Lincoln County advocate. (Canton, Dakota Territory, [S.D.]) 1876-1877, 1877-01-10

= have heen forced to cool his heels
yery long in the vestibule, for tired ous
with his long walk, he sank into nall
chair and the surroundings were 80
warm and comfortable that ne aWoke
from a doze, when o voice said: sute
curious, indeed. NY fault entirely.
See here, my good man, ] must posi-
t,yely have made away with your PACK
ace. but exactly how, or under wnat
circumstances, I am completely IN the
dark about. Would you kindly inform
me? Yes. I think this is my doll. !,
nm ouite decided on this point, ana
this ought be yours. My wife iaugnI,
, cd in quite an astounding way, When
H.. 'layed what. if may be allowed To
dlsp p, e it, not being familiar with the
uesigns> !. rather q substantial and
sopJec:, 10 ~ork in the doll way
quite lasting, in 'Ac I've p excellence Hence
standing its ompars.. NJ INV little
am rather inclined to th.> vour dol
girl might not have chetishea ter Of
as it deserved" Here the hla>> ,sel
the house put on pair Of eye.gls~-,
and looked at both dolls critically, aha
then at John Austin. II am exceed
ingly obliged to you for your kindness
and the trouble you must have taken
about this trife, for we were in the
very act of sending out for another
doll-more dolls, in fact. But, as /
was saying, might request some clue
as to how this quite ludicrous, may !
say ridiculous, interchange was &C
complished? My curiosity is quite
aroused"
John Austin was on the point of tell
ing him the prettiest Of Perraults
stories, and would have embroidered
into the theme the Arabian Nights, for
he felt he might have an audience; but
he checked himself and only said, 81
was disappointed shipping clerk to.
day; I was one Of the unlucky, not
wanted. You must have put your doll
on the table, and, as you left first, you
took mine"
"Bless me +! 1t must be exactly as
you state it. You will excuse the alb
surd blunder on my part. I have not
the faintest recollection of ever having
seen you before. All indeed we
wanted shipping clerk, did WEI"
81 suppose so," said John bluntly.
"You look tired, will you not take a
glass of wine? Would you allow me to
otter you some slight pecuniary re-"
John covered his face with his hands
perhaps an empty stomach had made
him weak-for there was tear there.
He had never been so poor and
wretched before; but yet he could
never receive a penny he had not
bravely earned. II am sorry, my
good man. l meant no off'ense. Was
this doll for your own child !"
"No, Fir; I have no children"
"You do not seem very we'll of in
the way this world goes. Was the stu
alton you sought for necessity ?"
John Austin had he had a grain of
sense, would have stated that for him
it was a place at once or starvation.
But he did no such a thing; he simply
took the proffered glass of wine, bowel
to the master Of the house and kept
his peace. He was about going when
the gentleman said, "You are sure you
have the right doll"
Certain of it. My doll is done up
in coarse straw paper-yours in best
manila" replied John, rather gruftiy.
PRAY, write your address, then on.
something-here On the paper of my
doll. Thanks" and the servant show.
ed John Austin the door. En- route
homeward the hungry man bought his
bread and ate it with thankfulness. 1t
was after 9 o'clock when the girl got
her doll.
81 give it to You, now," said John
Austin; "hold it fast to your bosom all
night, or it might be changed before
morning"
Thoug Oh there are no postmen of a
Christmas day in New York, John Aus
tin received q note on that day, re-
questing his presence on Monday
morning, the 9th of December, at q
certain Office where a shipping clerk
was wanted.
cit seems that you are the lucky
man after ALL" said the young clerk in
the office, looking still quite de6antly
at John Austin.
"God bless me you don't say SOP
exclaimed John.
yes; the head of the house, who
never does interfere, has taken on him
self to mix things up dreadfully. Over
slaughcd everybody. Nov, beg you
to think that I have had no hand in it..
/ even fancy you do not imagine that
you are indebted to me for the posi-.
tion."
"What rude little jackanapes you
must be-" replied John. "StilI,
though you annoyed ne On tho oath, |
can't bear you much Of srudge now,
after Christmas, for, if you have had
not boon impairment, why your chief
would never have interfered, and 30
made away with my doll"
Doll! See here, my old party, if
you amt quite crazy. you are likely
soon to become lunatic. A precious
shipping-clerk you will make, and the
lots of papers that will be stuck at me
when l have to hunt up for your lost
goods. Here, don't bother me. Re.
port to the manager-that man there,
biting his nails" And the slide was
snapped to with a spiteful jerk.
John Austin was regularly installed
as shipping clerk. When be had held
the position for day he CHANGED to
meet the head of the house. The shin
plng-clerk, as he saluted his chief DO
lltely, might have then been inclined
to gush the least possible bit, but the
master gazed at him in a vacant kind
OF way, for John Austin had entirely