The Democratic advocate., 1893-03-25
Select Storp.
THE DUKES EASTER CAROL.

The Duke sat on the high office stool
writing, The short threadbare sleeve OF
his coat exposed his thin wrist. On reach
ing the end of word he unconsciously put
out the tip of his tongue as he painstaking-
ly added flourish. The Gladiator, a
sturdy little Irish boy, was whistling softly
as he sharpened pencil. 1t was a warm
afternoon. He had thrown off his coat and
sat in his shirt sleeves of substantial blue
and white checked gingham. The heat
caused his red curly hair to cling closely
to his freckled forehead. He shifted at the
April breeze blowing in through the win
dow
"What is it?' asked the Duke.
40, nothin' t all, answered the Gladia-
tor. 81 was just smellin' at the air. It's
so sort o good today"
eyes," assented the Duke, still be nice
for Easter if the weather keeps on like
this" He turned so as to face the Gladia-
tor. He had fine face, with straight,
delicate brows above gray eyes. His soft
brown hair was parted in the middle and
brushed back from his high forehead.
''Tm goin' to sing the Easter solo in our
church" he said.
"You en- just bet I'm not goil' to
church tomorrow" remarked the Gladia-
tor, putting the pencil point to his cheek
to test its sharpness. "Ain't Easter a
holiday" he continued, "and amt holi-
day made to have good time in? Ain t
it now?"
II s'pose it's accordin' to the way one
looks at it." answered the Duke, pulling
down his coat sleeve. "Now, f'r instance,
l like to go to church, but Mr.. Hamilton,
he says that he don't blieve much in
religion, and he's plained to me all bout
its bein' fraud. He said he appealed to
my intellect. But, somehow, when I'm
in the choir, Sundays, l forget what he
says, and pray and sing just as hard.
1 told him bout it t'other day, and he
kind o laughed funny like, and he said he
didn't s'pose it'd hurt me much anyway.
Here he comes now," he added, as the door
opened and the president of the bank en-
tered.
"Hullo, boys" cried, everyone gone
but you" He was a young, fashionably
dressed man, with an harassed expression
of countenance. He wore silk hat and
violet boutonniere The Duke looked
admiringly at him through the cashiers
window
The president yawned as he stood pull
ing at the fnger-tips of his light-colored
gloves. 80, hum" he said, "I'm tired of
going through the same old thing day af-
ter day"
eyes," replied the Duke, coming for
ward, f'one grows tired ofennui." He was
proud of the last word. He had an idea
of its significance, although his pronuncia-
ton of it was incorrect.
The president put his hands through
the cashiers window and felt the Dukes
head
"Are you sure hard work hasn't given
you softening of the brain, my boy ?p he
asked. He laughed and sauntered on into
his private Office.
at was awful impolite of him to laugh
at me, said the Duke, reseating himself.
"But he's president of the bank" said
the Gladiator
"That don't make any diff renee" re-
turned the Duke. ''Now, f'r instance,
Mickey, I'm just as polite to you as if l
wasn't first office boy and your s'perior
officer, amt II
30, dunno replied the Gladiator.
Several moments later the Duke looked up
from his writing. "P'raps he didn't un-
derstand what l said. It's French you
know"
A young woman ratified the handle of
the closed door of the bank The Duke
went forward and opened the door. is
my husband in ?" she asked "Yes m, .
replied the Duke He looked at her ad-
miringly. She had rosy little face,
dark, bright eyes, and fluffy hair. She
walked across the room with a swishing of
her siken skirts that left faint violet
perfume in the air.
The Duke went to his desk and closed
the ledger. He wiped his pen and pnt
it away Then he walked over to the
dressing stand in the back of the Office
and began washing his hands. The Gla-
diator followed and stood watching him.
"Don't you want to wash your hands,
too, Mickey ?" asked the Duke, hunting
for the cleanest spot on the towel.
''No, DON'T answered the Gladiator;
"washed en- this mornin, and oncet a
days 'nuff for me. Where'd you get the
fower?" he added, siguifying the spray
of lilac in the button-hole of the Dukes
shabby, well-brushed coat.
at was present from the young lady"
answered the Duke, smiling.
q s'pose you think the-girls is mighty
gone on you, don't you p remarked the
Gladiator.
"They do seem to ike me pretty well, ~
admitted the Duke. He smiled at his re-