The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1899-07-13
AN OFFICE IDYL.

WAS leaning rather ueJec'SuiJ W. ~
typewriter with her bead on ner many
and her eyes gazing wlstfuily through
the window.
The regular scratch, scratch OF tho
obinninp clerks pen was the only
sound in the office, and presently MISS
Doilv,s owes wandered in that direction
and fingered on the curly head bond
inc over the desk in the corner. Ihey
fingered there Il long while, then shc
reused herself with little sign ana
began to fold her letters.
The bookkeepcr nodded to himself.
"There is something wrong with
Miss Dolly. She hasn't been like her
self for u long time. She used to sing |
and rattle away so cheerily, and now
she sighs and looks witcful and is too
quiet. | have watched her. And
know what it is. She is in love with
the shipping clerk. was young fell
low myself once"
The bookkeeper was not yet forty,
but care and hard work had brought D
little gray into his hair and his youth
seemed very far away.
Presently he opeucd the door OF his
"Miss Dolly, you may as we'll go now;
you don't look well, and Mr.. Srcrry
will not be back this evening"
Miss Dolly looked up grateluliy'
ooh, thank you !" she said, and
closed up her typewriter ana put on
her hat.
When sho had gono tho 5ookkcepcr
sat for q long while thinking hard. lie
was meditating n plan OF attack, Tor
Miss Dolly was too nice girl to waste
her affections on tho shipping clerk.
Tho bookkeeper had fallen into the
habit of walking homo with her in the
evening, their roads lying together,
and he knew what sweet, lOSaDlc,
womanly nature sho had. The ship.
ping clerk must be made to realize
this he must have his eyes opened
In his corner that young gentleman
scratched away, blssfully unconscious
OF tho schemes darkoning over his
blonde head. He looked up when the
bookkeeper camc over and sat down by
his desk.
~ thiuk Miss Dolly is Il very sweet
girl, don't you, Wells 20 said the book
keeper.
Yes, she is rather nice little
GIRL" answered the shipping clerk, Il
little surprised. The bOokkccpcr sol
dom had anything to say. But he went
She is moro than Rather nice.
She has u lovely disposition and is
very pretty, too. have been walking
home with her at nights and have had
good opportunity to Judge. | think
she is girl in a thousand
Falling in lovc.with her." asked
the shipping clerk.
oh, no, no. Nothing like that for
me. She didn't look well this after
noon, and was thinking Of hcr, that's
all"
The shipping clcrk had his suspi-
cions, however, and Miss Dolly ac.
quired now interest for him. Ii,
talked to her whenever ho could get {,
chance and found hor rather dignilict
and reserved, which only made h,n
moro eagor to draw her ont. Nh,
bookkecper helped matters along al
he could. He left them alone togcthc
whenever an opportunity afforded, H.
dropped little judlciOus words and h
gave up his evening walks with Mis-
Dolly, bcing always too busy to leav
whom she did, SO that 1t soon happcnc
that she and the shipping clerk hcga
to walk homo together. That youn
gentleman had como TO tho conclusio
that he WAS mistaken in supposing tn
hOokkeeper to bD in lovo with Mis-
Dolly. The bookkoeper camc in sud
denly one day and found Miss Doll,
crying, With her pretty head droopc,
on her arm OutstrctchCu on the type
writer table.
He was much distressed and laid hi
hand gently on her shoulder, but sh,
only shivered under his touch an,
would not look up, 80 he won't ava,
aud communicated with the shipping
clork. That gentleman evidently kncv
what to do, for after waiting 3 s"i:"b!t
length Of time, tho book eepcr follow
ed him into the Office and found hin
sitting on the table and Miss Don,
laughing. and talking gayly, will
flushed checks and starry eyes.
After that Miss Dolly was no logger
dignitied with the shipping clerk. Stn
smiled at him bcwitchinallYy and CAV
him shy, coquettish- Thlanccs and lie
him button ~hacr gloves. He though
her chars ming and mattcrs were goin,
alor-;Ig swimmingly, but somehow tn
bookkeeper did not feel SO clatcd owe
his success as might havo been expect
cd.
Thero was curious ache at hi
heart and he began to focl most un
reasonable dislike toward tho shippin,
clerk. What an impudcnt young fol
low he was; he positively forced hi:
attentions upon Miss Dolly Was he
the man for her? Tho book keeper
had meant 1t all for her good, but had
he done the wisest thing He never
could manage to walk home with her
NJ aI now ana nc missed the little
condolences she had been wont to give
him. She hardly ever spoke to him
nowadays, she even appeared to avoid
him and ho turned to his work with a
sigh.
One evening he watched them going
away together and he noticed what a
handsome clean-limbed young follow
the shipping clerk was and how dain
tlly Miss Dolly lifted her skirts, and
what handsome couple they made
and he turned away to tho little mir
ror and scrntinizod with earnest ewes
the lace that greeted him there. He
noted bitterly the gray sprinklcd in the
dark hair and the wrinkles about the
eyes and the grave mouth.
What u fool | have been - he cried
Passlonately. All, poor, clumsy, great.
hearted spider, caught in tho web he
mad so carefully woven for the unsus.
pecting fly
But now that he had begun this
work he would not so back. no ny, n