Eaton weekly Democrat. [volume] (Eaton, Ohio) 1866-1875, 1873-01-09


front the bona-fde personages who had
SO many times appeared to me uder the
Jagged signature of Goldman & Co., "
and the singularly coiled "per c."
L entered the open door and strolled
through the rooms. Nothing but nice
lot of cabinet ware-rooms, with the ar
rangements, perhaps, in better taste than
is usual in such establishments. A
quiet, ight-haired young man, about my
Ci'' I said to myself. He politely waited
till L had made survey of the outer
rooms, then asked if he could be of SER
vice? I said I would like to see Mr..
Colman. A slight hesitation, then he
said ssStep this way.
Beyond the sales-room a green baiZe
door opened into a room about twelve
feet square, neatly carpeted, furnished
with desk, chairs and sofa Occupying
the room were two young women. One
at the desk did not raise her head at my
entrance. The other rose and bowed,
with the air of business woman, and
the grace of cultured lady.
For myself, I could only strive to con-
ceal the awkwardness I felt. Who could
possibly expect to meet ladies and q
ladies' parlor in a gentleman's counting
room I managed to bow and say:
"Shall I beg pardon? I came in ex-
pecting to see sColman,' of the firm of
| Colman & Co."
"I represent that name," the lady
said, quietly, then added, "Please be
seated"
Now, if Colman had been man,
I should have had no difficulty in
stepping up to him, shaking hands, and
introducing myself and firm, and becom-
ing business acquaintance in a moment.
| This, however, was a new programme,
and became still more involved by my
next remark, which was that the person
1 wished particularly to see was "per
c." Invo1untarily I made a circlng
motion with my thumb. The girls head
at the desk bent low over the leaves of
the ledger. The woman sitting opposite
me, with a 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 I
met my doom! I yielded to fate. Hence
forth, whatever befen me, my heart and
destiny were at the mercy of "per c."
There was a pause, and growing des-
perate, I determined to explain matters.
Rising, I said
evil you grant me grace for five
minutes %
was turned away from ss per c." and
was looking straight into the comely face
of the older woman. She bowed, just
raised her eyes toward the desk, and
knew then that "per c." was looking
and listening as well.
"I am Louis Colman, of Maconville.
have written, I suppose, one hundred
The first I wrote was in reply to an
order for a superior casket,' sent on
the decease of FColman,' of Colman &
Co. I signed it per o. and copied as
nearly as I could the peculiar signature
of the order sent. It has been a no
ton of mine never to put it on any other
letter" q wished then that I could
have seen per C.s' face.) "I have
come to Abbetown quite by accident.
The sign it was which attracted my at
tention. I came in to see Colman. I
wanted to see per c. Please don't
misunderstood. Believe me, I did not
expect to find affairs conducted by wo
men,"
The lady I addressed, as soon as I
had finished speaking, said:
ssMr Colman," and bowed as she
pronounced my name, 'fI give entire
credence to what you have told me.
-Four years ago, when you commenced
your business life, we, too, commenced
ours. Ny father was Colman, of Col
man & Go. He died suddenly. The
Go. is Mr.. Hicksey. He is, and has
been for many years, helpless in body,
but his mind is perfectly clear. He al
ways advised, but the business was over
looked entirely by my father. Through
my fathers short illness, my sister and l
took temporary charge of the correspon-
dence, and when affairs called for a set
Element, with the consent of Mr.. Hlck-
sey, we retained the name and the busi-
ness. Mr.. Hicksey's advice we followed,
and have been so far successful. Of
course, in our own town we are known;
beyond that, people generally may natu-
rally have come to your conclusion, that
a son has succeeded the father in bust
ness I am Colman, of Co1man & Co.,
to the outside world; in proper person,
am Miss Eugene Colman. As such, y
she said, with smile, =" as such, in
troduce myself to you"
I arose, bowed, and turned to receive
an introduction to the younger sister as
Miss Caddie Colman. I felt that this
was intended as a dismissal. Taking
my hat in hand, said:
May I see you again before ]
} leave?"
} She bowed acquiescence. After leav-
ing Miss Colman, indulged in long
walk for the purpose of settling plan
which had suddenly presented itself tc
me and and upon which I was resolved
to act In short, I had suddenly deter
mined to settle in Abbetown.
As soon as had matured a plan,
called on Mr.. Hicksey. I proposed tt
l buy out his interest in the business. Ht
r thought he did not care to sell. the1
/ went to Miss Colman. She said tina
Mr.. Hicksey had been exceedingly kint
4 to them, and she felt under obligation
to him; and that he wished soon to ad
r vance Harley, his son, to his interest Ii
r the business and retire.
t My jealousy took immediate alarm
a and 1 sought Harley, the young mai
1 whom I had seen first in the salesroom
: L was rather surprised to find that h
e agreed with me, until he gave as hi
s reason that another hand would kee
b Caddie out of the place, and that woul
: suit him. Caddie, indeed
4 I coolly said: 81 shall try to see tina
Miss Caddie has interests elsewhere, if
g take an interest here"
g He looked at me, L returned it; the
> we understood each other. I stayed i
a Abbetown three days longer, durin
|, which time I cultivated Miss Caddie
L