The sun. (Wilmington, Del.) 1897-19??, 1901-01-28
WHY A BOOK.KEEPER !
MARRIED
BY Wilson Thayer Stanley.


"Why book-keepers do not marry
as awakened in me desire to relate
YOU why I did not marry as {
ook-keepcr, and if you find it worti
ublishing, go ahead.
had passed the flower of my
Iouth in the employ OF large manu-
bcturing concern and had worked my
|oy to the position of book-keeper
bcn the trade combinations, OF
trusts" began to be formed all ovel
c country. For four years I wa!
mt on the anxious seat, and ther
the age of 2s ! found myself the
lcipieut of letter from the firm ad
Sing me that ms the factory ha
' len disposed of to the trust, Their
build be no necessity of commanding
services after the 18th, and that
h regrets, good wishes, ETC., they
manned sincerely mine.
f'Beware the dog" ! read mechan
Billy, with vague comprehension
its import, as short time after
Is passed before the carriage gate
an elegant. commodious mansion il
pretty suburb of the city, where
Is taking walk. My mind was full
my prospects. or rather, lack o.
EN-, and suppose that my appear
Ice was no more cheerful than my
Pughts.
Suddenly my reyere was broken by
try from the house. run for you
the dog is loose" called a young
J, coming out Of the conservatory
Zen ! saw cutting across the law
Yard me large notwithstanding
ldog, his red eyes seeming read,
start from their sockets and The
b about his neck bristling will
Fe that was burning within him
bit the blood leaving my face ant
ehiver ran over me.
That to run would have been but
change the place of the struggl,
to give the dog the advantage o.
bar attack, and that the light walk
cane | had in my hand was use
in such an emergency, were fact.
flashed rapidly through my mind
dropping the cane, took from my
pocket with feverish haste a it'll,
knife and opened its two-inch blade.
fifth bound the dog cleared tn,
fence and with another he came
light for my throat. Jumping aside
an agility Of which ! had hardly
wn myself capable, ] made a wild
be at him with the knife as he
led me. 1t struck him in the sid,
broke off short at the handle
ing the blade in his body. Rip
off my light overcoat, threw il
my arm just in time to receiv,
ksecond attack. His jaws CLOSED
l my forearm and the force of hi.
6 threw me to the ground. Hi.
BID never relaxed. Rolling over ant
yer, managed to grip his throat
1lkh my free hand, and, throwing al
force of which was capable into
effort, ] gradually choked hin
inseusibility
this had transpired in so short
be that as was getting up from
ground the young lady whom
cen coming from the conservatory
Must reached the fence.
re you hurt?" she gasped, breath
&%N.
lot at all, replied.
|Z3ut you are covered with blood"
Die other dogs" | answered, la
with an attempt at facetious
&2& which she seemed not to notice.
s|3h, | hope you will forgive me-" she
1T was all my fault. wanted
ne you run and sent Jack to chas.
|s ] had no idea YOU would stop t.
t him, you looked so spiritless, q
he would attack you on the street
g11n SO sorry-but you will forgive me
3Xt you?"
sE~4ssured her that / did. fully, think
nG Meanwhile how rarely nature com
>i5lHh that lovely TIM of red hair. will
1156& velvety black eyes; the combina
|iQEthat Titan loved that Eugene SUI
4Sfibed SO charmingly in his IVAN
4ef(h jew" and that Lew Wallace
s6f4ed in "The Prince of India"
F reflections were interrupted b.
kruff voice of tall, graywhiskeret
fierce eyebrowed gentleman whom
8 not seen approach. "Pick up tina
36f Joseph" said he to the coachma'
III side, "take him to the stable ant
Ee you can bring him around" Then
Ing to me, he continued: "Befor
IN you any apologies, sir, come int
ID <Iffice and let me attend to that wris
q tnrs. 1t is much swollen"
lad not noticed it before, but h
light. The pressure of the dog
S&8had left it numb, but with the re
of feeling came intense shooting
1 that I could scarce keep iron
Hing in my face as / followed hin
176he walk to the door of the house
j(]l}1e l saw little sign that read
Pemberton, Surgeon" Afte
&Ang and dressing my wrist, O.
0Hh he had found the skin broke
}f37o places, the doctor asked me t
Inn all about the affair. AS toll
leaving out, however, the youn
Ri part in the occurrence, his fac
& serious. "And you didn't provok
b any way?" he asked. NO"
ared; "he was nearly upon me be
81 saw him, my mind being great
SNcted at the time" "What with?
WSs peculiar question, but he wa
l&ildnd of man to whom everybod
s5 lat first sight, and his kindlines
tyident sympathy impelled me t
{l}t< to him my circumstances, and
443A8 without reserve.
Range" he said, after moment
I<EFe. ST have never known that do
yacls any but trespasser befor'