The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1893-01-17

INV uoWuIOpS VI GcdlS OO-eu tH4Oh5h
them.
What am doingy Mabel exclaimed
as she bethought herself of 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.. Poplin,
referring to her treatment of Mr. Nipple.
1.-The presumptuous rascal! Never mind,
little girl-er-Miss Fosdick. I'll settle
with Mr.. Nipple myself. In the mean
time you may take a couple of days off.
Go home right away, and I'll see that he
annoys you no more"
After the fair typewriter had put on
her wraps and gone home Mr.. Nipple
was called into the private office. and
Mr.. Poplin asked him:
fare you in the habit Of reading and
signing the firms letters after the type
writer has taken them from your dicta-
ton and transcribed them, Mr.. Hipple:"
When Mr. Poplin took the extra time
necessary to use the prefix Mister in
addressing one of the clerks it was an in
dication that the subject of the inter-
view was of more than ordinary impor-
lance. 1t was with some perturbation,
therefore, that Mr.. Ripple replied:
sWell, sir, used to. but found Miss
Fosdick so scrupulously exact that lately,
have permitted her to sign and mail
letters dictated to her without my read
ing. She takes me down word for word,
sir, SO feel that it isn't necessary for
me to read them over"
1.-THE reason why asked you that
question is this: received note from
Mr.. Shaw this morning-of Shaw &
King, you KNOWN which he asks an
explanation of letter that he had just
received from this house. Parhaps you
can give the needed explanation after |
have read you the letter.
Messrs. Shaw & King:
GENTLEMEN Your favor of Monday was re-
ceived in due course. Got that down, sweet
ness? In reply we would say-I'd like sweet
kiss from those ruby lips-say that the goods
you mention you charming creature, why are
you SO cold to me?-mention were shipped yes
terday morning. Your birdlike voice thrills
me through and through! Why do you never
smile on your adorer? Hoping that they have
arrived in good condition-give me just one
KISS NldDel, UdfllnS, won d yOul-dHU LndI IQey
give perfect satisfaction-got that down, little
beauty?-we beg to remain yours, very truly
one kiss now-I insist-what are you strug-
Cling for?-your obedient servants,
PoPLIN 6 Son.
After a painful pause the senior mem
Der of the firm went on:
Mr.. Ripple, think I'll attend to the
correspondence Of this firm hereafter
myself, and what lovemaking it is nee
essary to do to the typewriter will also
look after The cashier will give you
your salary to date. Good morning, SIR"
1.-THE idea!' exclaimed Mr.. Poplin to
his son, the junior member, half an hour
later, when he had laid the whole mat
ter before him. 'The idea that wom-
anly and modest girl like Miss Fosdick
should be so grossly mistreated in my
establishment exasperates me. She's
pretty and sweet and altogether admira-
ble."
81 rather admire Nipples TASTE" said
the son.
sob, you DOR exclaimed the father.
"Then | suppose | have done wrong in
discharging the scamp, even when he
knew his attentions were distasteful to
the grill"
s'No, father, you did quite right. OF
course it would not do for that sort of
thing to continue"
"Of course it wouldn't. It would be
persecution of as sweet a girl as know"
"Why, you are not in love with her
yourself, are you, father"
II? A widower of fifteen years stand
ing? The idea! Can't an elderly man
defend a helpless young woman without
such an imputation as that?"
sOh, certainlyp
Then the conversation dropped.
Old Mr.. Poplin was in love with Miss
Fosdick nevertheless, and he resolved to
ask her to BIZ his sons stepmother on the
first opportunity. He thought, more
over, that he would make that opportu-
nifty when she should report for duty.
Miss Fosalck 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.
.'Oh. it's you, is it," 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 have something-er-tos say to
you rather-er-important. have been
thinking of you almost constantly since
you went away two days ago, and |
wanted to-er-ask you
"One moment. please, Mr. Poplin,'
Miss Fosdick interrupted him to say
"you must pardon me, but | have not
come back to work."
'sEh? What's that?"
'No, sir. Fact is THAT is-your
son, sir-has done the honor to-to-pro
pose, and-and"
''The SLY young rascal" calculated
Poplin, not giving her chance to finish.
"Well, suppose I'll have to be father
to you, and will say am proud of my
new daughter"
Then he thought:
81 wonder if she really suspected what