The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-09-13
An Artful Maid

Have you q pen you could lend met" she
modestly asked, as she entered the stamp
division Of the postoffce yesterday, says the
Cincinnati Commercial GGzstte. The pens out
here in the corridor are all bad"
The clerk smiled politely and handed her his
pet pen from behind his ear. She carefully
spat upon it and rubbed the point up and down
in a crack in the woodwork, perhaps to sharpen
IL, while he grabbed the desk for support.
Then she looked around vaguely. 20, is
there a blotter might uSe?' she asked with the
air of a timd fawn. that at once dlsarmed the
previous hostility of the clerk over his nsulted
pen.
Yes m-here's a brand new one," and a
broad, white sheet passed out.
20, bow nice! What lovely blotteri II is
just too nice for anything for the government
to give such nice supplies, isn't its' she smiled,
ttmidly. This is so good-you won't mind If
l take part of it for my escritoire?" and as he
looked into those big, soft eyes he managed TO
gasp that he-he-why, Of course not
Now, that's just too provoking haven't a
cent of change. Could you lend me sheet Of
writ ing paperY Anything will do.
Her pouting lips trembled and the great eyes
filled up. And the clerk plunged down into his
private drawer and hunted q sheet of the pref
test git-edged paper he owned for letters to
his girl. ,
she half whispered, blushing.
He felt little dazed, but he would be, could
be, and was kind enough to produce dainty
little envelope with a stiver-embossed mono
gram upon it. She wrote short note with
piquant little CALCULATIONS and cooling little
murmurs as her pen slid across the sheet. but
paus ed at sealing.
CLUES Of such nasty, horrid stuff I'm really
afraid to touch them with my tongue. This en-
Velope-I want to close it-would / presume to
ASK" She heldup the Zap 80 suggestively
and close that, before he knew what he was
after. the dazzled attache had licked tho gummed
strip and the packet was sealed. As he turned
once more to MS interrupted column of figures
he heard the pleading voice whisper as if solely
to itself
81 know 1 shall blot and spoil this dear little
envelope; am so nervous and my hand trembles
So wonder if there is any one"
or course, he offered to address it for her.
80. do you use that old-fashioned long IS in
writing 'miss?' ! never do-it's such bad style,
y know-O, no; it don't make the least bit of
difference-you needn't change the envelope.
He hadn't intended to before, but after that
he didn't dare do less.
80, dear, I've forgotten whether Bilkville is
in Lake or Oneida county.
1t took him ten minutes in the postal guide to
| find out.
Il do think government officials are so oblig-
| ing. Don't your she murmured, conhdentially
as the tips of her pink little fingers touched the
envelope l haven't a stamp with me, and
shall have to take this letter all the way back
| with me- unless you would-would lend"
He made the necessary loan and caught his
breath hard.
Now I'll have to take this all the way around
and drop it in, won't ~
| He patiently took it and mailed it for her.
"Why, really" she said sweety, III l had
known how nice and oblgng every one is
| should have come down here every day and
written my letters; but the postoffce is so far
down town."
He offered to have it moved up street eight OF
| ten blocks.
80, really now. would you do that? Wouldn't
| it be too much trouble? 1t would be so nice
| and accommodating OF you. I can come down
every morning then. How soon can you DO it?'
He said he would try to have it all moved up
| town by O'Clock that afternoon, and she could
| come in and write another letter before supper.
80 you dear dear man. lshe chrped ecstat-
| caly. 40, you are just too cute for words
you're just heavenly lovely And III tell all the
other girls, and we II all come down. That Will
| be- Just too sweet for anything! IGood-by ~
she trembled, looking tenderly up into his face
and passing out, while he kicked himself vigo
rously. and hurried over 20 the ventilator- hole
to swear.
There" she exclaimed, as she trippod oui
into Fifth street. that is cents saved for pa
per aHd envelope, 6 cents saved for blotter
and cents for stamps-Lulle and NELL rush
the GROWER while the boss is gone to chuck!'