The Opelousas courier., 1892-11-12

tISL SOANC OI II "SA RSS ~
this! It is from Mr.. Richard Allison
whose advertisement / answered the day
before yesterday. He asks me to cali al
Room z, No. 10S Rocker street, at I
o'clock this morning, if / have leisure
If I have ~leisurel I've had nothing else
to do for the past month. / must dc
what / can to make a good impression,
you know"
"You couldn't help doing THAT" said
Mrs. Ripley, and she looked with a little
sigh after the graceful girlish figure in
its suit of sombre black, as it disap-
peared through tho door.
"Poor ch,ld, / do hope she won't be
disappointed" she added ~fcrvently;
"there's not many brought up as she's
been would be willing TO work and do
for themselves after always having
everything done for them," she added,
taking up her work again with an earn
est wish for the success of the orphan
girl who, though she had known her but
a few weeks, had, by her lovely face and
gentle manners, interested her and filled
her with an almost motherly anxiety for
her welfare.
An hour later Mile Thorndyke was
| looking at No. 108 Rocker street, a tall
brick building seeming very wide awake
with its numerous windows and liberal
display ofsignboards and official shingles.
At each side of the door was a thin mar
Bile slab with a list of names of the in
mates of the building. In its appropriate
numerical place she found that of her
possible employer, over the words,
"Real Estate"
Mr.. Allison's ofice-outside of which
she presently paused with a iuttering Of
the heart and a shortness of breath due
wholly to excitement-was on the third
flight, in a coy corner at the end Of a
long, narrow hallway. At the moment
the temptation to fee became almos. ir-
resistable. but knowing hesitation would
be her run, she.drew a long breath, and
pushing open the door, crossed the
threshold. 1t was a large, clean, airy
room, well furnished and carpeted, and
it looked more inviting than she had x
pected. From behind a desk-of the
kind known as ssroll-top"-came a
scratching sound, which, with q little
tuft OF hair visible over the top, showed
the presence of the occupant.
As she made a step or two forward the
scratching ceased, aud the connection
became apparent between the tuft of
hair and o head, the owner whereof
Strengthened back in his chair ano
wheeled about SO that she could see
him.
She thought him about thirtHyears
old. though the full brown beard he
wore so becomingly made it difficult to
tell his age with accuracy. Having as.
sured herself he was Mr.. Allison, she
timidly made known her errand.
"Ab, yes" he returned; 'ssit down,
Miss Thorndyke."
He was not e man Of words. he
asked few questions, contenting himself
with learning she was a stranger in town.
had lost both father and mother-tha
former within six months-and knew
nothing, from experience, of the duties
attending the place for which she had
applied.
"You may come on trial, and see how
we like each other" he sald, and, to he.
great relief, the important matter was
settled, for a time at least.
81 think We shall get on" he said al
the end of the first week, and she had
taken that as permission to stay.
Gradually the newness of her surround.
wore off, and she settled down
among them as naturally as the graat
safe or the desks, one of which was now
devoted to her especial use.
She could not fatter herself, however,
on often holding a much. more import.
ant place In the thoughts OF their COM
mon master than these bulky pieces OF
furniture. She thought him the
most %unsociable man she had ever met;
but he was also the busiest, and conse-
could not have much time for
unnecessary talk.
It did not take long to see she was in
way a confidential clerk, or that Mr..
had a great deal OF business at
whose nature she could only guess; al.
most every morning he was ont for sev.
eralE hours. and he had frequent callers
with whom he held long and close con.
versations on affairs which, in her mind.
at least, were invested with great inn
~portance.
One gentleman in particular she be-
san to notice, from his almost daily ap-
pearancc and the intimacy she saw
up between him aud Mr.. ALI.
son. He went by the name of Morton,
but she could not allay . doubt of his
to be SO called.
His bold though brief look Of admira-
ion the first time he had seen her had
orejudiced her against him, and since
hen her disgust at him had been stead
" increasing, although from causes the
most indefnable.
From various bits of their talks,
up at different times, she sur
nised that DIR. Morton was trying to
Mr. Allison in a heavy specula.
to which he inclined favorably.
further than this she knew little, but
be wished earnestly for something 10
and dissuade him from such q
tep.
She had speculated q great deal about
lis home life, aud wondered how much
e relaxed his impeuetrable reserve when
{ his own ireside. She knew scarcely
nything about him except that he l;vei
{ Lihdendale, about ten miles out Of
own, whence he came every day on the
rain, and her early suspicion that be vas
Innarried had been confirmed by )
ihrase from the lips Of 4 LADY caller. who
playfnlly tWitted him on the ways
4 L.