The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1895-05-04

might come to this languld and satisfied
friend. Surprising, only supposing, Ned
| had an active. an eager assistant forced on
him. What pretense for work could he
find in the luxurious loafng place which
he called his office. where If one wanted to
doze there was lounge and if one wanted
to smoke and read there were easy-chairs
and papers and cigars and if one was
neryously thirsty the cabinet concealed Il
sure remedy therefor?
/ But work in Ned : office? No; if
/ through just recompense similar fate
should come to Ned. what could the poor
fellow do but throw up his hands and
/ confess? But no such luck doubtless, he,
I the unkind one was telling droll stories TO
the Judges, thus ioilying them up To an
increase of salary. Meanwhile at least six
hours of simulated industry presented clock
/ ticks enough to make one dizzy aud nau-
seated from counting. Yet he would per
/ sist Perhaps. If Nellie the cruel stern
4 Nellie could see him now, She would be
/ proud of him. And. 50 thinking, Clarence
continued to draw rude pictures on the pad
of paper before him
Atter while there was a sigh and
Gager from his corner spoke up. This
/ Is rather montonous he said.
Au is long. while time is feeting,
+ quoted Clarence, not raising his eyes.
But | always heard that You had what
Is called a soft snap persisted the Young
+ man.
Clarence straightened with the air Of a
Governor having his official portrait painted
while at the desk glonfed by his vetoes.
II deem the devotion Of every impulse
every energy to the welfare Of this Com
mouwealth indeed soft snap in the best
sense Of the phrase he replied
But il seems unfair that your efforts
are - little understood, so family appre-
eiated
There i feeling here asserted
Clarence grandly, as he pressed his hand
on his left lapel and then, conscious how
slippery spot a climax l. to linger on, he
took from drawer a placard and hung ii
on the chandelier The inscription there
on read as follows Silence Is the foster
brother Of toll
We'll. | Ike that exclaimed Cyril,
with an indignation strangely feminine.
There are mental effects which work
the surer for being unnoticed PeYhap,
II was an unheard echo Of this hasty re
mark which aroused vague surmises in
Clarence mind. He began to feel an
acute curiosity concerning his assistant, and
quite strained his optical muscles through
the determination to fuuively look without
turning his head The gloom of the day
had brought the electric lights into use.
The glowing globe on eager desk cut OF
the face with sharp shadow. but yividly
revealed the hand rapidly penning line after
line--a little hand. plump little hand
hand that bespoke rings and kisses ial
more than it did ink aud work An alb
surd little hand for man, however youns
and slight and dapper but. ali, what ;
perfect hand for an adorable woman, suei
as Nellie
Here the miracle Of early morning wa
rcpcated-ihe door opened and strange
entered There was no distinct, inde6H
able attraction about this visitor at al
events. HaySeed separated from COW
hide by six feet Of yawning, museS
Clarence, If the other one wern here
II a swear thar this one was he IA pecu
liarly obscure sentence vet it helps to pre-
pare its utterer for an impending shock
What can do for You, my man2 Clar
ence asked.
II : rather what can | do for you2
rctorted the stranger I'm your new
clerk
All exclaimed Clarence, striking III,
gamut Of emotions in a breath Ant
what Is your name.
Cyril eager
/ Ahr the corl was repeated An,
who sen, You here?
Boss Thompson got the appointment
for me temporarily, and said that after ;
few years he 4 get it made permanent
He was To give me note for you. but wher
/ stopped at his house this morning hi
WASH around and no one knew anything
about it
All! Aud may ask your qualifea
tionsy
Father keeps the only tavern wher,
liquor is sold in the southwest end Of the
county.
/ Wen. Mr.. Eager, said Clarence,
briskly, You viii doubtless do; 50 III
starr YOU off with a half holiday
Thanks said the grinning aspirant
That the sort of service m lookine
for ike the sample first rate, ~ III
take my 6l of it. Good day, aud h,
proved that the largest. most clumsy fee
could successfully cross the threshold
+ Clarence turned slowly. and, standing
beside the desk Of his assistant, lookeC
down on the shrinking form. The heaC
was bent low the face was hid in tn,
hands. and out from under that black
tightly curling hair had stolen faxer
tress. lying along the snowy nape ike golC
framed in ivory Oh. what a blind
gorgeous ass he had been!
Nellie Nellie. said Clarence softly
why did you play such a trick on me?
oh. Clarence replied the mufieC
voice, if YOU viii only turn your back fo
lust one minute. and win never, never say
ANYTHING. win tell you all about it.
Clarence obeyed, and when, in answer
to u gentle call, he did look, there stood ;
very feminine assistant indeed, well en-
wrapped in Il great ulster, with jaunty
cap sci ON masses of light, fluffy hair \
charming assistant, truly, smiling as tend
erly. smiling as merrily as Nellie Thomson
used to smile in those olden days befor
the spirit Of Cassandra had descended upor
her! Perhaps Nellie did at once tel
Clarence all about it. though in language
untransmissible; for do not actions speal
louder than words? But after a little
when they were seated side by side, this i
the way She continued: Can you eve
forgive me. Clarence, for misiudging yol
so cruelty? It's all Ned's fault. H'
kept saying You would ret 50 lazy owe
here after while that you would forge
how to stand straight And | always 5,
proud of vou-so active SO handsome
that of course l got cross and sarcastic an,
all that. But inwardly | never changed
| fu...a..o ,,,.,,ll ll, ,.,,, ;,,u+ ~, vol