Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1873-07-25
INDEPENDENCE IOWA. FRIDAY, JULY 25 1873

conceal the awkwardness l felt.
Who could possibly expect to meet
ladies in a ladies' parlor in a gen.
tlemans' counting-room? l manag-
ed to bow and say:
"Shall 1 beg pardon? l came in
expecting to see Colman, of the firm
of Colman q Co.
81 represent the namc," said the
lady quietly, then added, "Please
be seated"
Now, if Colman had been man,
any man, I should have had no diff
Guilty in stepping up to him and
shaking hands and introducing my
self and firm and becoming acquain-
tances in few moments. This,
however, was new programme,
and l became still more involved by
my next remark, which was that the
person 1 wished particularly to see
was "per c." Involuntarily l made
circling motion with my thumb.
The girls head at the desk bent
low over the leaves of the ledger.
The woman opposite me, with a
kept-back smile in her eyes and OH
her lips, indicated with her eyes
the direction of the ledger, and said
"That is per c."
Was there ever such position?
I glanced toward the desk. The
eyes of the girl were raised from
the book, and l met my doom! l
yielded to fate. Henceforth, what
ever bcfel me, my heart and destiny
were at the mercy of ."ptr c."
There was pause, and growing
desperate, l determined to explain
matters. Rising, l said:
"Will you grant me grace for five
minutes?"
Ihad turned away from "pcr c."
and was looking straight at the 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 we'll.
81 am Louis Colman, of Macon
vile. I have written;I suppose,
one hundred letters to 'Colman u
Co.. of Abbetown. The first / ever
wrote was in reply to an order for
superior casket' sent on the decease
of sColman' of Colman & Co. l
signed it per c. and copied as
nearly as could the peculiar sigma
ture of the order sent. 1t had been
a notion of mine never to put it on
any other letter. Il wished then |
could have seen per C's.' face). l
have come to Abbetown quite by
accident. The sign it was which
attracted my attention. l came to
see Colman. l wanted to see per
c. Please don't misunderstood me.
Believe me, l did not expect to find
affairs conducted by woman"
The lady addressed, as soon as
I had finished speaking, said:
"Mr. Colman," and bowed as she
pronounced my name, Il give en-
tire credence to what you have told
me. Four years ago, when you
commenced your business life, we,
too, commenced ours. My father
was Coleman of Coleman Il Co.
He died suddenly. The Co. is Mr..
Hicksey. He is, and has been, for
many years, helpless in body, but
his mind is perfectly clear. He has
always advised, but the business was
overlooked by my father. Through
my fathers short illness my
sister and l took temporary
charge of correspondence, and when
affairs called for settlement, with
the consent of Mr.. Hicksey, we re-
tained the name and business. Mr..
Hicksey's advice we follow, and
have been so far successful. OF
course in our town we are known;
beyond that people may naturally
have come to the conclusion that a
son has succeeded the father in bu-
siness. am Colman, of Colman Il
Co., to the outside world; in proper
person am Miss Eugenie Colman.
AS such," said she with smile
Gas such introduce myselfto you. !"
arose, bowed, and turned to re-
ceive an introduction to the young
cr sister as Miss Caddie Colman.
I felt that this was intended as a
dismissal. Taking my hat in hand,
l said:
"May l see you again before l
leave?"
She bowed acquiescence. After
leaving Miss Colman l INDUCED in
a long walk for the purpose of set
Ting a plan which had suddenly pre-
sented itself to me, and upon which
l resolved to act. In short I had
suddenly determined to settle in
Abbetown.
AS soon as l had maturcd plan,
l called on Mr.. Hicksey. l proposed
to buy out his interest in the busi-
ness. He thought he did not care to
sell. l then went to Miss Colman.
She said that Mr.. Hicksey had been
exceedingly kind to them, and she
felt under obligations to him; and
that he wished soon to advance 1lar-
ley, 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
salesroom. l was rather surprised
to find that he agreed with me, un-
til he gave his reason that another
hand would keep Caddie ont of the
place, and that would suit him. Cad
die indeed!
cody said: 81 shall try to see
that Miss Caddie has an interest
elsewhere, if l take an interest in
her."
He looked at me. l returned it.;
then we understood each other. l
stayed in Abbetown three days
longer, during which time l cultiva-
ted Miss Caddie's acquaintance as
much as dared / also told Miss
Colman that l desired to settle in
Abbetown; that l loved her sister
and wanted to try and win her for
my wife. then returned to Mac
onville for week. | was some