Louisiana capitolian. (Baton Rouge, La.) 1879-1881, 1880-12-16

well, lou CDem put III Sill Vi GIT
il they want TO-, and reduce my
immense salary id proportion, But !
can't believe it, Wheat"
The whistle of the Eastern Express
sounded lugubriously through the
misty air, and Wheat had only time
to answer word "You'll see,
Jerome.v' 4} {gaE sliiTa
Well, tweuty-four hours later,
Jerome did "see"-an autograph
letter from Superintendent DeBowD,
stating that Miss Alma Bury would
take charge Of the telegraphingg
department in his office, between the
hours of eight a. m. and five p,, M,
and that his pay would be reduced
well, SO materially, that Jack at once
resolved toqnit tile place entirely ;
and, so strange is human nature,
actually with a feeling ofsDarpregret
at the loss Of the situation he Z had SO
despised not an hour before.
miss Alma Barry !" He quite
hated the name, poor lonely fellow,
as he posted up his accounts, before
closing up for the night and he
wondered if she needed the small
pittance he earned as much as he did.
That night he was miracu'onsly nm
lucky. He went to 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 over he had been
in alllis liie before.
Precisely at eight O'clock Superin-
ten,lcpt DeBown's representative ap-
peared, escorting young lady,
slight, graceful, modest in her grey
and vpil--and introduced them Miss
Barry and Mr.. Jerome and as tt G
veil went off, Jack nearly lost his
selt-l"ssession to see the exquisite
gray eyes, and ,ippling dark hair,
anu grave, sweet mouth he had been
hopelessly in love with for months.
A faint little flush made her checks
pretticr than ever, and Jack wonder
ed wildly what mysterious fate was
IN it all.
Then Miss Barry laid off her sacque
and hat, and gloves, and sat down to
her duties ut the instrument 50 fair,
so sweet, 30 digDified aud thoroughly
lady like, and so perfectly mistress of
her business, too.
While Jack managed to attend to his
duties, with very vague idea that
he was somebody else, and a very
bewildered person at that.
Until late that same afternoon,
when Miss Barry addressed him for
the first time, unsolicited, i'll that
day, Jacks heart was in his throat,
RS he walked over to her.
Her clear, calm eyes were wisttul
and so exquisitely beautiful.
Il have been thinking about it all
day, Mr.. Jerome; it doesn't seem
right that you should be obliged to
give SO much Of your position up
What could, Inc say to her! He
found no reply, and Alma went Oh,
softly, regretfully : A'a h7a' "
Il am so sorry. I know from ex-
perience what it is to be out of en-
ployment, and | am SO troubled about
this Isl At''
So, this lovely and gray-eyed little
girl poor and a worker like himself!
The common place fact was some
how bewilderingly precious to him.
Il will be as honest as you are lie
said, after moment, looking frankly
down in her face. q needed the
place very much indeed
She flashed him back a look that
was half a smile, half a pleading de-
precation. > sf
And 50 did I, MI. Jerome. tits
80 hard for us women to find posi-
tons to decently support u.s.
She was poor-oh, it was raptur
ously sweet to him to hear her say
so! If she had been rich-tllis lovely
little girly-
Jack controlled a certain audacious
hope that leaped up in his heart, but
did not take his eyes off of her.
81 TOu,t onnrnva of wnmnn hnin