Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1873-07-24

came Sui more involved by my next re-
mark, which was that the person wished
particularly to see was ''per CO. Inyolun-
tarlly made circling motion with my
thumb. The girls head at the desk bent
low over the leaves of the ledger. The
back smile in her eyes and ON her lips, In
dicated with her eyes the direction of the
ledger, and said, "That is per CO.
Was there ever such a position? I
glanced toward the desk. The eyes of the
girl were raised from the book, and met
my doom! l yielded to fate. Henceforth,
whatever 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 2"
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 | knew then
that "per c." was looking and listening as
we'll
81 am Louis Colman, of Maconville. |
have written, | suppose, one hundred let
ters to 'Colman & 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 c. and copied as nearly as could
the peculiar signature of the order sent.
1t had been a notion of mine never to put
it on any other letter. Il wished then l
| could have seen per C.'s' face) | have
come to Abbetown quite by accident.
The sign it was which attracted my at
| tention. | came to see Colman. | 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 I addressed, as soon as / had
finished speaking, said:
"Mr Colman," and bowed as she pro-
nounced my name, II give entire credencc
| 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 a settlement, with the consent of Mr..
Hicksey, we retained the name and the
business Mr.. Hcksey's advice we fol
low, and have been so far successful. OF
course, in our town we are known be
yond 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 I am Miss
Eugene Colman. AS such,' said she,
with a smiIe-'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 a dismissal. Taking my hat
in hand, said:
MAY / see you again before I leave?'
She bowed acquiescence. After leaving
Miss Colman I INDUCED in long walk
for the purpose of settling plan which
had suddenly presented itself to me,
and upon which I resolved to act. In
short, had suddenly determined to settle
in Abbetown.
As soon as l had matured plan, call
ed on Mr.. Hicksey. I 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
| sought Harley, the young man whom |
had seen first in the salesrooms I was
rather surprised to find that he agreed
with me, until he gave as his reason that
another hand would keep Caddie out of
tha y,lnnn apI fbat III emit i'm raH
die, indeed.
| coolly said: II 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 Caddie's ac-
quaintanee as much as | dared | also
told Miss Colman that | desired to settle
in Abbetown; that | loved her sister; and
wanted to try and win her for my wife. |
then returned to Maconville 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 l 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 a bargain for sale,
and Miss Colman desired to remain with
me, as before with Mr.. Hicksey.
All this seemed so much to my wishes
that began to fear might miss the one
thing tC which all these were made sub
servient-the loss of Miss Caidie Colman.
But as l 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 | was a married man. We,
Colmdn 4 CO., are prospering in our busi-
ness. Mrs. Colman is dignitied, ma
uonly lady, but among her family she
likes, and | think will never lose, the
sobriquet of per 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.
DIDN'T KNOW HERsELF.-The Ellen
vile N. V Journal tells the following
story: There reside in this village two
ladies, twin sisters, whose remarkable
likeness has been the occasion of many
amusing mistakes; but the best joke is re-
lated of one of them. who, on Monday