The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-08-17
MISS BOGGS.
Mr Rorgs lad a daughter.

derstood.
Up to the thirty seventh year of his
daughters existence the only man who
had vvooed her was a gentleman from
Mexico, who, just in the nick of time, was
found to possess three other wives
So tormented and irritated did Mr..
Boggs become that little by little his sub
ordinates became filed with fear and I'M
easiness and scarcely ventured to raise
their eyes before him lest they should call
down upon themselves some ebullition of
temper and a discharge from their situa-
tions.
Pennyboy, the chief clerk, whose duty
it was to do all the work that should have
been done by Mr.. Boggs himself and to
scatter over his desk every morning a huge
mass of papers to make it look as though
the first functionary was terrific man of
business, began to think seriously of re-
signing voluntarily, to save himself the
pain of a dismissal, and of establishing
with his savings small cigar stand on
the corner.
In a secluded street where lodgings were
to be obtained at q ridiculousIy low figure
and where the principal features of the
landscape consisted of washed clothes hung
out to dry and clouds of SCOT emanating
from the chimneys lived James Peruke.
Right across the court from James Pc
ruke lived Margaret Mullins, and between
them there existed a romantic feeling that
belonged to sylvan groves and babbling
brooks and was entirely out of place in
such locality.
James Peruke held very inferior posi-
ton in the office of the honorable the sec
rotary of the coastwise trade, where he
conscientiously performed the tasks of 10
high officials, who on their parts lent a
tone of dignity to the office.
But the love that existed between James
and Margaret was not bread and butter
sentiment, the lack of those elements in
deed being the only drawback to it's happy
contamination.
Mr.. Boggs, having attended a meeting
of the committee on pros and cons, was
walking home in very bad humOr when
he CHANGED to get his foot wedged in be-
tween two paving stones SO tightly that he
could not draw it out again.
James Peruke, happening along and
seeing the predicament, fastened to lend
his assistance and soon succeeded in set
ting the foot free again, for which act of
kindness Mr.. BOggs invited him to his
house to take dinner and meet his daugh-
ter.
The acquaintance thus formed grew
apace, and it was not long before he was
a regular visitor at the house of the first
functionary and was thoroughly posted
about everything therein, including Miss
Elizabeth Boggs.
But all this time the heads Of James
Peruke and Margaret Mullins were filed
with wild and desperate scheme
James, when he visited Miss Boggs, as
sumed a loverlike familiarity. All this
was duly impaired by Miss Elizabeth to
her father, and he agreed with her that
the only thing that prevented an avowal
on the part of James Peruke was delicate
recognition Of his poor estate.
A word to the honorable the secretary
of the coastwise trade from his friend, the
first functionary of the lord mayor, would
set everything to rights.
AS a result the assistant secretary hand
ed bulky document to the custodian of
seals and impressions, who put stamp on
it and handed it in his turn to the chief of
the sixty first division.
The chief of the sixty first division i'm
mediately waited upon James Peruke, who
sat at his desk copying report submitted
by the commander of the Ninth brigade
to the first lord of the Shot Tower and in
formed him that he had been created sew
enteenth inspector of the royal inkstand.
Seventeenth inspector of the royal ink
standl
For moment James Peruke's head
swan, and he was entirely unable to grasp
the situation.
AS soon as he could collect his senses
James started to ask the chief if he might
absent himself for the day; but, remem-
bering the situation he now held, he look
ed bored instead and remarked:
81 think-aw-I think 1 will go home
Please convey my regards to the honorable
the secretary of the coastwise trade and
tell him shall call to pay my respects to-
morrow
All this time Margaret Mullins was
quietly pursuing her household vocations
unconscious of the great events that were
transpiring.
Suddenly the door was flung violently
open, and in came James, the seventeenth
inspector of the royal inkstand, breathless,
exultant, happy.
The cab was waiting outside, and Mar
garet ran up stairs to put on her bonnet
and came back looking so sweet and blush
ing so prettily that James Peruke felt
tremulous thrill run down his spinal col
umn and come out at the tips of his fin
gers and toes.
And now cloud began to Settle over
the household and person of Mr.. Solomon
Boggs
Day after day went by, yet james
James who was to marry Elizabeth-did
not come.
Again and again did Mr.. Boggs go up
to the Office of the seventeenth inspector
of the royal inkstand, but an inflexible at
tendant said that Mr.. Peruke was engaged
and could not be interrupted under any
The first functionary was
in despair.
Finally The Daily Termagant came out
with a graphic account of a gorgeous re-
ception given by the wife of Hon. James
Peruke. at which noble persons were pres
ent in great numbers. Mr.. Solomon Boggs
read it while he was at breakfast and
swoOned.
AS soon as he came to his senses he has
tened to the honorable the secretary of the
coastwise trade and demanded that James
Peruke's commission be revoked.
The honorable secretary looked grave.
He was afraid it couldn't be done. The
had been made and con-
ffrned, and the occupant of such high
office as that of seventeenth inspector of
the royal inkstand could not be tempered