The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1901-01-11

work
Eyes, sir" said jim, evidently pre-.
fcrring the snow frcightcd air and
slippery sidewalks Of the outer world
to the close little law office, darted
off like an arrow out Of bow.
Mr.. Perkins took out n fresh bundle
OF quill pens and qulrc Of legal fool
soap and began to work In good earn
est, when, all OF sudden. n tap came
TO his Office door.
"COmc in," said Mr.. Perkins, in n
voice that sounded considerably more
like Clear out" and a young lady
entered, dressed In culTant-cOlored
merlno, With little plumcd hat and
n neat looking fiat satchcl on her arm.
II haven't anything to give" said
Mr.. Perkins, stcrnly
The young lady sat down unlnvlted,
and then Mr. Perkins saw that she
was very pretty.
IL was not begging, sir" she said.
"May ask then, what Is your busi
ness?" said Mr.. Perkins, more frlgld-
ly than ever.
The young lady took n parcel from
her bag.
II don't want to buy anything"
said Mr.. Perkins.
II was not selling, sir" said the
lady.
Please explain your business Mt
once" said he, tartly. 81 have no
time to spare"
please allow me to do so, then"
said the young lady. IL was solicit
ing subscriptions for"
II don't want TO subscribe" hastily
interrupted Mr. Perkins.
"IIow do you know whether you do
or not" inquired the young lady,
with some spirit, "untll you have seen
the work, at lcst?"
Mr.. Perkins smiled n little. She
was brusquc, but he didn't altogether
dislike that And besides, she was
decidedly original.
Because there have been at least
three of your craft before you this
morning" said he, "all selling Illus
tratcd Lives of Great Men,"
"But mine Is quite different. Mine
is Careers of Famous Women with
steel plate cngravngs,' persisted the
young lady.
"Your business is oycrcrowdcd," D."
said Mr.. Perkins. mo; you needn't
take the trouble to show me the book.
why don't you do something clsc?'
"Will you tell me whatY said the
young lady, dcSpalringly. "Will you
help me to get anything whereby |
may support myselfF'
what can | dor
"That Is what everybody says" she
answered, "and between you all |
should starvc. You are n lawyer.
VIII you give me some law copylngr'
"Can YOU write clear and legiblc
hand?" Mr. Perkins asked
The young lady sat boldly down nt
n desk by the chimncy-plccc,
"I'll show you what | can do" said
she.
Mr. Perkins looked over her shoul.
der as she wrote, in a quaint, distinct
style, the words:
My name is Amy Archdalc. and |
want To earn my own living"
Amy Archdalc," repeated Mr.. Per.
klns. Rather romantic name, isn't
IT."
II had no hand in naming myself"
rctortcd Miss Archdalc, 80 | can't
justly he held up to blame in that
matter"
Mr. Perkins looked mcditatingly at
her for second or two.
Il should think you might teach, "
said he.
IL did try It," said Miss Archdalc
81 was goycrness in private family
And why did you give 1t upf'
els this catcchiSmE" said Miss
Amy, smiling. Well | have no objcc
tlon to answering. DO you want mt
to tell you the plain truth;"
Certainly"
"Wcll, then. 1t was because my lady
employer did not like 90 have he'
grown-up son address me with com
mon poltencss. Perhaps she though
/ was endcavorlng TO fascinate him
but she was entirely mistaken"
"Oh" said Mr.. Perkins. pleas,
write down your address"
Are you really going to give M
some copying TO do;" she asked eager
| ly.
IL am going to try you"
For the first time the tears cam
Into her eyes.
"I'll try my very best-indccd WILL
she faltcrcd. "For-I don't mint
telling you now-l haven't got sin
gle subscription. and ! was SO dis
couragcd
And 50 Miss. Amy Archdale Wake
of with a red-tapc-ticd parcel OF pa
pers under her shawl
III she Uoes them well and prompt
ly," said Mr.. Perkins. I'm sort q
mental solloquy. there's no rcaso
| can't let her have some more WORK
III she doesn't. IL won't be the frs
case OF female swindling I'm Ne,
York. Bat she had n pretty. innoccn
little face, too---hang it. I've half
mind TO go TO her address on the 81
and see II she really is n dcservin
object of-charlty. I was going
say. But 1t isn't. She wants worl