The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1881-08-25
LEsLEYs s CONSPIRACY.

W"'hue .the P'a1e- e-SiaSS raiI"S arouil
his ''ofllce" in the corner of the count
Herald. just as sweet ringing laue
from the composing-room opposit
came to his ears.
.It's Lesley Lord that is" Pete
Furman. the foreman, said, as he sa,
the look of inquiry on Mr. Clifford
face. As pretty u girl rs ever steppe
in shoes. but spoiled and humoure,
until she thinks she can do rs she likes ;
Mr.. Clifford looked through the opcl
door-he was the new book-keepei
just entering upon his duties that morn
ing.
so that is Miss Lord-the young
lady with the round white arms an,
shining teeth, and the hair piled in
gold-cOlored mass on top of her head
Well, Furman, she is rather good-look
ing-certainly not as handsome as ont
would be led to think from your descrip
| ton"
| Several hours later, when Mr. Cliff
ford was thinking it was nearly time
for supper, merry little clatter O
boot-heels sounded on the floor, coming
towards his sssoilice, and he looked up to
see Miss Lesley Lord standing at the
| dome-shaped opening i'm front of him.
| "Mr. Clifford" she said, with 8
graceful little arch of her pretty eye
brows-"at least, / suppose it is Mr.
Clifford, the new book-keeperp"
81 am at your SERVICE" he responded,
looking straightforward ut the flushed
dimpled checks and little white teeth.
Il would like to have an advance on
Saturday nights pay, if you please
The ''if you please was very much
at variance with the imperiousness OF
her demand.
"You would like an advance?'' he
reiterated gravely, sosaewhat surprised.
Lesley gave provoked little toss of
her head, tapped her gloved fingers on
the plate-glass shelf
THAT is what said, 1 believe"
Gam to understand it is the custom
in this office to advance money to the
employees upon all Occasions?'
II don't know anything about what
ceive an advance when l ask it.''
Mr.. Clifford closed his day-book
quietly.
Il think the rules of the office forbid
such n precedent, Miss Lord. Frank
to the of1ice-boy busilv directing the
mail, ..just light up; will you ?''
Lesley stood perfectly astonished at
the polite yet cavalier treatment she
had received. The idea! This new man
putting on such airs to her-the ac-
knowledged belle and beauty of the girls
who set type in the Herald composing
room.
Frank lighted the gas, and Mr.. Cliff
ford began counting the money in tho
cash-box, while Lesley, i'll a passion,
stood staring Mt him.
You don't intend to let me have it?'
she said presently, in n low indignant
voice that was irresistibly charming for
all that.
'Ceriain1y nOt-yOu nor anyone"
And Lesley sent him one look, per-
fectly savage with anger.
An hour later. in the midst of a driv-
ing rain-storm, Mr.. Clifford stepped
out of the tram-car in a pretty, lonely
suburb of the city, to which he was an
entire stranger-and after looking
about him several minutes. sans UNI
brella or OvershOes. he began dimly to
realize that he did not know which of
the half-dozen houses within sight was
the one where his new landlady, Mrs.
Rawson, lived.
"a charming position to find oneself
in," he thought. as the rain soaked
through his clothes. and he discovered
that the mud was disagreeably uncer-
tain to wade through, especially in the
darkness.
.I'll make a bee-line for the nearest
light" he decided. and forthwith set
out for little cottage, not so appalling
ly far off, where he arrived in due time,
and, shivering with the cold dampness
of his clothes, he was cheered by the
prompt opening of the door by placid
faced elderly lady, who answered him
in the cheeriest, most unconventional
fashion.
'.NIrs. Rawson's! Why, you won't
think of going away up there i'm such a
storm as this. Come in, and let me see
if can't make you comfortable for a
while. Pve got boy just about your
age, somewhere in the West-and if he
should be out in the storm"
Her mother-love was sweet and strong
on her gently wOmanly face. and he
stepped in. gladly yet reluctantly.
81 am SO muddy and dripping Il am
John Clifford. book-keeper at the
Herald office, ma am, and a stranger in
the city,
His hostess insisted on his going in,
and in less than no time he was feeling
decidedly comfortable beside the open
fire, in borrowed slippers and rapidly
drying clothes.
s.The new book-keeper of the Herald
office, l think you said My niece
works there-and she's been talking
i believe all the girls were anxious
to see you, Mr.. Clifford"
The kindly lady hustled about to get
Il, IN ha l.
and at the latest stage OF proceedings.
she took the lamp out with her, while
she broiled the ham.
''You wont mind sitting in the fire
light a minute or two, l know. We're
poor folks, and have to economise i'm
oil.''
And second after the lamp had gone.
and the savory odor of the broiling
ham floated in to his hungry sense, a
side-door opened. and somebody came
in, bringing a cool rainy feeling with
ber-fOr it was a girl, in waterproof
and rubbers.
81 came so near staying t.Jenny
Balls for supper, auntie-l would have
stayed only was afraid you'd be wor
ried about me. We did have SO much
to talk about" and saucy little laugh
rippled through the dusk, as she
pumped herself down on the floor to
take off her rubbers. 1.-THE new book
keeper came, auntie-just the hand
soonest fellow, with-oh-heavenly eyes
and a lovely moustache, but he is too
mean and hateful for anything-to me.
auniie, you wouldn't believe it. would
you? Well we girls'n punish him!
We've made a conspiracy between us,
and I'm to make him fall in love with
me- can. I know-and then am to