The Opelousas courier., 1893-06-17

Inc COlOIou pOEGcL SGdkCNs
"There amt no him there, sir" said
,e. s'It's a her!"
"Don't be q fooll" said Mr.. White
taven. "Do you see this card2 Very
veil, admit him at once!"
And Mr.. Whitehaven turned to a stout
mldheaded office seeker who was in the
asst agonles Of impotence to secure an
audience.
The porter shrugged his shoulders.
"Orders is always to be ~obeyed," said
ie to himself.
And so Miss Middleworth was ushered
n without further delay.
Mr.. Whitehaven looked blankly at her
'or a moment, and then his expression
changed to one of active annoyance.
"Madam," he said, 81 am sorry to
appear disC9urteous, but u time, dur
ing Office hours, is not our own. II you
are a book agent"
Frank crimsoned all over.
"Oh," she said, hurritdly, ~ am not
\ book agent. I m the new clerk
Miss M~iddleworth."
"sMiss Middleworth2'" repeated the
chief clerk.
eyes," said Frank, a little impatient
". II sent in my c~td q few minutes
ago." And she pointed to the piece Of
pasteboard lying on the table.
"Ahl" said Mr.. Whitehaven. "But
this appointment was made out to a gen.
sleman."
"It was made out to Frank Middle
WORTH" said the young lady ooyith
spirit; "and I am Frank Middlewot l."
"Humph!" said the chief clerko the
Canceling Department. "some mis-
take. There are no young women, em-
ployed in this Departmental one out
men,"
"But," faltered Miss Middleworth, 81
wrote to Judge Mellen. He has pro.
cured this appointment for me. He"
"I beg your pardon" said Mr.. White.
haven. "What did you sign yourself in
rour application to him9"
"Why, Frank M~iddleworth,' of
,ourse," answered the girl. "What
Use should | sign myself2"
The chief clerk shrugged his Shout
lers.
"Just look at that handwriting" said
he, nodding toward the card. elbow
IN earth is n to suppose that a woman
wrote that? It's the most natural mis-
AXE in the world. Has the Judge ever
9 you2"
"No," admitted Frank; "but he was
IN old college friend of my father,
and"
"Plain as daylight" said the chief
:lerk-ssplain as daylight. He, also,
:ook it for granted that you were a
man,"
"Aud am I to lose this opportunity in
life because I happen to be a wo mana"
cried Frank. sis this right2 Is it
iust2"
"very sorry, indeed" slid the chief
clerk. "But we can't do anything for
you just at present. We employ so few
women in the Patent Office; and none at
all in this department. It's an uualter-
able rule"
ISIS there no chance for me?" pleaded
Frank.
"None at ALL" said the chief clerk.
And within five minutes the office in
question was bestowed upon the nephew
Of the bald headed man, who CHANGED to
be a famous ward politicion.
Miss MiddIeworth betook herself sor-
rowfully to the little New Hampshire
village.
81 suppose they have found another
teacher tor the district school by this
time" she thought. "What can lido to
support myself and-and to pay for this
cloak and hat7 Oh, 1 wish I had not
been so foolishly extravaganza And l
suppose Reginald Augur will never speak
to me again. I'm sure I don't deserve
that he should"
"Never mind, dear, said the good old
s~uperannuated clergyman. "My cough
is a deal better since you went away.
Aud / believe 1 am as we'll off here as in
Florida. And Will can wait another
year for his schooling, and mother can
get along quite well with the homework
as long as she has you to help her,"
So Frank was, in some degree at least,
comforted.
But the flush of acute notification
mounted into her cheek the next day, as
she met Mr.. Reginald Ausur in the
street.
"Mr. Augura" she murmured softly.
'I would prefer being called, Reg
inald," he smiled.
"Your fatheris one of the school trus-
tees" she began. "Do you suppose he
could get me a place to teach &gain2"
"But ! thought you were going to
Washington he cried.
II have been to Washington" said
Frank.
And she told the whole story, thereby
drinking the bitter cup of discontinue
to the very drcgs.
"And now" she concluded, with eyes
trimming over with tears, 81 don't
know what 80 do. Only--only I must
entreat your pardon for my silly and
and foolish conduct the last time we
met"
"oh, ! have nover given that a second
thought" said Augur. ssBut, Frank
will you let a go on now with what ]
had then begun to saYa"
eyes" said Miss Middleworth, hang.
ing down her head.
"Dear Frank" he said, taking her
hand, twill you be my wife? I can give
you a comfortable home now, Perhaps,
BY and by, it win be a luxurious one.
And all your dear ones are fully welcome
to its shelter if only you will accept It,