Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1875-12-29
Miss SnaggIes' Choice.


In Mr.. Snaggles' stationary and
book store there was a strange
commotion. The Jerks with their
polite manners and air Of style,
smiled at one another beamingly.
Mr.. Snaggles' daughter Leonora
was coming home from boarding
school, and Icing an accomplished
scholar and mathematician was to
be elevated to the post of book
keeper in the place of her father,
retired ; and Miss Snaggles, it was
reported, was a rare little beauty,
with the rosiest of cheeks, darkest
Of eyes, and most bewitching man.
ners. Indeed she was most cap
tivating little witch, and her pres
ence at the desk would make the
store of Claudius Snaggles very
attractive spot. Thus reasoned
the gentlemanly clerks upon the
morning that Miss Snaggles was to
assume command-an appropriate
morning, by the bye, to welcome
a creature, being full of sunshine,
spring morning, bright in the
extreme. A bcvy of clerks stood
by the door talking eagerly to-
gether concerning the fair stranger.
Let us listen to their conversation.
II tell you what" said James
Gregory, most important person
age in the Snaggles store, as he
stood twisting his light moustache
jauntily-quite handsome young
fellow to behold "I 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
Gregory smiled conceitedly. 1t
was very evident upon whom Miss
Snaggles' choice must fall.
"Pshaw !" replied another gen.
tlemanly clerk, by name Thomas
Gibbs, as he stretched his collar
higher in the neck, jingled his
watch guard, and glanced at the
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 some
what scedy looking individual
sauntered in with a slip-shod air,
his clothes hanging loosely upon
him, and his mass of rumpled red
hair frowzed about his face, out Of
which gazed two sleepy blue Dyes
which, spite his unfortunate ap-
pearance, gave him a touch of
beauty, for they were singularly
handsome eyes, though he rubbed
them sleepily, and tried, it seemed,
to make them blind almost with
his frantic thrusts at them.
ga laugh greeted this strange
mans appearance. "Ha, Quiggsr
jeered Snaggles' clerks contemptu-
ously. "Late this morning !
Where's your broomp Quiggs
gazed around him dreamily, and
replied in sleepy way:
"Dunno, 'spose it's in the closet
With which he slipshoded over to
the closet near the desk, and pro-
ducing therefrom a large broom
began to sweep vigorously. "Wisf
you'd come earlier, Quiggs," said
Snaggles' young men, as the dus'
greeted their nostrils; but Quigg'
only grunted and swept on thu
more vigorously. When the store
was nicely cleaned he betook him
self to the pavement in front, ant
was still sweeping away when Mis-
Leonora Snaggles made her ap
pearance through the door In tn
rear Of the store-which, by tn
bye, communicated with the apart
ments occupied by the Snaggle
family-and, accompanied by he
father, a pompous-lcoking, purse
proud fellow, was installed at tn
desk In due state, a queen in he
own right, who gazed sentimental
ly off into the distance with he
large, dark eyes, and captivate
Snageles' clerks Immediately wit
her beauty and grace. Yet sh
was not at all as they imagined he
I - N.