The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1888-11-29
GOOD FOR EVIL.

There were about twenty accOu .tantS
in the large ante-room connected with
one of the Government bureaus, each
one working busily and silently; but
my story has to do with three only
Creme Douglass the head-clerk, Miss
Brown, and old Mr.. Stickney.
Grame Douglass was a man of per-
haps forty, with Il grave dark face,
framed in iron-grey hair; firm but full
and well-cut lips, and Il massive chin.
Miss Brown had worked atthe ad-
joining desk for nearly three years.
Regularly at the appointed hour her
slight neat figure would be in its place,
and her small but firm fingers, pen in
hand, would begin their work. In all
this time the only advance towards ac-
quaintance had been bow at entering
and the same at her departure.
Her features might have been cut
from marble, so perfect were they in
outline from the round dimple-cleft
chin, the full but delicate lips, the
straight Grecian nose, to the high,
broad forehead. and as expressionlessl
Grame Douglass was not much Civ
en- 10 speculations about womankind; !;
but he often found himself wondering
at Miss Brown-so young, and with
such capacities of beauty slumbering
in that exquisite but icy-cold face.
The third person of whom our story
treats was Seaforth Stickney, a frail-
looking, care-wOrn old man, whose
desk stood next to that of Miss Brown.
He was often absent from his post
through illness. Then Miss Brown
would hurry through her allotted
work, and make up his books for him,
watchful that his books did not run
behind, as in that case the remedy was
sure to be prompt and decisive one
dismissal.
One morning he was absent as one
of the heads of the department came
in to confer with Gr@me Douglass
about proposed cutting down of ex'
penses in his corps of clerks.
~ notice Stickney seems breaking
down lately; he's away so Often. Does
he attend to his work?"
s.His books are always in order,
said Greme, but he did not add,
.'through Miss Browns kindness.
"Then, of course it's all right. But
things must be cut down, as | said be-
fore. Now, who shall it. be? Whose
salary will best bear slicingP"
Greene Douglass had not occupied
his position all these years without
learning to feel an interest in his fel-
low-workers, and it was a difficult
question to answer. After moments
hesitation he said:
81 don't know that can single one
out over the other. hardly think any
clerk here has more than he needs.
You must make your own selection OF
| the"-"victims," he was about to say,
but checked himself and added
"names."
..Well, I'll say Stickney for one
He's old and must have raised his
| family by this time, if he ha:
one. Then, Miss May is young. and
know Curtiss is bachelor. From the
I end of this month the salaries will bt
cut down, say three hundred year. ,
"That would leave May and Curtis.
barely six hundred. Could they live
on that?"
.sWell, take one hundred and fiftl
hundred. He can stand the reduction
1 know. That's good sum of money
Douglass" -.--
! Douglass bowed. Nothing more wa
expected of him than ready acquies
|
and could, had he chosen to do so
have put someone else in his place. s.
he kept silent.
One by one the clerks had gon
their various ways until only Gram
Douglass and Miss Brown remained.
He was about leaving the room
when. to his great surprise, he heard
low hesitating voice ut his side.
MAY l speak with you a moment
Mr.. Douglass?"
81 am ut your service for any nun
ber of moments, Miss Brown" he ans
wered, drawing chair forward for he
to sit down.
She remained standing, however
and as she raised her eyes to Greene
face he saw for the first time what c;
pacities of expression their lustrou
depths held.
Il could not help hearing Mr.. -
remarks about the reduction OF e.
penses this morning. l have no on
but myself to care for. Will you
so kind as to see that my salary su
fers instead of that poor old man's!
But, Miss Brown"
at will be all the same to the Go
ernment, and l wish it.''
Your request shall be granted the
/ will see to it myself.
Thank you The slight color ha
deepened to crimson by this time, an
the perfect lips absolutely parted in
smile, displaying teeth of pearl
whiteness, which lighted her face lii
a CLEAN of sunshine.
Long after her last echoing foot-fs
! had died away, Greme Douglass sto'
like one in dream.
"All these years | have stood sid
y bv-side with that young woman, al
- have been blind-blind as bat to h
beauty! She's the most perfect ere
ture my eyes have ever rested upo
without exception! But what crotch
has she taken about that uninterestil
old Stickney? 1t isn't everyone who