Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser., 1889-11-01
A ROMANCE OF THE SWAMP y

4 nUMANIt Ut nt SWAMr.
reveled in dream of paradise.
thought sweet thoughts and cherishe,
exquisite hopes. Not the Young prime,
of the Arabian Nights" WAS So steepe,
to the lips in bliss. | could hav.
vowed that the odors of Araby wer,
in the air, and that | heard angeli,
music.
Yet my surroundings were to saw tn.
least. prosaic. sat 1t desk in an of
flee in that domain of leather-dealer,
which New Workers have chri>tcned tn.
Swamp-at all times = place of any.
thing but dainty perfumes-and thi.
was midsummer al its hottest. and in q
neighboring alley Il disconsolate old or
gani>t was droning forth the tun.
ycleped John Browns Body" TO n
group of dirty. barefoot children.
Ii had looked about me | would
have seen the close shaven. mouse-col.
ored heads of three Young fellow clerk,
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 think.
ing of her-of the loveliest, divinest,
most adorable she. Ny body was in
the Swamp but my soul was in the vii.
la on the Hudson. where she dwelt and
thought. no doubt, of me. and whence
she had sent me little pink. perfumed
billet:
MIR. Prince. Mr. Vonderyiteh would
ike 10 have YOU step into the Office"
With these words 4 voice interrupted
NV blissful reverie-that of Dibbs. the
messenger.
a, once" replied.
| sprung TO my feet, touched myself
up with a pockei-comb at the little
mirror in my desk. aud fastened 10
obey the summons.
Mr.. onder,itch was by birth Rus
sian. He was iicrce-looking old gen
tlcmau. with curiously projecting light
blue eyes and an immense head Of hair.
which looked like what Is called hy
those upon the stage fright wig" :"
His mu>tache ri,al,,l his wig and his
mouth looked like that of the wolf " ho
ate Red Riding Hood.
On the present occasion he was ac-
tually alarming. He sat at IA desk
making cigarettes. which he smoked as
is>t ~ - maix them, and during all
supaiion-
He began thus:
so, Mr. Prince. am glad 10 sss
ysu. ha>. bssu very anxious ~ 10
~ all day"
"Ghauk YOU very much. sir. sxid /
You c-n spare Your aekuow ledg-
ments." he replied. L, is as suri
usity that take pleasure in looking af
YOU. ! wanted 10 gaze upon An au-
daci"u~. imp-rtinent, rr,su.ring. And
absurd clerk NJ SIS u week. who has
dar'd la .sldress th,~e sn Ii! daash-
ter"
As he spoke he threw toward me .
packet of letters. which | stopped as
would have Won IN. houors oa = haec-
ball field
They were mv own. addressed Il
Miss Theodore Sondcrvi,ch. knew
them NJ a glance.
NJ, second wife found them in The
odoras chiifonier this morning" sale
Mr. Nondcrvitch. and placed them il
my hands. How did you dare writ,
them9"
murmured words to the effect thai
Theodora's fascinating personality Wa:
nay excuse
She is SO lovely" explained. '',ha'
tn know her is to adore her"
But you don't know her." said AIR
NonderSitch."
oh. | beg pardon. sir; We were in
troduced at little party" said |.
introduced or not YOU don't KNOW
her" Numbered Mr.. Vondervitch. On,
of my clerks cannot possibly know m,
daughter. Why, the bare idea is pre-
posterous."
could only look nj him.
If we were in Russia Id send yos
10 Siberia for this indecorous and
and reasonable conduct" CONTINUES.
Mr.. Vondsrvitch. .As it is. l dismis,
this firm. Co."
That go" rang in my ears like chs
knell of doom. 1t meant not only 20
from this place and this salary which
was mueh-but GO fovever from tn.
idol of my soul-the girl loved, snd
who loved me.
II ii would have served me in the
least to 90 down ON my knees and kis,
the shoes of Theodora's father and pra,
his mercy l would have done so, but Il
would have been worse than useless.
May say one word. sir2' ! ven
tured.
You may not. replied Mr.. Wonder
witch.
As he spoke the nostrils Of his might,
nose distended. and he putfed forth
through them in one great volume tn.
smoke of all the cigarettes he had made
and consumed during the interview
Where he had stored it do not know
but it surrounded him and blotted him
from my sight US | bowed myself ON,
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 voiees in.
quired:
What's the mattcrg"
did not explain, but simply said
'Good-by." and vanished from theil
sight, as supposed, forever.
When | reached the room occupied
in my clearinghouse recognized the
truth of the adage: '.Misfortunes never
come singly."
My pocket-book, containing month.
wages, which had been paid the night
before. was gone. had either dropped