The Portland daily press., 1893-04-15

thin leaves and squeezed them in; the
love letter next to the one beginning:
"DEAR SIR-Y ours of the 23d received
and the contents noted"
Peters got the corner curled letters,
still damp, and put them all in their
right envelopes and Sadie got hers in
due time, but did not know enough
about business correspondence to know
that her first love letter was written in
copying ink and had been through the
press.
Next day when old man Bentham was
looking over the leaves of the previous
days letters he suddenly began to chuc-
kle to himself. Old l3entham had very
comfortable, good natured, well to do
chuckle that was. pleasure to hear
Even Peters almost smiled as he heard it.
'sPeters!"
eyes, SIR"
"Haye you all the letters, Peters, that
these letters are the answers tor"
Certainly, SIR
"There is one | want to see, Peters,"
''What is the name, please?"
"Petty. did not know that we dealt
IN this line OF goods, Peters,"
"H. w. Petty, STRIP
ssIdidn't know the initials. Here's the
letter."
Peters was stricken. He was appalled,
-dumb-blind. The words Darling
Petty" danced before his eyes. He felt
his hair beginning to raise The book
did not fall from his hand simply be.
cause he held it echanically-method
ically. Old Bentham reared, then closed
the door so that the clerks would not
hear his mirth.
"That's one on you, Peters. It's too
good to keep. must tell that down at
the club"
ST wouldn't if I were you, SIR" said
Peters, slowly recovering his senses as
he saw the old man had no suspicion
how the land lay.
'No, / suppose it wouldn't be quite
the square thing. But of all men in
the world, Peters-you! Why do you
elope? Why not marry her respectfully
at the church or at home? You'll regret
going off like that all your life."
''Miss - he--that is-prefers it that
way"
"Oh, romantic, is she? Iwouldn't do
it, Peters,"
"There are other reasons"
"Father or mother against, as usual, /
suppose. Well, you refer them to me,
Peters. I'll speak good word for you.
But what am | to do while you are
away"
"I-thought perhaps perhaps john
son would take my place."
"All right, | can put up with johnson
for a week, maybe, but think of me and
get back as soon as she'll let you"
If old Mr.. Bentham did not mention it
at the club he did at home.
"You remember Peters, Sadie. No,
no! that was johnson. Peters is in my
room, you know. No, the redheaded
man is Farnam. He's in the other room.
Peters has the desk in the corner. Staidest
fellow on the street. Ever so much
older than l amin manner of course.
The last man in the city you would sus-
pect of being in love. Well, he wrote"
land so Mr.. Bentham told the story.
Sadie kissed him somewhat hysteric-
ally when he promised to say a good
word for Peters, and said he was very
kindhearted.
''Besides, papa, you ought to havs a
partner in the business. There is no com
pany, you know"
s'Bless you, my child, what has Peters
wedding to do with the company? He
is taking the partner, not me. I can't
take Peters into partnership merely be-
cause he chooses to get married.
''Oh, | thought that was customary"
said Sadie.
There was no elopernent after all.
The clerks cay that it was the conscien-
tious Peters that persuaded Sadie out of
it. But as the old man found he had to
give way it came to the same thing.
fSadie," the old man said, 81 think
I'll change the name of the firm. I'll
retire and it will be after this, sBentham,
Husband & Co. Luke Sharp in Buff
falo News.