The Starkville news. (Starkville, Miss.) 1902-1960, 1905-03-17

The shipment consisted OF three moss
mattresses, ard one Of specially fine
curled hair, dark-brown in color and
with long, fringed lashes-"
The manager flushed angrily.
"Of course that is wrong. You mus.
pay closer attention Cross out that last
paragraph altogether, and will dictate
it again. and this time he kept his eyes
on the desk and the letter was written
with careful choice of words.
AS time passed on, Mr.. Terry became
even more pleased with his new stenog-
rapher; it was such a pleasant sight to
watch the trim little blue-clad figure busy
at her desk or stepping quietly back and
forth from one Office to another He
! loved to watch her tip-toe to reach the
letter-file from the high shelf, or give a
strong, quick turn to the wheel of the
letter press She seemed so strong and
healthy, yet withal so petite and frail
that Mr.. Terry felt very fatherly affec-
tion-he assured himself that it was
fatherly-for the young stenographer.
He had 10 bite his lips occasionally to
keep back the .my dear" that seemed to
come SO naturally.
Meantime spring came on apace. It
certainly must have been the effect OF
| the season that made the manager go
disinclined to work with his usual ener-
gy. He was not i'll; on the contrary, he
had just congratulated himself that
morning on how. well he carried his As
| years; he had none of that portliness
! that ran in his family, nor even a ten
dency to badness like his brother Jack.
Mr.. Terry rose and surveyed himself in
the Office glass.
No, he was not at all bad looking, the
| manager assured himself. His face was
rather fat and his neck too short for
beauty. but he wore very high collars
! that rasped his chin, and he fancied that
atoned for natures defect. His little
| blue eyes were keen and bright, and his
stiff yellow hair stood up straight from
his head Not at all a bad looking man,
! Mr. Terry repeated, as he resumed his
seat by the desk. and any girl might be
glad to marry him. He had laid by quite
a comfortable sum for a rany day! his
position here was assured, and perhaps
there was even chance of apartner-
ship later on for Mr.. Terry cherished
ambitions as well as Billy.
He had been looking at flats lately,
and one particularly appealed to him.
1t was on the corner and the rooms were
fairly large and entirely bright. There
was such cosy bedroom and a cheerful
or1or
small to be sure, but plenty big enough
for two-and the manager leaned back
in his chair and closed his eyes to better
enjoy the picture his imagination fur
nished The girl opposite him at the ta-
Bile wore blue tailor-made suit, and she
had curly brown hair, and long, fringed
lashes.
Excuse me, Mr.. Terry, is anything the
matter?" The .janitor at the door sur
veyed him anxiously.
why no; what made you think so,
my good fellow"
well, you see, sir, it's close on to
eight O'Clock; the elevators stopped
running some time ago, and I'm ready to
lock up for the night. was afraid you
were sick, sir. SO
mot at all; I stayed late because r.
ahem! had problem to work out. It's
solved now, janitor, and I'm ready to
go home" and Mr.. Terry walked down
IL flights of stairs with his head among
the clouds.
1t was ten o'clock the next morning be-
fore, the manager reached the office; he
had stopped for a final glance at the fiat,
for, as he assured the agent, his mind was
entirely, or almost entirely, made up; he
was quite sure that he would engage it,
and the agent might expect positive
answer in day or two. AS he glanced at
the girl before the typewriter and re-
sponded to her cheerful good morning"
Mr. Terry thought he had been very re-
miss not to engage the fat before coming
down town.
May { speak to you amoment, Mr..
Terry" It was Howard, the chief clerk.
who paused respectfully at the mana
gers door.
.Certainly, come right in." Mr. How
sard entered and closed the door.
II wish to ask favos, sir. You know
II have been in your employ for many
Years, and have never asked for vaca-.
zion; but would like very muchto have
a holiday next month. Do you think you
fcould arrange It"
1sWell. / don't know, the managers.
voice was doubtful. Il was thinking OF
taking holiday. myself about that
time.