The Iuka vidette. (Iuka, Miss.) 1894-1912, 1894-10-18

ued the first speaker, holding up letter
lust come by the morning post; "see
this 1t is from Mr.. Richard Allison,
whose advertisement | answered the day
before yesterday He asks me to call at
Room Z, No. 10S Rocker street, at 9
O'Clock this morning, if | have leisure.
ff have leisure! I've had nothing else
to do for the past month. must do
what can to make a good impression,
you know"
s'You couldn't help doing that" said
Mrs. Ripley, and she looked with little
sigh after the graceful girlish figure in
Its suit of sombre black, as it disap-
peared through the door.
"Poor child, do hope she won't be
disappointed, she added fervently (;
"theres not many brought up as she's
been would be willing to work and do
for themselves after always having
everything done for them," she added,
taking up her work again with an earn
est wish for the success of the orphan
girl who, though she had known her but
few weeks, had, by her lovely face and
gentle manners, interested her aud filled
her with an almost motherly anxiety for
her welfare.
An hour later Mile Thorndyke was
looking at No. los Rocker street, tall
brick building seeming very wide awake
with its numerous windows and liberal
display ofsignboards and official shingles.
AT each side of the door was thin mar
bile slab with a list of names of the in
mates of the building. In its appropriate
numerical place she found that of her
possible employer, over the words,
seReal Estate.
Mr.. Allison's ofice--outside of which
she presently paused with Auttering of
the heart and a shortness of breath due
wholly to excitement-was on the third
flight, in coy corner at the end OF
long, narrow hallway. At the moment
the temptation to fee became almos. ir-
but knowing hesitation would
be her ruin, she drew a long breath, and
pushing open the door, crossed the
threshold 1t was large, clean, airy
room, we'll furnished and carpeted, and
it looked more inviting than she had ex-
pected. From behind desk--ot the
kind known as "roll-top"--came
scratching sound, which, with a little
tuft OF hair visible over the top, showed
the presence of the occupant.
As she made step or two forward the
scratching ceased, and the connection
became apparent between the tuft of
hair and head, the owner whereof
Strengthened back in his chair and
wheeled about so that she could see
him.
She thought him about thirty years
old, though the full brown beard he
wore so becomingly made it difficult to
tell his age with accuracy. Having as
sured herself he was Mr.. Allison, she
timidly made known her errand.
"Ah, yes" he returned; "sit down,
Miss Thorndyke."
He was not a mau of words. He
asked few questions, contenting himself
with learning she was stranger in town,
had lost both father and mother-the
former within six months--and knew
nothing, from experience, of the duties
attending the place for which she had
applied.
''You may come on trial, and see how
we like each other" he sand, and, to her
great relief, the important matter was
settled, for time at least.
81 think we shall get on" he said at
the end of the first week, and she had
taken that as permission to stay.
Gradually the newness of her surround
ings wore off, and she settled down
among them as naturally as the great
safe or the desks, one of which was now
devoted to her especial use.
She could not flatter herself, however,
on often holding much more import
ant place in the thoughts of their com
mon master than these bulky pieces of
Office furniture. She thought him the
most unsociable man she had ever met;
but he was also the busiest, and conse.
quently could not have much time for
talk.
1t did not take long to see she was in
no way confidential clerk, or that Mr..
Allison had great deal of business at
whose nature she could only guess; al
most every morning he was ont for sew
eral hours, and he had frequent callers
with whom he held long and close con-
versations on affairs which, in her mind,
at least, were invested with great i'm
portance.
One gentleman in particular she be-
gan to notice, from his almost daily ap-
pearance and the intimacy she saw
growing up between him and Mr.. Alli-
son. He went by the name of Morton,
but she could not allay doubt of his
tight to be so called.
His bold though brief look of admira-
Jon the first time he had seen her had
orejudiced her against him, and since
then her disgust at him had been stead
ly increasing, although from causes the
most indefnable.
From various bits of their talks,
picked up at different times, she sur
missed that Mr.. Morton was trying to
engage Mr.. Allison in heavy specula-
.iop, to which he inclined favorably.
further than this she knew little, but