The Oakley eagle. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1901-1908, 1906-07-12
WHO ELOPED WITH
PAULINE
BY MARGARET FAWCETT


My Dear Harriet: My housekeeper,
Elizabeth, has arranged everything
most satisfactorily for the reception
of Joseph Downs daughter Give your
self no uneasiness, my dear cousin.
She will not be permitted to inter
fere in the least with my work She
has sitting-room and a bedroom in
part of the house quite remote from
my workroom. so If she proves to be
a Eighty young female | will not be
annoyed by her presence.
My eyes have been troubling me
lately, so If this young woman has
anything of a mind l intend to fit
her for the position of amanuensis
To tell the truth, Harriet, the young
female has invariably irritated me
whenever | Rave CHANGED to coma in
contact with her. | recognize her ne
cessity in he general scheme, but
am inclined to believe our modern civ
1lization has made a mistake in abol-
ishing the harem. | can say this quite
frankly TO you, cousin, for you know
how | admire your mind. Faithfully
yours, john Marchand.
My Dear Harriet: My secretary has
been here just two days, but am
already confident that he will prove
capable. He is young man, a Har-
ward graduate, unobtrusive and or
derby.
The plan l had of instructing Jo-
seph Downs daughter in the duties of
amanuensis | abandoned the instant
l laid eyes upon her. In manner and
disposition she must resemble aer
Italian mother; she is dark, too, and
her father, you know, was fair. 1t
has been many years now since have
had occasion to examine the young
female at close rance. Do they all
talk necessarily and very fast about
nothing in particular? That is what
Joseph Downs daughter does. | was
in my workroom when she arrived
with Elizabeth, who had driven down
to the station for her.
She had an absurd dog under ner
arm, which she insisted on my shak-
ing hands with. She told me that
was ten years younger looking than
she had expected to find me, and that
| would look even younger If / did
not stoop. She said that she intend
ed to call me y. NJ" as her father
did, and then she began to cry. Can
you imagine the state of mind | was
in?
Fortunately Elizabeth hurried to
the rescue dnG the young person was
removed from the workroom. But /
was greatly distressed and did not go
down to dinner The very next day
began to look for a secretary, and re-
moved my workroom to the top floor.
Faithfully yours, John Marchand.
My Dear Harriet: You are disturbed.
you say, lest the young creature we
have in the house will annoy me, but
do not alarm yourself. My secretary
and | are quite secluded here on the
top floor; we are only reminded of
her presence in the house when a door
slams and she laughs. Her laughter
is not exactly loud, but it carries very
far. She seems to know a number of
people in Boston, and is always either
just coming home or going out.
One thing / cannot prevent her do
ing; every afternoon just before din
ner she insists upon coming into The
workroom for five minutes. She saws
that 1t is duty she owes me. | nave
endeavored to reason her out OF II.
but she is most obstinate young
creature. Since our last conversation
| have thought much of marriage for
her, and it has occurred to me that
1t would not be a bad idea if she
should marry my secretary, VINO, as
l think l have told you, is q we'll
behaved young man. Her coming 20
the workroom every afternoon shows
that she IS not uninterested in him.
and he appears to listen kindly to her
chatter. Faithfully yours, John Mar
chand.
My Dear Harriet: | am really not
the Methuselah you would make me
out. l cannot, of course, pretend to
understand so unusual a young cTea-
ture as Pauline Downs, but in doing
my best to encourage a union with my
secretary ! am not aware that | am
playing with fire, as you suggest.
Maurice Gerry is well born, has excel
lent prospects, and is a neat and meth
odical young man. Such an absurd
thing happened the other morning.
relate it 20 YOU to show what a kind
heart the child has, and also what
extremely queer ideas she holds in
regard to the scheme of life. mad
gone down TO breakfast rather late,
leaving Mr.. Gerry at work upstairs.
Elizabeth was engaged in some house
hold duty, so Pauline poured my cot
fee.
Just as we had finished breakfast a
servant announced abruptly that the
ehild's canary was acting strangely.
Pauline rushed up to her room, and
in an incredibly short time was down
again. She was holding the dead bird
in her han1 and WINS NUaanin,, NJ