Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1889-10-23
THE CLERKS ROMANCE.
A Story with the Most Delightful
Ending Imaginable.

Ending Imaginable.
l reveled in . dream Of paradise.
thought sweet thoughts and cherished en-
quislte hopes. Not the young Prince Of the
Arabian Nights" was so stepped to the
lips in bliss. could have vow ed that the
odors of Araby were in the air, and that
heard angelic music.
Yet my surroundings were, to say the
least, prosaic. I sat at desk IN m once in
that domain Of leather-dealers which New
Yorkers have ohristened the Swamp-at all
times place Of any thing but dainty per-
fumes-and this was midsummer at its hot
test, and in q neighboring alley a disconsO-
late old organist was droning forth the tune
ycleped "John Browns Body' to a group
of dirty, barefoot children.
II had looked about me / would have
seen the closely shaven, mouse-colored
heads Of three young fellow-clerks and the
polished bald pates of two old ones, who
were scratching away for dear life. was
the only one who was neglecting his work,
but was thinking of her-of the loveiest,
divinest, most adorable she. My body was
in the Swamp, but my soul was In q villa on
the Hudson, where she dwelt and thought,
no doubt, of me, and whence she had sent
me little pink, perfumed billet.
"Mr. Prince, Mr.. Vondervitch would like
to have you step into the office"
With these words voice interrupted my
blissful reverie-that of Dibbs, the mes
senger.
"At once" replied.
sprung to my feet, touched myself up
with pocketcomb at the little mirror in
my desk, and hastened to obey the sum-
mons.
Mr.. Vondervitch was by birth Russian.
He was ierce-looking old gentleman, with
curiously-projecting light blue eyes and an
immense head of hair, which looked like
what is called by those upon the stage Q
''frIght wig" His mustache rlvaled his
wig, and his mouth looked like that Of tho
wolf who ate Red Riding Hood.
On the present occasion ne was actually
alarming. He sat at a desk making cigar
cites, which he smoked as fast as he made
them, and during all his conversation he
continued this occupation.
He began thus:
$50, Mr.. Prince, l am glad to sec you. I
have been very anxious to do 30 all day"
''Thank you very much, SIR" said ].
''You can spare your acknowledgements" !"
he replied. "Itis as a curiosity that take
pleasure in looking at you. wanted to gaze
upon the audacious, impertinent presuming
and absurd clerk at fifteen dollars week
who has dared to address those to my
daughter"
AS he spoke he threw toward me a
packet Of letters, which stopped as they
few by me in a manner which would have
won me honors on baseball field,
They were my own, addressed to Miss
Theodore Vondervitch. 1 knew them at q
glance.
SIAE.- aaoo~d ,,,tFo fo,.5 @hor, a. Th.o
dora's chiffonier this morning. said Mr..
Vondervitch, land placed them In my
hands. How did you dare write themw
murmured words to the effect that Theo-
dora's fascinating personality was my ex-
cuse.
''She is 90 lovely" explained, that to
know her is to adore her"
'But you don't know her." said Mr.. Won
dervitch.
ooh, beg pardon, sir; we were intro
duced at little party" said /.
introduced or not, you don't know her," +"
thundered Mr. Vondervitch. ''One of my
clerks can not possibly know my daughter.
Why, the bare idea is preposterous."
could only look at him.
'If we were in Russia I'd send you 70
Siberia for this indecorous and-and trea-
sonAble conduct" continued Mr.. Wonder
witch. GAS 1t is, dismiss you without any
recommendation from this Arm. Cop
'May say one word, sir, !" ventured.
"You may not" replied Mr.. Vondervitch.
AS he spoke the nostrils of his mighty
nose distended, and he puffed forth through
them in one great volume the smoke Of all
the cigarettes he had made and consumed
1t do not know, but it surrounded him and
blotted him from my sight as bowed my
self out backward.
went to my desk and took my hat. The
three young shaven heads and the two old
bald ones lifted themselves as did so, and
five astonished voices inquired:
"What's the matterr
did not explain, but simply said "Good-
bye" and vanished from their sight, as I
supposed, forever.
When reached the room occupied In my
boarding house / recognized the truth OF
the adsge: "Misfortunes never come
single"
My poclet-book containing q months
wages, which had been paid tie night be-
fore, was gone. had either dropped it or
some pick pocket, noting my absorption
IN thought, had relieved me of it.
had not a penny in the world; my weeks
board was due, and had no friends to ap-
ply to.
Ny thoughts turned naturally to the Cen
trail Park reservoir, but had not the car
fare, and lacked the energy to take me
there.
Ihad had hopes of advancement at von-
dervitch Bros; that was over now; but
was young, and after dinner began to pom
der on some way of earning fame and fort
une and presenting myself to Theodore =
father a. an aspirant for the situation OF
son-in-law whom he could scarcely refuse.
At all events, it seemed certain that could
soon find a situation of some sort.
Three months from that day this object
was not attained. ! was desperate. had
sold my watch, my dress-coat, my tall hat
and my scarf pm, and was deeply in debt
besides. The day before ] had happened to
meet q fellow-clerk- Of the bald ones
and he told me that Theodore was engaged
to a silver king or an oil kingor pecuniary
king of some sort by the name of Boggs,
and had resolved to ship for sailor. Ihad
wandered about the docks all day, and at
last engaged as green hand on the schooner
Polly Whites; and, prior TO going on board,
passed the night in dismal little hotel near
the waters edge, an advance having been
made me for that purpose on an umbrella,
which could not possibly use at sea.
The room was a whitewashed place like Q
cell and dismally dirty and cold, but soon
discovered that there Xas a register in the
corner, and opened it The heat rushed in
so did considerable gas. But sat down be-
fore it with my elbows on my knees and my
chin in my palms, and fell into my old habit
OF building air-castles. / had Just discov-
cred a treasure island in mid-oeean, when
my visions were dispelied by loud click at
my ear, and voice growled:
1Ivan Vondervitchi''
] started and lonhad about ma