The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1907-03-05

Z A BUNCH OF VHOEETS
"SSa 9-SSSS-&
H. IL.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ssSssssssssSsssss&
> > 81

relieved, but IL seemed TO her that
TINS quiet curiosity was bad omen
she began TO rattle her typewriter
hoping to recall his attention to his
correspondence. But he still exam.
med the unlucky violets with inter.
est, and had Nellie been less alarmed
she might have thought that he was
rather enjoying their sweet fra.
GRANGE.
Are you fond of flowers, Miss
Briscoe?' he asked, suddenly.
A little, sir; at least, very much.
That is, out of business hours"
oh, out OF business hours" re-
peated Mr.. Dunno, and Nellie almost
thought she saw something like a
twinkle of amusement in his eyes
But in business hours?"
In business hours, said Nellie vir-
tuously, and hoping to goodness he
would take the hint, nothing should
be spoken OF but business. And
don't know who put the horrid
things on my desk" she added, now
quite convinced that what she saw in
his eyes was gathering anger, and
not smile at all.
Mr.. Dunno looked at the flowers.
and he looked at her flushed. nm
turned face. 1t seemed to him that
the violets themselves were not so
sweet and so blue as her eyes. and
he wondered if he had been blind un-
til that moment
"Well, if someone has been mt
ing them on your desk without your
permission, it was confound imperti-
hence" he said. vehemently; and I
will see that it doesn't occur again
In this Office. VIII you take this let
ter, please?"
Now he is angry" said Nellie, to
herself rs she struck the KEYS with
her rapid fingers. never dreaming
how their swift motion had become
fascinating to the silent man who
watched them. The movement
showed her white delicate hands to
advantage, and Mr. Dunno called
himself an utter fool that he had
never noticed their beauty before.
Nellie was rather surprised that her
employer found it necessary to die
tate i'm person that day several let
ters, which usually came through the
mead clerk, but she would certainly
have doubted the sanity of any one
who had limited at the reason. And
her belief that Mr. Dunno was very
angry over the flowers was more
than confirmed when she heard him
speaking TO Mr. Findlay about il
with considerable show of temper.
You needn't have given tie thing
away to the governor, Miss Briscoe. "
said one of the Juniors to her, re-
proachfully, at the luncheon hour.
He found it out himself" she an
swered, and was very glad. for it
rightly served whoever did it for be-
ing so silly. It's not business-like. -
concluded Nellie, with the air of a
banker.
We'll, no one will do It again. -
grumbled the junior, who was him
self the culprit, having made a small
bet that he dared
Il am very glad to hear it," re-
torted Nellie, with dignity; and later
on that junior expressed very strong
views on the intrusion Of women into
business, and their neglect OF their
rlghtful sphere at the Preside.
Meanwhile Mr. Dunno was finding
his mind invaded by some very
strange and unaccostumed thoughts.
lie even began to wonder whether
success in business was really the
only aim in life worth pursuing. He
discovered himself entertaining the
most curious feelings towards a
young fellow he knew who Just then
was going about with a beaming
lace, inviting congratulations on tho
birth Of his first baby If It had not
been so absurd he would have called
the feeling envy" but he knew that
the foolish man could not be making
moro than two thousand dollars "a
year. And though he had never no.
tlced It before the expensive apart
ments he occupied began TO appear
strangely lonely of an evening He
caught himself wondering whether a
bunch of violcts on the table would
not make it seem less desolate. and
from that it was but a short step to
imagining pair of blue eyes oppo-
site to him. But here he checked
his thoughts in a kind of panic. and
decided that he had better 20 out to
theatre, which he found singuIarly
unentertaining
In very furtive manner. and feel
ing much ashamed Of himself. he be-
gan to make inquiries about Nellie.
lie soon discovered that she lived
alone with an invalid mother whom
her scanty wages supported. Only
by the exercise of much self-restraini
did he prevent himself from DOUBLING
Nellie's salary ON the spot when he
heard that, and he felt a quite new
glow at his heart, when his inform
ant told him how carefully the girl
tended her mother, though she rs
out shaving an day. and might be ok.
pected TO want a little pleasure when
she comes home
For another week he watched Mel.
lie closely, she an unaware of bis
scrutinyi and then on arriving al
business one morning, she found