Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1873-07-10
a valuable acquaintance with business
men and the country, and for wonger
found nothing which made me desire
chaDra

men ana the country, and Tor wonger
found nothing which made me desire g
change.
One night Itook branch road and
new route to reach Q certain point,
starting with most unusual thing fo,
me racking headache, which the jar
and rattle of cars so increased that by
ten o'clock I had determined to ask for
lay-ove ticket at the next station; ]
stopped not to ask where, but threw
myself into an omnibus, and arriving at
the hotel, into room and bed as quick
y as possible, Next morning awoke
with my head clear but with o feeling
of exhaustion that decided me to re-
main where was for that day.
After breakfast sauntered out, going
slowly up the principal street, gazing
idly at the signs, dreamily setting my
self with home and business and q
nalne, and my sign would read
started; there it was--':Colman & Co
Yes; I read it Alright, it was Colman &
Co. as this Abbetown ?" [ asked of
a man who was passing. He looked
hard at me but said ciyilly enough at
is sir. I crossed the road quickly
curious to confront the bona fide per-
sonages who had SO many times ap-
peared to me under the jagged sigma
ture of Goldman & Co" and singularlv
coiled &C."
| entered the open door and strolled
through the rooms. Nothing but a
nice lot of cabinet warerooms, with the
arrangements perhaps in better taste
than is usual in such establishments.
A quiet, light-haired young man, my
own age, came forward. "Behold per
c." I said to myself He politely
waited till had made survey of the
outer rooms, then askedi he could be
of service / said would like to see
Mr.. Colman. A slight hesitation, then
he said ''step this way."'
Beyond the salesroom q green baise
door opened into room about twenty
feet square, neatly carpeted, furnished
with desk, chairs and sofa. Occupy
lug the room were two young women.
One at the desk did not raise her head
at my entrance The other rose and
bowed with an air ofa business women,
and the grace of cultured lady.
For myself | could not stire to con
ceal the awkwardness 1 felt Who
could possibly expect to meet ladies in
a gentlenan's counting-rooms l manag-
ed to bow and say,
''Shall beg pardon? I came in ex.
pecting to see Goldman of the firm of
Colman & Co."
81 represent the nanle," the lady
said quietly, then added, ''Please be
seated"
Now, if Colnan had been man, any
man, I should have had no difficulty in
stepping up to him, and shaking hands,
and introducing myself and firm, and
becoming acquaintance III q moment.
This, however, WAS new programme,
and l became still more involved by my
next remark, which was that the person
| wished particularly to see was ''per
G" Involuntarily I made circling mo
ton with my thumb. The girls head
at the desk bent low over the leaves
Of the ledger. The woman sitting OPP
posite me, with kept back smile in
her eyes and on her lips, indicated with
her eyes the direction of the ledger, and
said, ''that is per c."
Was there ever such a position? I
glanced towards the desk. The eyes
Of the girl were raised from the book
and | met my doom! I yielded to fate
Henceforth, whatever befel me, my
heart and destiny were at the mercy of
''per G." So. ..4.
There was pause, and growing des-
perste, determined to explain matters
Rising, l said:
"Will you grant me grace for FIVE
minutes?"
/ turned away from "per c." and was
looking straight into the face Of the oil
der woman. She bowed just raised her
eyes toward the desk, and / knew then
that ''per G. was looking and listening
as we'll
81 am LOFTS Colman, of Maccnville.
| haye written, suppose one hundred
letters to Colman & Co., of Abbetown.
The first I ever wrote was in reply to
an order OF superior casket' sent on
the decease of'Colman & Co., l signed
it per c. copied tas nearly as could
the peculiar signature Of order sent. 1t
had been notion Of mine never to put
it on any other letter q wished then
/ could have seen per ca face). I
have come to Abbetown quite by acct
dent. The sign it was which attracted
my attention. I came to see Colman.
l wanted to see per c. Please don't
misunderstood me. Believe me, 1 did