Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1874-04-08


three times as much as / did behind
the counter. [ know it is a shame that
we poor working women are not paid
near as much as half grown boy. And,
again, you know we have scarcely been
able to pay our rent and purchase fuel
and food, to say nothing of clothing.
And daily your poor fingers are grow
ing more stiff and lame with rheuma-
tism. We had to leave our pleasant
rooms in Sunnyside street for lower
priced lodging, and far less desirable
neighborhood. Come, aunty, listen to
reason p'-and Georgiana twined her
arms about the neck of the poor old
woman, who was sobbing with will,
since she had no argument to advance.
"You will be detected and disgraced
I know you will. ..
81 shan't. Never fear. [ have given
nv age at fourteen, when you know [
am eighteen, aunty, and of course, my
youth explains my beardless face. But
[ am starved. Let's have tea. After
that, pack my petticoats in the old blue
chest, only to be brought forth again
when I am once more Georgiana Pen
dleton"
Aunt Dorothy wiped her eyes and
tremblingly poured out the tea and
then another long discussion followed,
but all to no purpose. The girl was
firm as the rock. An adventurous and
romantic spirit had been aroused that
not all the reasoning in Christendom
could allay.
Accordingly, at the appointed time
she found herself at the appointed
place, climbing with fast-beating heart
a long fight Of stairs which led to a
spacious corridor, upon every side Of
which were doors leading into offices.
Upon one of them she read, "Charles
Waldo" She timidly raped. A clerk
opened it and admitted her into an
inner office. where sat Mr.. Waldo. He
was neither young nor old, possessed
black hair and eyes and great bushy
beard. He scarcely noticed the pretty
blonde boy, except to remark his white
hands. and that he looked altogether
too frail for work. But as the refine
ment of his manners contrasted SO
strongly with other boys, who had
driven him nearly distracted by their
noisy and awkwark ways, he resolved to
give him trial.
CT believe your name is George Pen
dleton," he said.
Eyes, SIR timldly.
"Do you whistler
ooh no: never, sir. y
81 am glad of it, for it is against
office rules. That, with singing, has
proved cause for more than one COM
petent boy being discharged from my
employment. Here is your desk, and
there are some papers I wish copied
Immediately. You may begin work at
once. The wages are already settled, L
believe
: Glad to escape further questioning,
she retreated to her desk, and com
menced writing. Mr. Waldo was all
day completely engrossed with his eli
ents and books and papers. Hescarcely
noticed the new boy, save when some
directions were to be given. At night,
when Georgiana was about to take her
departure, he spoke kindly, and praised
the quality Of her work.
Aunt Dorothy spent the day in a
state of the most feverish anxiety. She
watered the little geranium in the
cracked teapot on the window-ledge,
at least a dozen times, forgetting every
time that it had been done before. Her
work all went wrong, and had to. be
done over again. Her hands took to
themselves such trembling fits that at
last she had to give up sewing. But the
long, lonely day finally came to an end,
a quick, bounding step was heard upon
the stairs, and George came In with
l., 60 Of TO
ing. liz II. Hgs# Ell. ~ 5s.e-
ssOh, Aunt Dorothyr' exclaimed she,
"I am in clover / have just the
incest place in the world-a neat little
cubby-hole all to myself of room to
write in, with the clerks Office on one
side, and on the other side great glass
doors leading to the Office where Mr.
Waldo receives all his clients And
then, arnty, he is such a quiet old
block of wood. He has neither eyes
nor ears for any one. I'll did not whis-
tie OF sing, [ might, for all notice he
takes OF me, spin on my head on the
stool good portion Of the time.
He is not young man, then ?"
asked her aunt, with her face lighting up.
ooh, no! He is old enough to be
ooI1OOCtty SIdHst1tSulSl, DuG, dluGJ,
[ am very hungry. Is tea ready?"
In time, Aunt Dorothy got accus-
toned to Georges disguise. Things
went on smoothly at the Office. Every
week she brought home the ample pro-
ceeds of her labor, and they had many
a luxury unthought of before. George
had her long hair made into chignon,
and used to get back into her old
clothes on Sunday, and, with the many
additions to her wardrobe she was now
able to afford, accompanied her aunt to
church. If the neighbors, with whom
they had nothing to do), noticed her at
all, they supposed the proud old maid
had niece, also, who was somewhere
out at service during the week.
Occasionally George was sent out by
her employer upon some errand, which
proved pleasant break to the monot-
ony Of Office work But at last, when
the winter came, and the bad weather
set in, and Mr.. Waldo had occasion to
send her out as before, he did so with
out the slightest compunction. He re-