Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1899-12-07
A MATRIMONIAL SCHEME.
ny henry Irving Dodge.

John barclay of Barclay, Cummings &
20 iooheu YEARLY at the stack of letters
whlch .ne postman had just deposited
upon us 9eSE and then, turning to his
partner, VINO sat opposite to him, said:
ten you, Philip, l must have some
assistance with the correspondence. We
must nave stenographer and type
writer"
very good" said Cummings. "Shall
it be male or female?"
John looked at Philip for moment
You know my objections to bringing
a woman INTO an office unless she be cid
and ugly" he said.
by Jove!' Cummings broke in abrupt
ly. There's letter from a lady who
wants a position. She says she's 20, is
fair operator and begs us to give her a
| trial"
wonder bow she came to apply to
| u.s." said John.
"Ah, here it is" replied Cummings,
reading further. "She says it was init
mated to her that we were thinking Of
taxing on some one in the capacity of
typewriter on account Of the increase in
our business and correspondence"
wen, she may have heard it from
some of your friends" said Barclay, for
l never SAID wore to any one about the
matter
| NOR either, except perhaps p. moth
er's at dinner. | suppose my sister Julia
heard me and boasted TO her dressmaker
of her brothers success, and the lady of
sacques and gowns told her friend, and
| so on"
Pass the letter over and let me see
how she spells and punctuates, Why,
hello, It is addressed to you personality
1T is addressed to me personally, but
as manager of the house." Cummings
FASTENED to explain.
If Barclay had looked very keenly at
his partner just then, he would have no.
ticed certain confusion that had sud
denly come upon him. The fact was
when Philip opened the envelope he dis
covered the photograph Of very beauti-
| full girl, and he was puzzled exceedingly
at its presence.
''The letter is very brief, businesslike
and modest" said Barclay, land such a
| one as no gentleman can ignore. l should
suggest that we grant the request for an
interview"
Philip assented readily.
At precisely 2 the following day n
dainty card bearing the name of Miss
Catherine Austin was handed John Bar.
clay by the office boy.
Tell the lady Wen see her in just a
minute" ha told the boy and then, toss
ing the card over to Philip, continued
Il want to say one word before we meet
this young person. We have not YET
seen her, and I want to make an agree
ment with you that neither of us shall
during the time she may be in our EN-
| ploy show her any attention more thar
the courteous consideration which he,
sex demands from gentlemen"
"Ill agree to that" responded Philip
and the young partners shook hands
| When Miss Austin was summoned
| Philip took his place at the rear of the
! room, with his arm resting on the mantle
over the CRATE, where he could watch thu
effect of Miss Austin's appearance upor
his partner without being himself observ
ed
She appeared-tall, 1.-THE and graceful
wearing very deep mourning. Every BIZ
of her showed the lady, but when sh,
lifted her veil both partners were ready
to fall down and worship her She wal
womanly and queenly. / place the at
tribute of womanliness first because
consider it the higher of the two. Mis-.
Austin was dignifed and perfectly sell
possessed.
After few words Barclay dictated (;
number of letters to her to test her skill
and as the result was satisfactory sht
was engaged and duly installed.
As time rolled by every one in the QUITE
Office came to regard Miss Austin will
admiring Difference.
One bright day in June Philip tool
Barclay to task in a jocular way.
''i've been trying for some time" hi
said, ito interpret the term courteous
consideration and didn't know wheth
err it included bringing a beautiful bou
quet every morning from the country ant
placing it on our fair employees desk
Perhaps as you are tee author of tn,
expression you win advise me as to it
| breadth"
Barclay blushed for moment ant
then, with look of mischief in his eyes
replied:
Eyes, flowers are certainly permitted
but most assuredly not bonbons or low,
stories"
1t was now Cummings turn to blush
and the affair ended in hearty laugh OF
both sides.
Late the same day the firm received :
cable which summoned Barclay to Lon
don. and be prepared to leave by tn,
steams" which was to sail ct II O'Clock
the following morning.
After the office closed for the nigh
Philip stepped into fireproof vault o.
safe OF the private office, where lega
documents and letters were filed, and wa:
looking for certain paper, when tn,
sound OF MS partners voice caused hin
to start, as he thought all were gone fol
the day but the Waterman. He would
have Immediately left his place of con
cealment had not Johns next words
which We're spoken very rapidly, caused
MIN TO reconsider such a determination
and to remain where he was.
i love you better than my life." Johr
was saying. Il loved you the first mo
ment l saw you. I want Won RI marry