The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-04-14

very proud, Sallie."
lis this proposal, Bobbie?"
"Yes," said /, looking her over.
"Well. Bobbie refuse you. dye hear ?
and | hope it will break your heart"
Now, that isn't nice-to refuse me,
Sallie."
But they'll keep on throwing us to-
| gether." said she. You can help me
out bit. The fact isl can't tell you.
But you will oblige me TO keep on pre-
tending, with the distinct understand
ing, sir, that you are refused by me
for all time"
whats the game, Sallie-another
man?"
"Oh, bother; do you suppose would
tell you if there was? It's because /
want il So"
"All right" said /, SITS a CO." And
we kept on pretending, and / getting
all the time rather interested in Sallie.
Now one morning when reached the
Office. Jobson, the head clerk, said to
Inc, as sat over the mail.
Miss Ralph goes to-day. SIR" Miss
Ralph was the stenographer.
"Got another?" said /.
There's been n hundred and seven
applicants. I've about decided on one
Shes recommended by the pastor of
my church" Jobson is n very serious,
elderly man, an invaluable accountant.
"The only trouble, Mr.. Merrivale, is that
she's rather pretty"
j looked up. "Now didn't tell you,
Jobson, that ! didn't want her to be
pretty. II distracts ones attention"
"Yes, sir, / know" Jobson put in.
"Prettiness in n stenographer some
times spoils the continuity of an i'm
portant letter"
"Yes, / would, In fact, dictate 10 n
phonograph, if the dictation would be
corrected. But corrections bring in the
stenographer again"
"Oh, there are Others" said Jobson.
"Only want TO please Mr.. Smythe, who
recommended her, and she's very quiet
and ladylike."
''Is she out there?"
"Yes, SIR"
"show her in. I'll look her.over and
decide"
And buried myself in the mail again.
The door shut, and opened.
Take a chair" said i. Ten minutes
must have passed before remembered
that was q very important letter;
nut still studying II, and without look
ing up, remembered, and said:
whats your name?"
"Clarissa Henlow," said one OF the
prettiest voices ever have heard. /
looked up in some surprise--the voice
so expresses woman; and this seemed
to me the voice of one TO the manor born.
She was still standing; young girl,
rot more than eighteen, with a thin,
piquant face, framed with dark, brown
hair, and expressed by large, dark eyes,
which seemed to have that moment an
expression of merriment that sudden
ly turned 10 seriousness.
Il beg your pardon; l was so busy
with the mail" stammered. "Do take
n chair. Mr.. Jobson says you are high
ly recommended"
'It was very good of Mr.. Smythe;
he is our minister"
II have had three months expert
ence with Wolf g. Stern"
"Ah, they failed; that threw you out
of position"
"Yes, sir"
81 shall be very glad to have you try II,
Miss Henlow," / said. What in the
world had become of my objection to
IL T.
thinkp But then IL she were efficient,
that, after all, wasn't reasonable OBJ
lection. Jobson thought she would do;
his opinion should be sufficient.
IF you will be here tomorrow at
nine-thirty, we will begin" said. IL
usually have about thirty letters at
that hour"
Thank you much. Mr.. Mcrrivalc," she
said, rising. Good morning. sir
Good morning, Miss lIenow."
"Now," said ! TO myself, IL don't like
the way she says sir 1t sounds too
servile for her" And I went into my
mail again, 20 hear Jobson's voice over
my shoulder.
Its all right, Mr.. Merrivale? Her
prettiness was no objection?"
"An objection, of course, Jobson,"
snid, severely. But you recommended
her so highly that overlooked that"
The next morning found Miss Hen
low awaiting, pencil and notebook in
hand. She looked abominably sretty.
and now that her hat was off, her hair
was remarkably fine, and her hands
very pretty and slender.
"You ore prompt" / remarked.
"Yes, sir"
please don't say sir" interrupt
ed. irritably.
"Oh, beg your pardon" she began
with little blush, which made me feel
uncomfortable.
You know I'm not your superior
socially" | went on. feeling very fool
ish. declare never felt more foolish
my life. She said nothing.
Now, here's the first letter." began.
The words went on; | ratified of
do1on tf'rbnt v.fl1 In 70, ,L, ,,ro.o.~,