The Afro-American advance. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1899-19??, 1899-07-22
THE BOOKKEEPER'S
MISTAKE
sEIAEa 1v'aS vaSMvawSa

THE 6ookkeeper sat behind his little
sliding window coyertly watching
Miss Dolly over the top Of his ledger
She was leaning rather dejcctedly over
her typewriter. with her head on her
hand aud her eyes gazing wistfully
through the window.
The regular scratch. scratch OF the
shipping clerks pen was the only sound
In the Office, and presently Miss Dollys
eyes wandered in that direction aud
fingered on the curly head bending over
the desk in the corner. They fingered
there long while then she reused her.
self with little sigh and began to fold
her letters.
The bookkeeper nodded 10 himself
There Is something wrong with Miss
Dolly. She hasn't been like herself for
long time. She used 10 sing and rattle
away so checrily, aud now she sighA and
looks wistful and is too quiet. have
watched her. Aud | know whit II Ia.
She is in love with the shipping clerk
was a young fellow myself once"
The bookeeper was not yet 80. but
care and hard work had brought Il little
gray into his hair. aud his youth seemed
very far awny.
Presently he opened the door Of his
cage.
Miss Dolly You may as we'll go now
You don't look we'll, and Mr.. sperry will
not be back this evening"
"Oh. thank you" she said. and closed
mp her typewriter and put on her hat,
When she had gone the bookkeeper
aat for a long tine thinking hard. lie
was mcditating u plan of attack. for
Miss Dolly was too nice girl to waste
her affections ON the shipping clerk.
The bookkeepcr had fallen into the
habit of walking home with her In the
evening, their roads lying together. and
he knew what sweet, tEable. woman
ly nature she had. The shipping clerk
must be iaade TO realize this. lie must
have his eyes opened.
In his corner that young gentleman
scratched away, hllssfully unconscious
OF the schemes darkcning over his
blonde head, lie looked up when the
bookkeepcr came over aud sat down 10y
hlA desk.
II think Misa Dolly IL a very sweet
girl, don't you. Wells2" said the book.
keeper.
Ayes, she is rather n nice little girl, f"
answered the shipping clerk. a little
surprised, The hpokkeepcr seldom had
anything to say, But he went on.
"She IL more than rather nice She
has lovely disposition and is very
\ Ii HsxV
with her ut nights and have had a good
opportunity 10 Judge | think she Ia a
girl Ia a thousand"
Failing in love with hers" asked the
shipping clerk.
"Oh. NO, no. Nothing like that for
me. She didn't look well this after
noon. and l waa thinking Of her, that's
oil"
The shipping clerk had his suspi-
cions. however, and Miss Dolly acquired
new interest for him. lie talked 90
her whenever he could get chance
and found her rather diRaIhed aud re-
served. which only made him more
eager To draw her out, The bookkcepcr
helped matters along all he could, lie
left them alone together whenever an
opportunity afforded. he dropped IT.
tie judicionu words aud be gave up
his evening walks with Miss Dolly, be-
ing always too busy TO leave when
abe did. So that IL soon happened that
she and the shipping clerk began 20
walk home together. That young man
had come Co the conclusion that he
WAS mistaken In supposing the hook.
keeper to he in love with Miss Dolly.
The bookkreper came In suddenly one
day and found Miss Dolly CRYING, with
her pretty head dropped ON her arms
outstretched on the typewriter table,
lie was much distressed aud laid his
hand gently on her shoulder. but she
only shiVerrd under his touch and
would not look Mp. so he went away
aud communicated with the shipping
clerk. That gentleman evidently knew
what To do. for after waiting suit.
able length Of tirar the hookkecper FOL.
lowed him into the office aud found
him sitting on the table aud Miss Dol
ly laughing and talking gayly. with
flushed cheeks and starry eyes,
After that Miss Dolly was no longer
digniiiei with the shipping clerk. she
smiled az him hewitchinRls aud gave
him shy. coquet,ish gianees and let
him button her gloves. lie thought her
charming and matters were going
along syximmingly. but somehow the
bookkeeper did nsE feel ~ eiatrtl over
his success as might have been ca.
pected.