South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1883-11-02
The Youngest Clerk.

4 -
and bit Of cold beefr
please. ma'aln,' said Jane. there
amt so much AZ drop of milk left;
and you gave the last of the beef to
old Gideon Gallup. Aud besides,
ma am. don't think it is tramp at
all. It's quite a respectable young
man, in brown linen duster, and Il
carpet.bag.'
'Ohr SAID Mrs. Troop. 81 new
boardsr, chr
We'll, ma'am. amt quite sure,'
said Jane, discreetly. Folks is SO
different
Jane said Mrs. Troop, mysteri-
ously, Il ssc it all now. It's the
youngest clerk
'Ma'am?' said Jane, in bewi!der.
ed way.
oh, don't be 80 stupid! cried Mrs.
Troop. vino was one of those nervous
New England women who are perpet
ually instinct with electricity, and who
saw and comprehended things by
flashes Gall Barbara; and make
haste about it,
Barbara came into the green gloom
Of the little pantry, whose window
was thiskly shaded with morning.
glory vines-a tall, slim lassie, with
solemn blue-gray eyes, brown hair,
and slow grace of manner Which
she must have Inherited from the
birches OH the mountain side and the
reeds in the swamp, for other teachers
she had none.
'Wiat is it. mother?' she said. q
was cmptying the feathers out OF the
old pillow ticks, and
.Burbar;l,' said Mrs. Troop, don't
bother about pillow ticks ! It's the
Youngest clerl-he's waiting Just O..
YER there in the porch, with his bag.
Can we accommodate him, do you
tlink?'
Mother said Barbara, what on
earth do you meah?'
Why,' cried Mrs Troop, with lit
Ito impatient gesture, don't you re-
member old Mr. F,.nshawc, the BOOK.
keeper in Browne, Brownson &
Brownies, telling us about the young
est clerk there, who had the weak
lungs and the small salary And he
said he'd recommend him here, for
his sumner vacation; and he hoped
we'd take him cheap and do what we
could for him
'Ohr said Barbara. arching her
pretty brow. Yea, it seems 10 me
now that do remember something
about it, But. mother, where can wo
pu: hun? Every room is tul--even
to the two sloping.roofed chambers
in the garrett
But poor young man, sad Mrs.
Troop, in Il distressed voice, with
hereditary consumption and almost
no salary Barbara, we never can
turn him AVA
NO, OF course rot said Barbara
rejecting. Mother, can manage it.
Don't fret any more. Tell him be
may come.
And high time, too said Mre.
Troop, nervously, with him waiting
there on the porch, and wondering
no doubt, what all this delay means.
She buctlcd out, with kindly hospi-
tality III her eyes. There i'll the pur-
pie twilight, apparently listening TO
the song OF thc wllip-poor-wllls on
tho mountain .sido, Sat slender per-
sou, dressed in cool, brown linen.
with vaIisc resting on the floor be-
side him How was Mrs. Troop to
know that he had heard every word
of the brief coloquy?
Madam he said, lifting the straw
hat from his curly head, Il
'Oh, yes, yes = said Mrs. Troop; Il
know ali about it. Your name is
Browue-with Browne, Brownson &
Browne Mr. Fanshawe told me all
about you. You are the youngest
clerk there
MADAM, l.
1T isn't necessary to explain kind,
ly interrupted Mrs. Troop. well
give you room and board for two
dollars q week. | can't promise you
the daintics they have at the Chocoma
House, but everything shall be clean
and wholesome. Mr. Fanshawc knew
. | would be interested IN sou, because
had lost a son about your age
Indeed. Mrs. Troop, l am very
much obliged to you, but
Here comes my daughter Barbara,
said Mrs Troop, evidently DESTROYS to
abbroviatc the newcomers thanks
barbara. this il the youngest clerk
His name, believe, is Browne.
Barbara let her soft, blue.gray eyes
rest upon his tired face for a second,
with the most angelic sympathy.
is your cough very bad this sum.
mer?' SIZE asked 'Oh, / hope the
mountains will 10 you good How
long vacation have you two wceISs?'
lie smiled.
You are very kind he said The
firm will allow me to be gone as long
as | like
1AnI ,-o,r -, - yt-ft ,,c 90, .,,of . J. a