The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1893-11-17
SkinfIini's Clerk.
A Little Love Story Tor Tele-
gram Readers.
ny BoHrMtAs.

before the head of the house was an
unexpected honor. It either meant
o raise Of salary or an interest IN
the firm. Meekly beamed al over.
At last merit was to be rewarded.
Accordingly, he assumed q deferen.
tial attitude, running over in his
mind how he should say in a siepre-
eating manner: sohl Mr.. SlSinfiint,
this is too much honor tits 50 un.
expected, etc Slsinfint let him
stand this wayfor a few minutes. It
was always Skinfint's practice to
permit his clerks 10 remain expect.
andy before him He would pay no
attention to them fer a tune, as
though they were so minute that he
could not see them. whether he
really took pleasure in this or
whether he was always very busy
whenever any clerk happened TO en-
ter, cannot be stated. However, had
heever seenfit toaddress an employee
as gentleman would have addressed
another the employee would have had
a fit. On this particular occasion
Skinfint kept Meekly waiting about.
five minutes. The young man shifted
his feet impatiently, he even ven.
tured to clear his throat, thinking
that il was barely possible that Skin
flint had not heard him He studied
the carpet; he studied the ceiling,
and he studied the floor He rested
first on one leg and then on the
other. II he had had all the legs Of
q centipede he would have taken
turns on them, and, under the Cir
cumstances; nature was really un-
kind, considering the relations be-
tween employer and employee, that
She did not furnish Skinfiint's em-
ployes with all these appendages
But finally, after Meekly had become
SO nervous that the room seemed to
turn around, Skinflint wheeled in his
chair, looked the clerk firmly in the
face, and said:
sWell?s
1t was not SO much the manner as
the tone and Meehly forthwith began
to tremble.
you sent for me2n he STAN
mered.
4 did. | believe that you have
been employed by this house many;
years, Mr.. what is your name2nl
9MeelSly; sir
All, Weekly Meekly did not
offer to correct him. The interview
opened in a promising manner. Skin
flint had referred % the fact that
hehad been there a long time. Sure
ly now would come the reward Of
merit,
As | said, Mr.. Weekly, you have
been here for some time2n
Eyes, sir; ten years. Z
And, ] dare say, have been a
faithful employee, Mr.. Wheatly?n
u have tried to do my duty, sir, 2
was the reply.
Eyes, yesl Now, Mr.. Whitley,
don't you think that in view Of these
years Of faithful service that you de-
serve a vacation?"
Meekly's hopes fell. He had ex-
pected promotion. However, a va
cation was better than nothing. So
he plucked up heart to answer:
SIT would crafty me, sir, if you
should see fit to so favor me. y
''Humphl Well, Mr.. Watly, begin
ming next Monday, you can have six
weeks vacation"
"oh, sir, this is too much, Your
kindness
''of course, the times are hard,
Mr.. Worthy"
Il know that, sir"
so your pay will be discontinued
while you are off. Good day, sirl'
Meekly managed to crawl out of
the Office somehow. The generosity
Of his employer had overwhelmed
him. Finally he pulled himself to-
gether and determined to 60 to a
cheap lakeside resort. With econ
omy, his savings would tide him
through the six weeks.
Accordingly, Meekly repaired to a
certain resort in northern Michigan,
where the people who cannot afford
to go to the seaside and who assert
that they prefer the lake breezes to
the sea breezes congregate. For q
day or two he wandered around aim
lessly, and then one bright morning
he was introduced by a friend on the
ycranda Of the hotel to a young lady.
She was petite, pretty, with an
engaging smile, and altogether
most desirable person to cul-
tivate. This first impression was
later emphasized in Meekly's mind
when he found out that she was the
daughter Of his employer who had so
generously given him a vacation.
Forthwith he began to cultivate the
young woman and found that she
was bright intellectually as she was
pretty. Now Meekly always was q
susceptible person, and the imme-
diate proximity Of such an attrac-
tive young woman set his fancy row.
ing. The first day he liked her;