The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1894-11-02
SLUG SIX.

charming creatures.
But Slug Six was not merely pretty
she was exquisite-and more than that
All the boys were in love with her
They avowed 1t openly.
That is, all the boys except Slul
Thirty-seven. If he was in love will
her he never boasted of 1t. Perhaps
he was too shy Dor perhaps he was in
spired by one of those deep passioni
which Slug Nineteen called really
truly love, and hence found 1t tco deeI
for utterance Or perhaps again, ther,
was some black-eyed beauty down II
Dixie to whose remembered charms hC
remained faithful.
For Slug Thirty-seven ca me from
South Carolina" He was tall ser,
ious, sunburnt youth, and very green
about city ways. At first he was quite
in despair at the complications of g
large printing office.
''You see, came frcm country
printin Office" he confessed to Slug
Six II nevah saw copy cut in takes
this way befo'e."
II am sure the foreman is very kind
she said.
"Yes, ma'arl, the fo'eman is kindness
itself. It's the galley-boy I'm afraid
Of"
Slug Six smiled.
Hes an autocratic young gentleman,
isn't he?" she said. But you're a
good compositor. Better than the most
of us, in fact. You will get along sll
righ.-in few days. And if there's
anything in which 1 can help you, ]
hope you will not hesitate to call upon
me-"
THANK you, ma'am; you ah very
kind I'll be suah to do it,"
The boys were highly amused at
Thirty-seven's innocence. They would
get him to talk about South Cahlina
and Gawgy, and then laugh hysterical-
ly at his quaint Southernisms.
Slug Six was sorry to see him chaffed
so cruelty.
But Slug Thirty-seven wasn't such
an easy mark" as they took him to
be. 1t was not apparent at first but
they gradually discovered that he gave
them tit for tat; and quite often, In
the height of their hilarity, they were
shocked to find out that the laugh was
really on his side.
And Slug Six, who was much sur
prised at this, was very glad of it.
perhaps unreasonably glad.
There were more surprises in store
for her. however.
You know" said Thil-ty-seven, lay
ing his stick on the case one morning
and turning towards her, you know,
I haven't been to theatah since l came
heah."
Haven't you, really? Well. you
ought to 60"
eyes, ma'am; that's what think,
but nevah did like to go anywhah
alone"
Slug Six had no comment to make.
81 thought" he continued, "that per-
haps you would go with me some even
ln'?"
"Oh don't know! III"
"Of co'se had no right to expect
you to CO." he said, gently. "and If you
would rathah not"
"It isn't that" she replied, realizing
that he was entitled to perfect frank
ness, Indeed I should like very much
to go; but you see haven't known you
very long, and my parents are not ac-
quainted with you at ALL"
Eyes, maam, that's So" he said, and
went back to work.
Slug Six saw that he was hurt-and
hurt bad. She felt highly uncomfortable
about it. He was certainly gentle
man, and she had wanted to go to
"Charley's Aunt so long.
Later in the day she came and stood
timi1ly beside him.
"Mr. Woodruff''-it was the first time
anybody in the office excepting the
cashier had ever spoken his name; 1t
sounded sweetly strange from her lips
Mr.. Woodruff, 1 have been thinking
that perhaps, if you care to, you might
come home with me some evening-say
tomorrow evening-and get acquainted
with my father Then we can ask
mamma about the theatre, you know"
That was three months ago.
And Slug Twenty-three, who Is a
bachelor old enough to be called "un-
Gle" by all the typesetters, and is, there
fore, excellent authority on matters
matrimonial. now says he soon expects
to be invited to the wedding.
Slug Thirty-seven has quit chewing
tobacco. He puts $12 in the savings
bank every Saturday night. He studies
the "For Rent" advertisements with
great solicitude, and is interested to
no small degree in the price of pro-
visions.
Slug Six has new light In her beau
tiful eyes. Last Sunday she might have
been seen closely scrutinizing a
four-room fiat near Lincoln Park. And
there has been dress-maker at her
house sewing ever so busily for two
whole weeks.-Chicago News.
IN MEMORY OF ]. K. ARMsBY.