Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1901-11-18


was well-trained machine. 1t had
been running in one groove so long
that he had supposed it never could
| leap to another.
1t was quite extraordinary His face
suddenly glowed as another thought
assailed him. Was he in love?
And then his mind came back with
sudden swerve to the fact that
Helen Ronalds was about to leave
Clayton & Son. But why should this
disturb him? There had been at
various times hundreds of girls in his
employ. If one. of them was dropped
from the payroll the fact had never
disturbed him. What was there about
| this girl that was different from the
others? She was handsome, that was
undeniable. He knew she came of
good family, because he had heard the
story of her brilliant and cratic, T--s.l
financially unfortunate father. He
knew that with her earnings she sup
| ported herself and mother, and that
she had been educated for something
quite different
| He would admit that he had been
interested in Miss Ronalds from the
first day he saw her at the glove coun-
ter. Probably it was her fathers
story that awakened his interest. He
remembered the very day of her ap-
pearance. He remembered how he
had gone back and, asked the head of
the department who the new girl was,
and the man told him her story. A
little later he had spoken to her on
some trivial matter of business, and
! on that same day he had advanced
her wages. Helen was an excellent
[ saleswoman and well earned her 50 a
week. And yet SO seemed very little
for family of we, and for a girl
with the early advantages and home
life that Helen had known. No doubt
Clayton e Son had failed to appreciate
her, because there was the new house
outbidding them. And yet there was
justice now. She had said that the
increased salary was not the only
reason she had for leaving. What
could the other be?
| And then Richard Clayton felt that
perhaps he himself had unwittingly
| furnished the cause. He remembered
! that he had on numerous occasions
paid her some little attentions that
might have drawn the notice of the
other girls. And yet all their talk had
a business coloring. Nevertheless, he
rendered he had noticed that sew
eral of the girls were slyly smiling
when he had paused for word or two
with Helen.
Presently the office boy heard him
| humming a tune and observed at the
same time that Richard Clayton was
writing a letter And while it was a
monumental task he seemed to ex-
tract much enjoyment from it's con-
coction At last he cOaxed it into a
shape that suited his inexperienced
taste.
Dear Miss Ronalds, it began,
your ve10al notification of even date
conveying intelligence of intended
withdrawal from the clerical force of
our house, has been duly considered.
| While the firm regrets to lose your
valuable services, it has no wish to
stand in the way of your securing any
situation that seems an Improvement
upon your present one. At the same
time the house of Clayton G Son is
not willing to let you enter the service
Of rival without making an effort to
restrain you. Understanding that no
mere money consideration will cause
you to change your mind regarding
this contemplated withdrawal, our
Richard Clayton begs leave to offer
| to you himself, his name, his hand
and fortune-his fervent admiration
and his true love While this may
seem abrupt to you, dear lady, Mr..
Clayton finds now that it was eli
max toward which he has been has
! tening for some time He understands
that it was the shock of learning that
you were about to leave his service
that brought a full realization Of his
deep regard for you. And while he
realizes, too, that he is but a clumsy
novice at this form of correspondence
commencing late in his life-if he
|
give you the opportunity to become
better acquainted with him, it would
be greatly to his advantage. Realizing
as you must our Mr. Richard Clay
toms anxiety, will you not favor him
with a reply at your earliest possible
convenience? Very truly yours, Clay
ton & Son
"P. S.-My regards to your esteemed
mother" r. c.
At 5 o'clock Richard Clayton paused
at the glove counter. lie knew tina
the other girls were watching him.
Miss Ronalds," he said in his most
businesslike tone, ''here. is the recon-
mendation for which you asked and
he handed her the letter and with a
stiff little nod passed along.
The next day was Sunday, and 1t
was close to noon when a ring at the
bell drew him to she door. A small
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