Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1884-11-07
A MiDDLFAGED ROMANCE.
Chicago Tribune.

Bailey, IL not ny Hdih0 why 'HS
least by sight, particularly II
YOU have occasion 10 pass frequently
through that part of Madison street
which lies between La Sale street
and the bridge. You need not be re-
minded, then, of the relation that
handsome George as he is known
in boot and shoe circles, holds TO tae
street at large, and you can recall
without any help from me, his gen
eral appearance and personality; how
he sits or lounges behind particular
ly large and clear pane OF plate glass,
near "a certain corner, where IL Is an
easy matter to see aid an easier one
to be seen, with vague and indefinite
array of black lettered cases for
background, and a little crowd OF
nervous or appreclative fellow sales
men as foils and supports-youths
who can put proper valGe upon the
set of his vest (of course he Is IN his
shirt sleeves, to the tut of his straw
hat (0f course he isn't bafeheaded,
the disposal of his feet (of course they
are not upon the floor, and the gen
eral air OF self suiiiciency, experience,
and felicity that shows IN his sharp,
good natured blue eyes, his hand
some, chestnut mustache, and his
whole prosperous and well kept being,
and sets as a sort of crown or halo
upon his twenty eight years. Twenty
eight years9 you ask and pray do you
call twenty eight middle agod2' Not
at all. Then this prepossesS'ng
young man is not the hero OF your rro-
nance, after all2 Not i'll the least he
liz only going to serve to start us on
our way to have the 'lirst say"
1t is on certain Saturday afternoon
In August, when an air OF elegant
leisure more rsarkcd than usual seems
TO per.ade the establishment of Box
toe * Instep, when the attitudes OF
the group behind the great French,
glass window are rather more neglI
gent and iaSoucant than ordinarily,
aud the cloud of cigar-smoke lowering
above is rather more dense and undis.
tHrbed than it will be when trade
"brlces up" But for the first time IN
the history Of his connection with
the house" Mr.. George b Illey fails
to altogether harmonic with his set
ting; there is spark of irritation in
MS clever blue eye and note OF lm-
patience in the tattoo which his neat
boot beats upon the ill-kept iloor.
Something has Occurred to annoy
him, and he Is on the point of Letting
himself out" about it.
''That settles the business" he re
marks. I'm go at the end OF the
month. | can get along with lnstep's
airs, and | can drudge ON like dray-
horse on kalf-pay, and there's one or
:wo other things | don't like but can
stand. However, there's one thing |
can't stand, aud that's this. don't
see how all you fellows can, either;
you've had one girl-ti ne here already,
and you ought to remember what
they're like. No sitting around com
fortably in your shirt sleeves; no say.
ing anything that begins with a ID
without a pair of startled blue eyes
turned your way with a how can you
be SO dreadful look in them; no calling
Mamie, or Josie, or whatever it is
without that shocked, grieved, why
are you so shamefully familiar glance
that breaks II fellow all up; no any
thing except plenty OF chains, and
rings, and geraniums, AMI kittens
with pink ribbons in their ears, and u
young thing in moutagues saylnS to
to Tommy there, i know I'm real Ig-
nOrant ana inexperienced, and want
you to be nice and patient with me
and show me everything | ought TO
know; now, won't your And Tommy
l. l., H. Ia Il
passing out quarters for halves, or
halves for quarters, and the dickens
10 pay generally. That thing in the
corner there, is it the machine she's
going to perform on2' And Mr..
George Bailey shook himself together
with groan of disgust, while every
body around laughed mildly or vo-
ciferously, as his tempera meut dictat
ed or rs his recollection of the fast
young lady help prompted.
That's the machine, answered the
cashier, from his wiNdow Just above
their head, "and the machinist her
self is gong to be aropnd Monday
morning, understand. It'll be time
enough to fly from your firm base
then; better wait aud see what she is
like. You don't want To be down on
all womaukiud solely on account of
poor Susie Simpson. And | should
say you ought 10 be the last man here
TO be down "u Susie herself, anyway.
Who was it said she didn't object to
seeing n wellmade man IN his shirt
sleeves9 SUSIE. Who said she didn't
mind SO very much hearing a hand
some fellow swear just little now
and thenf Susie. Who was always snip.
ping away ut her geranlumS and
things to make button hole bouquets
for handsome GeorgeF Susie And
who, If my memory serves me, once
said If she should"
The cashiers voice, becoming every
moment higher and more empathic,
was here drowned in a roar of appre-
cIative laughter. but it emerged from
the hubbub with the remark which
betrayed the auimuS of his entire
speech: And don't ~ant any fell
low to hint that my balance was over
Il cent on account of Susie Simpson or
any other girl" Girl" with most
scornful and contemptuous emphasis.
Yes, we're death on girls here, and
don't you forget it," chimed in a grin
ming youugster just emerging from
''the stock"
well be death on this oue," said
Mr.. Bailey. majestically adopting the
Juvenile formula. I'm one week wen
be calling her by her first name; in
two Wen be taking her to the Dime
Museum or some other inexpensive
place of amusement; ia three we'll
collectively present her with a parrot
say, in gilt cage; and in four Old
John will come down like thousand
of brick, and Miss jennie, or Lulie,
or whatever her name is, will be po-
litely informed that her services are
no longer Indispensable TO the pros
perity of the house. l have worked
this racket before" he went on with
a portentous frown in the direction of
the cashiers window; but my mo-
tlves don't seem to have been under
stood as clearly as they might have
been. Come, Tommy, old man, brace
up there; | want to bel you 1--WE that
I'll be calling this girl by her Chris
tian name before she's been here three
days. What do you say to thatG"
Il bet you will, too chuckled
Tommy from his post. ''Tll take you
up though, and if lose, I'll strike
the boys for a general Subscription.
u u ~ VI