Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1884-06-19
A WOODEN MAN.
SEPTEMBER MONDAY.

-
A WOODEN MAN.
SEPTEMBER MONDAY.
Pride has had fall. The sign of "Edgal
Thornipath, NJ. D. }" has been taken down
his office has been given up, and he has &C
cepted position in the office of the East
sern Union at salary of one thousand
dollars. Six months of dreary waiting fol-
s patients, and when at last few came, four
months of dreary waiting for pay, have
proved too much for his resolution. The
surgeons knife that was to have carved
his name high on the list of the medical
fraternity is laid away to rust in peace,
and the physicians visiting list is hence
forth devoted to the baser use of a book
keepers diary. Shade of Esculapius, for
give him !-hehad to live.
SEPTEMBER I0-THURsDAY-1A A. N.
Life in the Eastern Union office is not
without its excitemsnts. The placid ma
chine called book-keeper has its ups and
downs, its moving accidents, etc, and it
has been my fortune to have an adventure
thus early in my sffioe career.
At half-past seven last evening ] was
) working at my books, my predecessor hav-
ing felt it incumbent ON him to leave them
could not hold candle for intricacy. Two
other men sat at their desks, and solitary
messenger-boy slumbsred on q bench.
There came ring at one OF the telephones.
] paid no attention to the meaningless
monologue that ensued until l heard the
book-kseper say: .Wais one moment,
madam, at the 'phone; perhaps can ar
range it." Then he turned to me, saying:
''Thornipath, will you be good enough to
wake the boy there? Here's lady who
asks for an escort to the theatre this eve-
ming. and every blessed kid is out, except
Harry"
3 sand Harry has not been well,n said;
She has taken cold, and has fever, and
!. chit hp home in he'd. f1t L
the child will have to go. / didn't know
that was one of the duties of your messen-
gers"
ave don't often have demands of the
kind, but we promise to fill them, and &C.
acasionally people take us at our word"
went to the bench on which the boy was
aying, and touched him lightly on the
shoulder. He sat bolt upright with start,
and looked at me out of wide, startled
eyes. He is a handsome boy of fourteen,
and has a way about him that has already
attracted ms to him.
care you sick, Harry ?" asked.
He passed his hand across his forehead.
''Yes-I don't know-my head acts
queer and feels SO heavy; do you want
something's
.sYes; want you to go home and go to
bed. Here is your hat-have you car-fare?
Go nome now as fast as you can"
s The head book-keeper looked at me in
amazemeno as the boy went out the door.
"'Well, L call that COOL" he said. "What
10 GU SuppoSC l. diu SOIS W W ucI
nowm --ss7
ssTell her that a messenger will call in
twenty minutes" l said, briefly, adding,
by way of explanation, ''1'll go, myself"
appointed, but could see but one course,
and took it,
"Do your messengers go in uniforms on
such errands:" | asked. -,
'.Oh, :" said Morse, sacastically, sin
swallow-tails and patent feathers, al
waysw
LUCKILY my room is near" / said.
-1sWhat is the number of the house?'
.'1e9 Kennedy Place, awfully stylish
neighborhood; it's some rich old lady who
will remember you in her will, / dare
say
As was leaving the office he called me
back to say: Don't forget the fee. She
pays you two dollars and buys the tick
cts"
Among the mutabilities of this world,
one thing remains fxed-the fashion of
the swallow tailed coat passes not away,
and the man who possesses one has Sc
cured a hostage from Fortune. / hurried
to my room, took down the garment whose
Office has been q sinecure since have been
q stranger in this land, and arrayed my
self as had not been arrayed since my
college days. / used such dispatch that at
a few minutes before eight stood on the
steps of 129 Kennedy Place. 1t is large
house, whose steps are garnished with
stone lions that in tlleir turns are garnish-
ed with stone w-rssths of flowers. / rang,
and q man-Servant OF forbidding appear
ance opened the door.
ssIs your mistress inf? asked.
He looked at me ssspiciously, but the
shining tips of my shoes seemed to reas-
sure him, and he said he would see, invis-
self in a small rscsptioa-room of the hall.
''Ssy simply a messenger" l said to
him.
Five minutes passed before / received
any recognition of my presence, taen L
heard a russling of SILK and low. inquir-
ing voice in the hall, after which the door
opened and a lady came in. young
lady and rather pretty one, with the
kindese eyes / ever saw-at least they were
kind when she FIRST looked up from the
glove she was fastening; but the kindness
changed at once to surprise, and she gave
a little start saying: 81 beg your pardon,
/ supposed it was a messenger from the
Eastern Union"
i.sI came from there, madam replied.
ssThe usual messengers were out, and they
sent ms rather than disappoint you- am
an e7npIoye of the Office" {;
"OhW she said, regarding my costume
with unconscious curiosity; then a doubtful
look came across her face, and she said,
half aloud to herself, looking down; II
wonder-if ought to go; wish Auntie
were here.o
The man presented himself at the door.
AsThe carriage has come, Miss Nora," he
said.
Every wei, J" she answered, and waited
TOR me, TO lead the way. @a
TI.had never played dummy before. and
Violated just here one of the first rules to
be observed by a wooden man. hesitased,
and, as she looked at me inQuiringly, ex.
planned by saying: "Your companion"
She drew herself up colaly. lis indis- |
posed; am going alone" |
II nv face expressed disapproval, it was
only for moment. / remembered in |
stantly that was dust. ana that in so |
purely business arrangement i5 was not |
NV place to cavil, even IL she should |
choose to sit on the box with her driver. |
Like an automsson I gave her my arm and |
led her down the steps; like an automaton |
/ helped her into the carriage, but as was |
about to enter it myself, a thought struck |
that could never have hap
Deued to an automa toD-he thought that
perhaps / was not wanted there. and said
81 am to ride on the
"By no means,nske replied, with cold |
"What woafd the coachman
tbink?"
man the direction, seated myself In the |
carriage, andspresently we were rolling |