The Sully County watchman. (Clifton, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1894, 1893-02-17
| dictation and transcribed them, Mr..

When Mr.. Poplin took the extra
time necessary to use the prefix mis-
ter" in addressing one of his clerks ii
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, | used to. but | found
Miss Fosdick SO scrupulously exact
that lately l have permitted her to
sign and mail letters dictated to her,
without my reading. She takes me
down word for word, sir, so feel that
it ism t necessary for me to read them
over"
"The reason why | asked you that
question is this: | received note
from Mr.. Shaw this morIing-of Shaw
d 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 [ have read YOU the letter. This
is it:
"Messrs. Shaw & King-Gen,lemen: Your
favor of Monday was received in due course.
Got that down. sweetness? In reply. we
would say-l'd like a sweet kiss from those
fuDS lpS-Say IlaJ tne goods you mention
you charming creature, why are you so cold
to me;-mention. We're shipped yesterday
morning Your bird.like voice thrills me
through and through. Why do you never
rived in good condition-give me just one kiss,
Mabel, darling, won't you?-and that they
tie heauty?-we beg to remain. yours very
truly-One kiss now, / insist. What are you
"your obedient servants,
&
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
mem ber of the firm went on:
"Mr Nipple, 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 !
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 mem ber, half an
hour later, when he had laid the whole
matter before him. "The idea that a
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 admira ble."
II rather admire Nipples taste" "
said the son.
"Oh, you do" exclaimed the father.
"Then suppose / have done wrong in
discharging the scamp, even when he
knew his attentions were distasteful
to the grip"
mo, 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 ]
know"
why, you are not in love with her
yourself, are you, father?"
Il? A widower of fifteen years
standing? The idea! Can't an elderly
man defend helpless young woman
without such an imputation as that?"
"Oh, certainly"
Then the conversation dropped.
Old Mr.. Popln 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.
Miss Fosdick, with her sweetest smile.
"Oh, it's you, is ito" 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 omething-er-to say
to you rather-er-important. ! have
been thinking of you almost constant
ly 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"
"Eh? What's that?"
mo. 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 a chance to fin
ish. We'll, | suppose I'll have to be
a father to you, and / will say | am
proud of my new daughter"
Then he thought:
Il wonder if she really suspected
what | was going to say?"- William
Henry SiUiter in S. G. d Co. s MoNhly.