, of Colman & Co. He
died suddenly The Co. is Mr.. Hicksey.
He is, and has been for many years, help
less in body, but his mind is perfectly
clear He has always advised, but the
business was overlooked entirely by my
father. Through my fathers short illness
my sister and took temporary charge of
correspondence, and when affairs called
for settlement, with the consent of MIR.
Hicksey, we retained the name and the
business. Mr.. Hicksey's advice we fol-
low, and have been so far successful. OF
course, in our town we are known; be-
You'd that people may naturally have
come to the conclusion that a son has
succeeded the father in business. / am
Colman, of Colman & Co., to the outside
world; in proper person l am Miss
Eugene Colman. AS such," said she,
with smile-"as such introduce myself
to you"
arose, bowed, and turned to receive
an introduction to the younger sister as
Miss Caddie Colman. | felt that this was
intended as dismissal. Taking my hat
in hand, said:
"May see you again before leave9"
She bowed acquiescence. After leaving
Miss Colman | INDUCED in long walk,
for the purpose of settling plan which
had suddenly presented itself to me,
and upon which l resolved to act In
short, | had suddenly determined to settle
in Abbetown.
AS soon as had matured plan, / call
ed on Mr.. Hicksey. | proposed to buy
out his interest in the business. He
thought he did not care to sell. | then
went to Miss Colman. She said that Mr..
Hicksey had been exceedingly kind to
them, and that she felt under obligations
to him, and that he wished soon to adj
vance Harley, his son, to his interest in
the business and retire.
My jealousy took immediate alarm, and
l sought Harley, the young man whom
had seen first in the salesrooms. / was
rather surprised to find that he agreed
with me, until he gave as his reason that
another hand would keep Caddie out of
the place, and that would suit him. Cad
die, indeed!
| coolly said: ~ shall try to see that
Miss Caddie has an interest elsewhere, if
| take an interest in her"
He looked at me. returned it; then
we understood each other. | stayed in
Abbetown three days longer during
which time cultivated Miss Caddic's ac-
quaintance as much as ! dared / also
told Miss Colman that desired to settle
i'm Abbetown that / loved her sister, and
wanted to try and win her for my wife. /
then returned to Maconvillc for week. ]
was somewhat uneasy in leaving Harley
Hicksey alone in the field, for thought if
he loved the girl as well as he knew did,
that he would not give her up without an
effort.
In eight days was again in Abbetown.
Harley Hicksey had again offered him
self to Miss Caddie Colman, and
been refused. Mr. Hicksey, knowing this,
was ready to conclude bargain for sale,
anu MISS COlIlldD QeSlfeu I'd TeUldlH VIII
me, as before with Mr.. Hicksey.
All this seemed so much to my wishes
that began TO fear might miss the one
thing to which all these were made sub
servient-the loss of Miss Caddie Colman.
But as had always tried to use my OPP
portunities, so was not remiss in this re-
spect, and in one year from my settlement
at Abbetown l was married man. We,
Colman 81 Co, are prospecting in our bust
ness. Mrs. Colman is a dignified, ma
tronly lady, but among her family she
likes, and l think will never lose, the
sobriquet of ''pcr c."
There is a moral to my story. Every
boy worth the name probably sees it. !
will write it, nevertheless: When good
opportunity occurs, don't stand idle and
wait for better.
1t is reported that several wealthy ad-
mirers Of Horace Greeley contemplate
contributing money enough to insure the
building of a splendid monument to the