The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1873-07-16

not i month elapsed that we did
not receive IN order Of some kind,
large or small, with the same
Coleman 4 Co.: "pcr c." and then
the long coil; which [ lnvaribly an
; swercd with Lee, "per c., and a
flourish Of the same round my c.
I found myself at my majority
in what l thought then, and think
now, an cnviablc state. had good
health, good habits, good trade,
an average education, moderate
ambition, and q willingness TO
work, and three hundred dollars
year in ready money. When my
time expired with Mr.. Lee, he
again asked me my plans for the
future. Though this time I had
many and many a one, they were
very indefinite and none of them
practical. Mr.. Lee, as before, gave
advice and opportunity. He sent
me upon business Of his own
through different parts Of the
State, saying:
"Look out for yourself as you
20, and ifyou find the right busi-
ness point, let me know"
1 liked this change. I was
making . Valuable acquaintance
with business men and the coun-
try, and for year longer found
nothing which made me desire a
change.
One night l took a branch road
and a new route to reach certain
point, starting with Ga most unu-
sual thing for me) 4 racking head
ache, which the jar and rattle Of
the cars so increased that by ten
o'clock | had determined to ask
for lay.Cver ticket at the next
station. l stopped not to ask
where, but threw myself into an
omnibus, and arriving at the hotel
into a room and as quickly as pos
sible: Next morning I awoke with
my head clear, but with a feeling
Of exhaustion that decided me to
remain where I was for that day.
After breakfast I sauntered out,
going slowly up the principal
street. gazing idly at the signs,
dreamily settling with home, ,and
a business, and a name, and my
sign would read-I started, there
it was-"Coleman L. Co." Yes, l
read it Alright, it was Coleman &
Co. ''Is this Abbetown ?' asked
Of man who was passing. He
looked hard at me, but said civilly
enough, "Itis, sir" I crossed the
street quickly, curious to confront
the bona fde personages who hadso
many times appeared to me under
the jagged signature of "Coleman
d Co., and singularly coiled "per
c."
l entered the open door and
strolled through the rooms. No.
thing but 4 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
perC Isaid to myself. He polite
ly waited till | had made a survey
of the outer rooms; and then ask
ed if he could be of service. |
said | would like to SEQ Mr.. Cole
man. A slight hesitation, then
be said; "Step this way"
Beyond the salesroom, a green
baise door opened into q 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 an air Of o
business woman, and the grace Of
a cultured lady.
For myself could not strive to
conceal the awkwardness | felt.
Who could possibly expect to
meet ladies in ladies parlor in
gentleman's counting room? l
managed to bow and say:
"Sball l beg pardon? [ came in
expecting to sec Coleman of the
firm of Coleman & Co."
II represent the name," the la
dy said quietly, then added, "please
be seated"
Now, if Coleman had been q
man, I should have had NO diff
Guilty in stepping up to him, and
shaking hands, and introducing
myself and firm, and becoming &C
quaintances in a moment. This,
however, was new programme,
and I became still more involved
by my next remark, which was that
the person l wished particularly
to see was "per c." Involuntarily
l made a circlirg motion with my
thumb. The girls head at the desk
bent low, over the leaves Of the led
ger. 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?
l glanced towards the desk. The
eyes of the girl were raised from
the book and l met my doom l
welded TO fate. .eHenceforth. what.