The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1889-04-04
"OH. | SAY, BILLY"
by MARGARET EYTINGE,

The old man had gone to his lunch,
lie wasn't an old man, but that is what
everybody in that vast establishment.
from the senior editor down to the
printers devil, called him--behind his
back. In point of fact, he was Young
man, not more than three and thirty'
though in consequence of his dignifed
bearing and exceedingly grave. quiet
oemeanor he might have been, and
usually was, taken for five years older at
least: He was tall, slow moving. good
looking man with an air of suppressed
power about him-the sort of mar it
was hard to think of as once having been
small boy in knickerbockers, let alone
a oaby IN long clothes. He had dark
nlu,e, rather near-sighted eyes-but woe
TO him who tried to take advantage of
tnelr near-sightedness- straight, dark
nalr, firm, well formed mouth and
strong, decided chin. And when he
spoke, which was, in business hours, at
least, as seldom as possible, it was in a
slow, measured way that at time became
a drawl. Judging Mr.. William Enderby
py his manner of speaking and moving,
one would have come to the conclusion
that time with him was minor cons1d
Grafton altogether. But was it? | should
think not. Next to the old man the
clock reigned supreme in that great pub
fishing house.
But, whatever feeling everybody enter
tanned toward the despotic clock, it is
certain that everybody, though more or
less in fear of him, respected, YES and
llked the old man. He was so thor
oughly honest and honorable-meant
what he said--did what he thought
night and exacted from no one in his en-
ploy jot more than he thought it his
or her duty to do. In proof of the latter
assertion he did not exact from some of
them as much as he did himself.
Well, the old mans carriage had rolled
away, with the old man and the senior
editor in it, to the hotel where, they
both being bachelors, they took their
midday meal, and, as it rolled away, the
aoors OF the editorial rooms, that had
been shut. opened, and those that had
been open, opened still wider.
These cubby holes formed a semi
circle around the main Office and were
directly opposite the sanctum sanctorum
OF the old man. At the large table in
the main office McGregol Doug las, picker
up of considered literary trihes and
writer of crisp paragraphs, had his place.
Whats the news, Douglas?" called a
voice from one OF the cubby holes.
Douglas, a long-limbed, bright faced
young fellow, threw down the exchange
he was perusing with lightning glance
and replied, cheerily: News as is
news. We're to have funny depart
ment exclusively for women. Nothing
to be admitted in it but the queer
thoughts, sayings and doings of the I'M
fair sex.'
This announcement was followed bv
questions and exclamations in voice s
from all the cubby- holes.
'Creat heavensi it will take up the
whole paper
"Oh! come; ar'n'tyou fooling2"
"Whose idea is it2"
Show do you know"
''Who is to have charge of ltl"
"Give me time and Pll tell you," said
Douglas. .'Its the old mans idea.
heard HIM talking to the senior about it.
In fact, l deliberately listened when
should have been minding my own bust
ness" (Cries of 'shamcl shame !" from
all the cubby holes.) "The old man, y
Douglas goes on, "thinks it will take.
So do l."
THAT settles it."
How much space is it to occupyn
"Are we to be enlarged"
doubled, you mean; no, less will
do"
''No, indeed, for rum creeters is
women, as the dirty faced man in Pick.
wick observed"
eco on, Douglas, Douglas, tender and
true"
'T'll go on if you stop your racket, ,
says the "tender and true" "Twe
columns is the limit, and it is to be
edited by woman, aud she is to have 9
seat at my table"
"My dear boy, cut your throat at once
with youu scissors"
sour funniest artist looks like Hamlet
wonder what she'll look like"