The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1896-09-03
AN OFFICE ROMANCE

"Confound It! Dockboy. how could you
have done TT" cried Lieut.. Swash pant
ing vigorously and hopping his fore
head.
He laid his hat and cane on chair,
drew from the depths Of his pocket
pipe and then glanced around the room
for my tobacco bowl It was not in
sight. q fact that caused him to gaze
upon me in mute wonder.
I've stopped" said. smiling.
stopped" he shouted. humping his
pipe on the arm Of his chair. Moved
to this fat in the skies and stopped
smoking! Man, man! What have you
not done while have been away?
You've given up" He ceased abrupt
ty and looked toward the door.
Had / known that you were coming
I would have had a little Of the weed on
hand. but thought you were far away
from town."
II suppose would be more welcome
II ! were araway. Things have changed
In the last six months. In The old board
.ing-house days Swash was always well
come TO your easy chair and your to-
bacco bowl. 60 away: return and
see you; have to journey to Harlem,
pick my way through front stoop full
Of fat jewellers, climb up five flights
OF stairs and get out my pipe to find
that you have given up tobacco. Ex-
plain Il all. Dockboy; explain it."
When the conservative house Of Jute
Brothers began to consider the necessity
OF departing from an old rut and intro
ducing typewriting machine into Its
Office ! was one Of the strong opponents
OF the innovation-so strong, In fact,
that Cyrus Jute. himself a business man
OF the old school. delayed for year the
change from our system Of autograph
letters.
But 1t had to come. For this reason
I had from the very beginning an an
upathy to Miss Evelina Within.
Against the young woman personally
! had nothing. but 1t was only natural
that she should be the victim Of some Of
that aversion. which had conceived for
the post that she occupied.
When she entered in the morning /
bowed. and after that she was nothing
to me; never even heard the rattle Of
keys behind me. although her desk was
but few yards distant.
Such being the condition Of affairs It
was impossible for me not to be sur
prised-startled. might better say
when Cyrus Jute. one morning that
was In his private office, seized my hand
and cried heartily: well. Dockboy,
wish you Joy"
"Mr. Jute. please explain yourself" I
cried. for was greatly puzzled.
my dear fellow, although you will
deprive US Of a charming typewriter"
1T Is terrible mistake" inter-
rupted with warmth. 1t was all plain
to me now. In some manner my name
had become linked with that of Evelina
Wiltkin. In reply to my remonstrances
Mr.. Jute whirled around three times on
his Office chair and laughed.
Come, come, Dockboy," he cried. II
know you are sly fellow. but why deny
this? 1t has been the talk Of the ONCE
for week. Young Harry Butternut
declares that 1t was case of mutual
first sight, but the assistant bookkeeper
IL positive that she didn't get 'em until
you began the violent scheme"
"Mr. Jute. there is some terrible mis-
take" said solemnly. AS for young
Harry Butternut, have suspected more
than once that he had 'em himself, as
you put It, for constantly hear him
behind me whispering to her. and am
sure that Columns neglected to balance
up his books the other night when It
rained that he might take her TO the
IL" station under his umbrella. I know
that Books. the shlpping clerk. sent her
valentine. because saw the envelope
in. the scrap basket. and It was in his
own handwriting, disguised. Az for me,
I assure you. sir. that have never
given the young woman a thought: I
have been obllvious to her presence.
Why. you know how I objected 10 her
Introduction In to the ONCE at all.
ut Is useless for you to deny IT," re-
torted my employer. IF I have been a
little premature. I beg pardon. But yos
know the boys gave me to believe that
there were grounds. How about the
violets?"
"violetsl What violets?" was as
founded.
'Now. see here. Dockboy. this coyness
Is depressing. You know as well as
10 about those violets; how every morn
ing for three weeks Miss wiltlsin has
found bunch Of them on her desk.
All the boys deny that they are re-
sponsible. and 30 no one else but you
could have done It. And they say her
smile when she gets them is worth
well. positively envy YOU"
Apparently every mans hand was
against me. Confusion to them all! to
Cyrus Jute. the impudent young Butter
nut, Columns and his superior. High
stule. Books and the whole crew Of the
outer office!
II deny It all. Mr.. Jute," cried. And
with that ! fed from his presence,
I thought over the violet problem long
and carefully In a vain endeavor to de-