Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1886-05-01
DISMISSED FOR CAUSE.
by CARLISLE B. HOEDING.

by CARLISLE B. HOEDING.
Visited Ralph Ricketts,. a lifelong
friend Of mine, short time ago. He
lives in Denver, and is manager of
the Home Manufacturing Company.
In the course of our talk said: 81
never quite under stood what made you
throw up your job at Hudson Bros, SO
suddenly; all remember is that one let
Ter YOU wrote me was dated at GRANVILLE,
and the very next one was dated from
Denver"
'sDid never tell you? No, I sup
pose not. TOR it would not be very pleas
ant for me, I do not mind telling you
now, though"
'By the way" interrupted, ''did you
get book-keeper to suit you to-day?"
s.No; the only one that seemed prepar-
ed to do the work was not the person I
would desire in my Office at such duty.
She is lady,
81 am sorry. But tell me about leav-
ing GRANVILLE"
sit is long story, but I shall skip
part of it," he said, smiling, and touch
very gently on other parts. To begin at
the beginning: Hudson Bros. book
keeper you know, had plenty of time for
other work, and had to act as sales
man as well. You remember DR.. Staple
ton, don't you? He was the wealthiest
farmer and cattle dealer there. 1t was
my good fortune to make good impress
sion on the old doctor at the start, SO I
frequently spent the evenings at his
house. He was always writing on some
subject for publication in the county pa
pers, and nothing pleased him better
than to get me out there to listen to his
essays before he sent them off. I did
not like it very well, but patiently en-
dured the infection, for after he was
through with me would slip off to the
parlor and spend the rest of the evening
with Mrs. Stapleton and Grace.
'Grace, you know, was the Doctors
niece, and his ward. She was worth
about fifty thousand dollars in her own
right, inherited from her father. The
Doctor intended to make her his heiress,
and that added clear hundred thousand
more to her possessions, real and pros
pective."
SIT never occurred to me that, because
she had 80 much, and I so little, we were
not on equal footing. At any rate, I did
feel beneath her notice, nor did she treat
me in any other way than as a peer"
81 remember her WELL" stated, ''and
ME never pibited any citation over her
stNo." Well, one day she and her
mother-her aunt, really, but she al
ways called her mother-the two called
at the store to make some trifing pur-
chases. Mr.. Hudson waited on Mrs.
Stapleton and 1 on Grace. They bought
most of their goods at Carrolton, but
came to us for any little articles they
might want. Mrs. Stapleton said:
"Grace, we must not forget the SUGAR.
''Shall I put up some for your" I
asked, speaking to Grace.
s.H you please, only dollars worth.
Papa expects the team to go to Carroll
ton TO- morrow for barrel of it, with
other things we need" she said.
"Will you step this way and select the
grade you want?' I asked, leading the
way to the rear, where the groceries
were kept in separate department.
81 showed her the various kinds of
sugar, and was not very expeditions
about it either. She did not seem in a
hurry to 60, and know that I was not
anxious to have her depart. A few even
ings before, when I had called at their
house, had a strong desire to declare
my love for her, but was deferred by
some incident, 1 don't remember now,
what, but felt certain that had I done
% would have been accepted. Being
alone, was suddenly and instantly seiz-
I'd with notion to there and then,
ACROSS that grocery counter, propose
marriage. It was foolish thing to do,
but what better could you expect of a
young man %, in the presence of Grace
Stapleton, the acknowledged belle of all
that country?'
"And she said, No." interjected.
81 wished she had! No, she said yes!
The floor reeled, I lost my head entirely,
but managed to get around the counter
10 where she stood, and with the dollars
worth of sugar Rugged tightly to my
breast, under my left arm, I reached out
with my right to clasp Grace, when-oh,
horrorsl was quickly brought to my
senses by MIS- Stapleton's shrill voice
almost screaming.
"How dare your
1.-THE she stood in the doorway be-
tween the two rooms, glazing at me. In
m instant she turned sharp around and
walked hastily through the front part of
the store to her buggy which stood in
front. Grace followed close behind her
and I brought up in the rear still cling
ing to the package Of sugar. Mr.. Hud-