Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1899-08-05

~MNN,, ing Miss Dolly owe
YSssk<s@ the top of his led
- ger. She was lean
ing rather detected
ly over some work she had just fin
ished on her typewriter, with her hca'
on her hand and her eyes gazing wist
fully.
The regular scratch, scratch of thu
shipping clerks pen was the only
sound in the office, and present.,
Miss Dolly's eyes wandered in tina
direction and fingered on the curly
head bending over the desk in the
corner. They fingered there long
while, then she reused herself with {
little sigh and began to fold her let
ters.
The bookkeeper nodded to himself
"There is something wrong witt
Miss Dolly. She hasn't been like
herself for long time. She used te
sing and rattle away SO cheerily, and
now she signs and looks wistful and is
too quiet. I have watched her. AND
I know what it is. She is in love
with the shipping clerk. I was q
young fellow myself once"
The bookkeeper was not yet forty,
but care and hard work had brought
a little gray into his hair, and his
youth seemed very fur away.
Presently he opened the door of his
cage.
"Miss Dolly, you may rs we'll GO
now. You don't look well, and Mr..
Sperry will not be back this evening"
ooh, thank you." she said, and
closed up her typewriter and put on
her hat.
When she had gone the bookkeeper
sat for long time thinking hard. He
was meditating plan of attack, for
Miss Dolly was too nice girl to
waste her affections on the shipping
clerk. The bookkeeper had fallen
into the habit of walking home with
her in the evening, their roads lying
and he knew what sweet,
lovable, womanly nature she had.
The shipping clerk must be made to
realize it. He must have his eyes
opened.
In his corner that young gentleman
scratched away, blissfully unconscious
Of the schemes darkening over his
blonde head. He looked up when
the bookkeeper came over and sat
down by his desk.
II think Miss Dolly is a very sweet
girl, don't you, Wells?" said the
bookkeeper.
"Yes, she is rather n nice little
GIRL" answered the shipping clerk, a
little surprised. The bookkeeper
seldom had anything to say. But he
went on.
"She is more than rather nice.
She has lovely disposition and is
very pretty, too. / have been walk
ing home with her at nights and I
have had good opportunity to Judge.
| think she is girl in thousand"
"Falling in love with her?" asked
The shipping clerk.
"Oh, no, no. Nothing like that
Tor me. She didn't look we'll this
afternoon, and I was thinking of her,
that's ALL"
The shipping clerk had his sus-
picions, however, and Miss Dolly nc
luired new interest for him. He
talked to her whenever he could get
chance and found her rather digni-
fed and reserved, which only made
him more eager to draw her out. The
bookkeeper helped matters along all
he could. He left them alone to-
gether whenever an opportunity af-
forded, he dropped little judicious
words and he gave up his evening
walks with Miss Dolly, being always
too busy to leave when she did, so
that it soon happened that she and
The shipping clerk began to walk
home together. That young man had
zone to the conclusion that he was
mistaken in supposing the bookkeeper
10 be in love with Miss Dolly. The
Dookkeeper came in suddenly one
lay and found Miss Dolly crying,
with her pretty head dropped on her
arms outstretched on the typewriter
able.
He was much distressed and laid
his hand gently on her shoulder, but
'he only shivered under his touch
md would not look up, so he went
away and communicated with the
shipping clerk. That gentleman evil
lently knew what to do, for after
waiting suitable length of time the
followed him into the
office and found him sitting on the
able and Miss Dolly laughing and
:alking gayly, with flushed cheeks
md starry eyes.
After that Miss Dolly was no longer
lignified with the shipping clerk.
She smiled Mt him bewitchingly and
gave him shy, coqusttish glances and
ct him button her gloves. He
thought her charming and matters
we're going along swimmingly, but
somehow the bookkeeper did not feel
10 elated over his success as might
have been expected
There was a curious ache at his
,eart, and he began to feel most I'M
dislike toward the shipping
'lerk. What an impudent young fell
ow he was; he positively forced his
upon Miss Dolly! Was he
he man for her? The bookkeeper had
meant it for her good, but had he done
he wisest thing? He never could
to walk home with her at all
low and he missed the little condolences