Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1875-07-29
MISS SNAGGLES' CHOICE.

In Mr. Snaggles' stationery and book
store there was strange cOmmOtiOn. The
clerks, with their polite manners and air
of STYLE smiled at one another beamingly.
Mr.. Snaggles' daughter LeonOra was COM
ing home from boarding-schOOl, and, being
an accomplished scholar and mathemati-
clan, was to be elevated to the post Of book
keeper in the store in place of her father,
retired and Miss Snaggles, it was report
ed, was rare little beauty with the rosiest
OF checks, darkest Of eyes, and most be-
Witching manners. Indeed, she was
thoroughly captivating little witch, and
her presence at the desk would make the
store of Claudius Snaggles very attractive
spot. Thus reasoned the gentlemanly
clerks upon the morning that Miss Snag-
giles was to assume cOmmand-an apprO-
pirate morning, by the by, to welcome so
charming creature, being full of sun
shine, spring morning, bright in the ex-
IRENE A bevy Of clerks stood by the
door talking eagerly together concerning
the fair stranger Let us listen to their
conversation
. tell you what said James Gregory,
q most important parsonage in Snaggles'
store, as he stood twisting his light mus
tache jauntlly-quite d handsome young
fellow to behold tell you what, Miss
Snaggles will find that she must decide
pretty soon between us all, for we're in
love with her, every one of us, you know,
even before we've seen her" James Greg
DRY smiled conceitedly. 1t was very evil
dent upon whom Miss Snaggles' choice
must fall
PshaWr' replied another gentlemanly
clerk, by name Thomas Gibbs, as he
pulled his collar higher in the neck,
Jngled his watch-guard and cursorily
glanced at the array of rings he wore, as
though LeOnOra Snaggles could resist the
mighty power Of style and dress! Just at
this point of the conversation the front
door opened and somewhat seedy-lOok-
ing individual sauntered in with slip
shod air, his clothes hanging loosely upon
him and his mass of rumpled red hair
frOWSed about his face, out of which gaZed
two sleepy blue eyes, which, spite his un-
fortunate appearance, gave him a touch of
beauty, for they were singularly handsome
eyes, though he rubbed them sleepiIy and
tried, it seemed, to make them blind al
most with his frantic thrusts at them.
A laugh greeted this strange mans APP
pearance. Ha, Quiggs!' jeereG Snag-
giles clerks cOntemptuously Late this
morning! Where's your broom?" Quiggs
gazed about him dreamily, and replied in
a sleepy way:
Dunno, 'spose it's in the closet" With
which he slipshOdded over to the closet
near the desk, and producing therefrom
large broom began to sweep vigorously.
" Wish you had come earlier, Quiggs,"
said Snaggles' young men, as the dust
greeted their nostrils; but Quiggs only
grunted and swept on the more vigorous
iy. When the store was nicely cleaned
he betoOk himself to the pavement in
front, and was still sweeping away there
when Miss LeonOra Snaggles made her
appearance through the door in the rear
OF the store-which, by the by, communi-
Gated with the apartments occupied BY the
Snaggles family-and, accompanied by
her father, a pompOus-looking, purse
proud fellow, was installed at the desk in
due state, queen in her own right, who
gazed sentimentally off into the distance
with her large, dark eyes, and captivated
Snaggles' clerks Immediately with her
beauty and grace. Yet she was not at all
as they imagined her to be. Her hair was
dark, her complexion brilliant, but her
manners were tinged with the utmost sad
ness. g She has the air of MARTYR"
Thomas Gibbs observed; whereat Snag-
giles clerks all nodded their heads affirm
atively, though they hadn't an idea what
it meant; but it sounded we'll and seemed
romantic. When the clerks were intro
duced to Miss Leonora Snaggles she
raised her eyes with strangely sad look,
bowed gravely, and lowered them in such
way as to display to advantage the fine
fringes of her eyelashes. by Jove!'
affirmed Gregory, that look of hers and
that way Of hers are just stunnin'."
And SO Miss Snaggles was placed upon
11SI I'LL OhCtS pOSlGIou ouS OCClpItu WIN
dignity and grace, though she did not al
ways make change right, and seemed at
times not quite as absorbed as she might
have been in her business, but sat often
for hours at time reading poetry and de
vouring novels and munching at chocolate
drops, for which, by the by, she was con-
tinually dispatching the errand boy,
Quiggs. But whatever she did Snaggles
clerks thought bewitching; and she, keep
ing them at distance, yet had them all
her devoted slaves, ready, if need be, to