Louisiana capitolian. (Baton Rouge, La.) 1879-1881, 1880-12-18

Well, let them put Ma SIP oIas'sa Sllts
If they want TO, and reduce my
immense salary ID proportion. Z But !
can't believe it, Wheat
The whistle Of the Eastern Express
sounded lugubriously through the
misty Dir, and Wheat had only timd
to answer II word you'll see,
jerome !"
Well, twepty-four hours later,
Jerome did "see"---an autograph
letter from Superintendent DeBown,
stating that Miss Alma Barry would
take charge Of the telegraphing
department In his Office, between the
hours OF eight Il. IN. and i've p. M,
and that his pay would be reduced
well, 80 materially, that Jack at once
resolved to quit the place entirely;
and, 10 strange il human nature,
actually with n feeling Of sharp regret
at the loss of tho situation no had so
despised not an hour before.
"Miss Alma Barry " He quite
hated the name, poor lonely fellow,
~ he posted up his accounts, before
closing up for the night; and he
wondered il she needed the small
pittance he earned as much us he did.
That night he was miraculously un-
lucky. lie went TO IL score Of places
to find work, and failed every time,
and the next morning, went down to
the Office more utterly desolate and
discouraged than ever he had been
in all his life before.
Precisely at eight o'clock superin-
tcndent DeBown's representative ap-
peared, escorting q young lady
slight, graceful, modest in her grey
and veil--and introduced them Miss
Barry and Mr.. Jerome and as the
veil went of, Jack nearly lost hif
sclt.possession to see the exquisite
gray eyes, and ripping dark hair,
and grave, sweet mouth he had been
hopelessly in love with tor months.
A faint little flush made her cheeks
pretter than ever, and Jack wonder.
cd wildly what mysterious fate was
in it all.
Then Miss Barry laid off her sacqut
and hat, and gloves, and sat down to
her duties at the instrument 80 fair
so sweet, so dignifed and thoroughly
lady like, and so perfectly mistress Of
her business, too.
| While Jack managed to attend to hi
duties, with a very vague idea tina,
he was somebody else, and a very
bewildered person at that.
Until late that same afternoon
when Miss Barry addressed him fo1
| the first time, unsolicited, oil thai
day, Jacks heart was in his throat
az he walked over to her.
Her clear, calm eyes were wistfn
and no eyquisitely beautiful.
4 have been thinking about it al
} day, Mr.. Jerome; it doesn't seen
right that you should be obliged t.
give so much Of your position up
What could he say to herr HI
; found no reply, and Alma went on
! softly, regretfully:
Il am so sorry. know from ex
, perience what it is to be out of EN-
ployment, and | am SO troubled ab0u
t this
So this lovely and gray-eyed littl
{, girl poor and worker like himself
The common place fact was some
{ how overwhelmingly precious to hin
i i will be as honest as you are, i
Il said, after moment, looking frankl
e down in her face. i needed ii
k place very much indeed
o She flashed him back look thu
; was half "a smile, half pleading d'
a precation.
And 80 did !, Mr.. Jerome. 1t
e so hard for US women to find pos
is tons to decently support us
d She was poor-oh, it was raptu
" 0usly sweet to him to hear her 8;
J, so, # she had been rich--this love
g little girly--
kJ Jack controlled certain audaci0
l. hope that leaped up in his heart, b
I'd did not take his eyes off of her.
rs q don't aDpr0vc of women bel