Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1891-08-30

possibly to- change my lodgings; but
otherwise had swept away all obstacles
eccentriclty.
1t occurred to me on the way down
town that Mr.. Prime would doubtless
make some inquiries as to my previous
history and present circumstances, and
that must go a step further and con-
>coct some rational story in order to carry
out my deception successfully. l was
correct in my surmise. BE received me
with kindness, and showing me into his
private Office asked few direct ques-
tions, which answered to his satisfac-
tion seemingly. Represented myself as
one of that much to be pitied class, re-
ferred to by Mr.. Chelm, Of well educated
but impecunious young people, who only
needed employment to be comfortable
and happy 1 had no parents, no brothers
and sisters, and up to this time had sup
ported myself by teaching and by copy
ing; but the stress Of the times had little
by little cut off the sources of my in
come, and when he met me yesterday
had sunk down exhausted and in despair
over the prospect of finding anything to
do. Such was my pitiful tale.
Fortunately my handwriting did not
require to be explained away or dis
guised like the rest of me. 1t spoke for
itself, being legible and bold, somewhat
resembling a man'sin the latter particu-
lar. Mr.. Prime looked pleased as he
glanced at the specimen l prepared for
his inspection, and felt that the battle
was won. A few minutes later / was
engaged as a confidential clerk at a
modest salary. NY duties for the time
were to answer letters, and to copy out
and arrange sets OF figures at his direc-
ton, and he suggested that should as
soon as possible learn shorthand.
l could scarcely help laughing aloud
as l sat and tried to realize my new
position. Mr.. Primes business was as
yet, soon perceived, lamentably small.
The office was commodious, but my en-
ployer had besides me only bookkeeper
to help him-a gaunt, withered looking
man OF sixty. This parsonage glanced
at me now and again over his spectacles
suspiciously, and would, dare say, have
joined hands with my enemy, the police
officer, as to the probabilities affecting
my moral character. Everything else
was done by Mr.. Prime, who / was
pleased to notice was as spruce as ever
in his personal appearance. His gloves,
his boots, his cravat, and like, the
beautifully ugly Ike, were as irreproach-
able as ever.
1t is wonderful how easily one grows
accustomed to almost any change OF
circumstances. OF course the first few
days OF my new life were excessively
strange, and ! passed through various
stages of alarm and modification at my
own hardihood in entering upon 1t. But
after the first week settled down to my
work with interest and composure, no
longer disturbed by q fear of detection.
For so skillful was my disguise that dur
ing that time ran the gauntlet OF the
giances both OF Roger Dale and the
Honorable Ernest without exciting the
suspicious OF either. / AIN not sure that
the former did not feel as II he had seen
my face before, for he stared ut me won
deringly, as 1t seemed To me, and for n
moment feared that all was over; but
he turned carelessly away, and observed
to my employer, loud enough for his
words to reach my ears:
'sNice looking girl that, Prime. II
you don't look out I'll offer her double
the salary across the street."
This observation directed all eyes TO
me, for there were several men In the
group, and among them my English ad-
mirer: but In his case, at least, the adage
regarding the blindness OF Cupid was
strlkingly illustrated, for though he ex-
amined me through his lorgnette with
evident admiration, he contented him
self with echoiHg the sentiments OF his
financial guide, only little more Gu
phonistically:
"Shes daisy, Prime, a daisy. Re-
minds me, too, OF some girl I've seen
somewhere. I've travelled so much, and
seen so many girls, I'm always noticing
likenesses. Jolly expression that, She's
a daisy Only heard 1t yesterday: but
I'm catching on fast. How's Denver
to-day?"
The Honorable Ernest seemed In truth
to be catching on fast. From the re-
marks that were let fall by persons In the
Office, Judged that he must have made
a great deal OF money already under the
tuition of Roger Dale. The success OF
the latter was on every ones lips. He
was coming thousands daily, and was as
shrewd as he was successful, according
to the verdict of those whose sayings /
overheard. He was not very often In
our Office, and was glad TO see that no
intimacy existed between him and Mr.
Prime. Hints dropped in my presence
bv some OF our less Eighty looking Gus
toners revealed to me the fact that
there were those who predicted for him
a fall as rapid as had been his rise. Bat
| could not help feeling a little OF my
former jealousy return as / noted how
slack and Improbable our business was
compared with his.
tried my best to make myself Of use,
and my efforts were quickly appreciated,
for new and more important work was
intrusted to me, under the pressure OF
which I felt at first completely tired out
at night. and thankful 10 get to bed. As
regards my domestic arrangements, de-
cided finally not to change my lodgings,
but by dint of explicit instructions 70
my landlady and maid / managed to
have my presence in the house concealed
from those Of my acquaintances who
called. There are always q certain num-
her OF people who do not hear one Is In
town until after one has left. 1t was
against such that needed to take pre-
cautions; and after the impression was
duly established that was really gone
| breathed freely once moro, and gave
myself up to my bushes with little con-
Germ as TO the discovery OF my innocent
deceit. had to frame such replies to
Aunt Helen's letters and questions as
the constituencies OF my conscience would