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

| great was their admiration for the darl-
eyed beauty. Gregory was sure she was
desperately taken with him, and that was
the reason of her fondness for poetry and
candy; whilst Gibbs rejoiced in his secret
heart. that he was such a stylish, we'll
dressed fellow, it was no wonder all tho
| girls liked him. But old Snaggles was q
great spy upon Leonora, and often spoke
| sharply to her about mistakes in the ac-
counts, and darkly limited at the Danish
ment OF poetry and novels from the desk
Whereat his daughter would sometimes
burst into tears and disappear amidst the
sympathetic regards Of Snaggles' clerks.
One day Snaggles limited at something
which set Gregory and Gibbs frantic.
You foolish girl, your said the en-
ragged man-Snaggles we mean-as he
stopped at the desk and distracted vol
ume OF Owen Meredith from Leonora's
hands. Here you've been two months
IN this store and it hasn't cured you vet! I
believe III leave you alone to your fate
poverty and tomfoolery, Miss Snaggles
Yes, repeat, poverty and tomfooleryr'
And Snaggles' angry hand having
caught at the blue and gold vol
ume OF poetry and thrown it violently
across the store 1t landed upon the
Uranium of Quiggs, who stood by one
OF the counters busting the books Quiggs
started abruptly and an angry flush stole
over his face. LeOnOra lifted up her tear
1ul eyes and smiled benignly upon him.
She was always so good and condescend-
ing! The end OF this scene was Miss
Snaggles' disappearance for two whole
days and the reinstatement of her father at
the desk; and meanwhile Gregory and
Gibbs were sure Leonora was in love with
both of them, Snaggles knew it, and,
purse proud fellow that he was, objected
to them on account of their poverty: hence
the melancholy, the poetry and candy,
Miss Snaggles' tears and disappearance!
" She must soon choose between u.s." said
Gregory fiercely to Gibbs
That she must" returned Gibbs, ar
ranging his cravat at one of the showcase
windows
She smiled at me sweetly four DAYS
ago." said Gregory.
She smiled at Quiggs just before she
left the store" from Gibbs.
"Quiggs, indeed!' And Gregory
laughed contemptuously.
At the end of two days Miss Leonora
Snaggles came into the store for some
note-paper.
" Not for me-" she said to Mr. Gregory,
in her low, sweet voice, which sounded
full of hushed tears. ooh, no; for
friend. Some marked with al initial-the
initial X
Gregory produced the box She was
always generous to her friends. She was,
indeed, rare, lovely girl. When Miss
Snaggles was supplied with the note-paper
she helped herself to some pens from Mr..
Gibbs hands, and then departed slowly
and sadly from the store, but as she stood
by the door Gregory thought he saw her
smile, and at Quiggs, the errand-boy Was
such thing possible? Quiggs did not
look guilty, and was sweeping off a lot of
old boxes in his queer, dreamy way, as
though his life depended upon it.
SO the days sped on, and a week had
passed away, when one morning found old
MIR. Snaggles at his desk bright and early
as usual, but in a terrible humOr, as that
boy Quiggs had not put in an appearance.
The store was unswept, and everything
was at SKIES and sevens. Snaggles' break
fast had been badly cooked, too, and the |
maid said Miss LeOnOra had a headache |
and couldn't come down, so there was no |
one to make his coffee as he wished. A |
bad morning with Snaggles, and conse-
quently bad morning for Snaggles' |
clerks. They were scolded and stormed |
at vigorously, and it was wonder they
were not dismissed from the store upon |
The spot. Customers coming in, Snaggles |
subsidized, but portentous frown rested |
upon his brow and anger glared from his |
eyes
At this stage of affairs strange thing |
occurred. The Snaggles maid ran into |
the store hurriedly, and ran up to Snag-
gles' desk in frantic state Of excitement.
Did you ever, sir?'' she said to Snag- |
giles. Miss Leonora told me last night |
not to disturb her until late this morning,
as she had a headache, and [ went for to |
fix her room just now, and she amt there,
and l found this note for you, sir, on her
dressing-table.'
Was ever such excitement in Snaggles' |
store? Was ever such commotion any
where? Miss Snaggles had f1edl
As her angry father tore open her note
he read:
DEAR PAPA-Of course you will be angry
with me, but, taking what you said the other
day as your paternal sanction of my union. /
leave this house to marry the man of nv
choice, whom you warned me against, and on
account of whom you took me away from
boarding school, viz: my former Latin teach
er at Fame's Academy, Mr.. Kregs. But your
cruel course did not part two congenial, low
ing hearts. The man who, though poor and
obscure, deigned to be a sutton for your
daughters hand, engaged with you as errand
boy, disguised by means of a red wig, etc
L. y II