The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1892-12-07


| the picture she and Mr.. Poplin would
present if any one should come into
the Office, and she promptly raised her
head.
"You did just right" said Mr.. Pop
lin, referring to her treatment of Mr..
Nipple. "The presumptuous rascal!
Never mind, little girl-ar-Miss Fos-
dick. Ill settle with Mr.. Nipple my
SELF In the meantime you may take
couple of days off. Go home right
away and I'll see that he annovs you
no more"
After the fair typewriter had put
on her wraps and gone home Mr.. Hip
pie was called into the private Office
and Mr.. Poplin asked him:
"Are you in the ha bit of reading and
signing the firms letters after the
| typewriter has taken them from your
dictation and transcribed them, Mr..
Hipple?"
! When Mr.. Poplin took the extra
time necessary to use the prefix "Mis-
ter" in addressing one of his clerks it
was an indication that the subject of
the interview was of more than ordi-
nary Importance. 1t was with some
perturbation, therefore, that Mr.. Hip
pie replied:
"Well, sir, I used to, but found
Miss Fosdick so scrupulously exact
that lately have permitted her to
| sign and mail letters dictated to her,
without my reading. She takes me
down word for word, sir, so l feel that
it isn't necessary for me to read them
over"
"The reason why 1 asked you that
question is this: I received a note
from Mr.. Shaw this morning-of Shaw
& King, you KNOWN which he asks
an explanation of letter he had just
received from this house. Perhaps
you can give the needed explanation
after l have read you the letter. This
is it:
'"Messrs. Shaw 6 King-Gentlemen: Your
favor of Monday was received in due course.
would say-I'd like sweet kiss from those
ruby hps-say that the goods you mention
you charming Creature why are you SO cold
morning. Your bird-like voice thrills me
through and through Why do you never
rived in good condttion-give me just one kiss,
Mabel, darling, won't you?-and that they
gave perfect satisfaction-Got that down, lit
tie beauty?-we beg to remain, yours very
truly-One kiss now, insist. What are you
struggling for?
'''Poplin 6 Son.
Nipple turned alternately red and
white while his employer read this let
ter in icy tones, and said nothing
when it was concluded. The occasion
did not seem to be one for the display
of ornate English composition.
After a painful pause the senior
member of the firm went on:
"Mr. Nipple, l think I'll attend to
the correspondence of this firm here
after myself, and what love-making it
is necessary to do to the typewriter I
will also look after. The cashier will
give you your salary to date. Good
morning, sir"
"The idea," exclaimed Mr.. Poplin to
his son, the junior member, half an
hour later, when he had laid the whole
matter before him. "The idea that
womanly and modest girl like Miss
Fosdick should be so grossly mistreat-
ed in my establishment, exaspera tes
me. She's pretty and sweet and alto
gether admirable"
Il rather admire Nipples taste"
said the son.
"Oh, you dol" exclaimed the father.
"Then suppose I have done wrong in
discharging the scamp, even when he
knew his attentions were distasteful
to the grip"
"No, father, you did quite right. OF
course it would not do for that sort of
thing to continue"
"Of course it wouldn't. 1t would be
persecution of as sweet a girl as I
know"
"Why, you are not in love with her
yourself, are you, father?"
al? A widower of fifteen years
standingp The idea! Can't an elderly
man defend a helpless young woman
without such an imputation as that?"
"Oh, certainly"
Then the conversation dropped.
Old Mr.. Poplin was in love with Miss
Fosdick, nevertheless, and he resolved
to ask her to be his sons stepmother
on the first opportunity. He thought,
moreover, that he would make that
opportunity when she should report
for duty.
Miss Fosdick returned to the store
at the appointed time and proceeded
straight to the private Office. The
elder Mr.. Poplin was alone.
"Good-morning, Mr. Poplin," said
Miss Fosdick, with her sweetest smile.
l. "Oh, it's you, is itP" Mr.. Poplin re-
| piled, raising his eyes above his news
paper; "sit down, Miss Fosdick. please.
Before you take the lid off your type
writer l have something-er-to say
to you rather-er-important. have
been thinking Of you almost constant
1y since you went away two days ago
and wanted to-er-ask you-"
Zone moment, please, Mr.. Poplin. :"
Miss Fcsdick interrupted him to say;
"you must pardon me, but 1 have not
come back to work"
"Ehg What's that?"
"No, sir. Fact is, THAT is-your
son, sir-has done me the honor to
to-propose, and-and-"
"The sly young rascal!" calculated
Poplin, not giving her chance to fin
ish. "Well, L suppose I'll have to be
a father to you, and I will say I am
proud of my new daughter"
Then he thought:
81 wonder if she really suspected
what I was going to say?"- William
Henry Siviter IN S. G. & Co.'S Monthly.
Observation-Disclosures