The St. Johns herald., 1900-05-12
THE BCOKKEEPER'S
 MISTAK
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HE bookkeepcr sat behind his little
 sliding window covcrtly watching Mss Dolly over the top of his ledger. She was leaning rather dejeciedly over her typewriter, with her head on her hand and her eyes gazing wistfully through the window.
 The regular scratch, scratch of the shipping clerk pen was the only sound in the o...ce. and presently Miss DolIy's eyes wandered in that direction and fingered on the curly head bending over the desk in the corner. They fingered there a 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 to sing and rattle away so cheerily. and now she sighs and looks wistful and is too quiet. have watched hsr. And know what it is. She is in love with the shipping clerk Twas young fellow myself once"
 The bookeeper was not yet 40. but care and hard work had brought little gray into lis hair, and his youth seemed very far away.
 Presently he opened the door of his cage.
 Miss Dolly. you may as we'll go now. You don't look well, and Mir. Sperry will not be back this evening""
 "0h, thank you" she said, and closed up her typewriter and put on her hat.
 When she had gone tbe bookkeeper sat for long time thinking hard. He was meditating plan of attack. for Miss Dolly was too nice girl 10 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 together, and he knew what sweet, lovable, woman ly nature she had. The shipping clerk must be made to realize this. He must have his eyes opened.
 h his corner that young gentleman scratched away, blissfully unconscious of the schemes darkening over his, hlonde head. He looked up when the bookkeeper came over and sat down by his desk.
 'I think Miss Dolly is very sweet girl, don't you, Wells?" said the book keeper.
 "Yes, she is rather a nice little girl" [ answered the shipping clerk, little surprised. The bookkeeper seldom had anything 10 say. But he went on.
 .She Is more than rather nice She has lovely disposition and is very pretty, too. have been walking home with her at nights and have had good opportunity to judge. l think she is girl in a thousand"
 Falling in love with herr" asked the shipping clerk.
 "0h. no. no. Nothing like that for me. She didn't look we'll this after neon, and I was thinking of her, that's all."
 The shipping clerk had his suspi- cions, however, and Miss Dolly acquired q new interest for him. He talked to her whenever he could get chance and found, her rather dignifed and re- served, which only made him more eager tosdraw her out. The bookkeeper nh0AAtAS SAOltS cal 11C left them alone together whenever an opportunity afforded, he dropped lit tie judicious words and he gave up his evening walks with Miss Dolly, be- ing always toos busy 10 leave when she did, so that 1t soon happened that she and the shipping clerk began 10, walk home together: That young man had come to the conclusion that be was mistaken in, supposing the book keeper to- be in. love with Miss Dolly. The bo7kkeeper came in suddenly one day and found Miss Dolly crying, with her pretty head dropped on her arms outstretchcd on the typewriter table. He was much distressed and laid his hand gently on her shoulder, but she only shivered under his touch and would not lcoli up. so be went away and communicated with the shipping clerk. That gentleman evidently knew what to do. for after waiting suit able length of time-the hcokkeeper fol-