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

street,"
Then she retired in high dudgeon
to her own little office; the other
clerks looked at each other, wonder
ing who was the culprit this time:
and Mr.. Dunno, their stern and
dreaded employer; who had been
standing just by the open door. sat
down heavily on a chair, his face
white as ghosts.
That was meant for me-" he said
| despairingly, with all lovers lack
OF logic.
And meantime Nellie was saying
to herself:
Those men are just too horrid.
Mr.. Dunno will be sending me away
III he sees any more of it., and then
what will mother do?"
She could not repress a tear or two
at this thought; but she felt reas-
sured when for a day or two no
more flowers appeared. Her spirits
returned, and then one morning she
again found bunch of violets on her
desk
Its just too bad" she said an
grily, and then added relenting a lit
tie as she inhealed their fresh and
inspiring fragrance; but they are
lovely. l wish l dared keep them"
She felt they ought to be flung
with contempt into the waste-bas-
ket, but she dallied. lacking the
heart. Then she heard a well-known
step behind her, and in a panic she
hurried them into a drawer, turning
with rather white face to see Mr..
Dunno entering
Can you take this for me, Miss
Briscoe?' he asked, glancing round
the room, and for all his impassive,
business-like air, his heart sinking
as he saw no sign of his violets.
She sat down to her machine,
rather wondering what this seeming
ly important letter could be, and her
wonder increasing at the very ordi-
nary communication he dictated.
Does 1T seem to you, Miss Bris-
coe, said Mr.. Dunno, when he had
finished. feeling that he must make
some reference to his Offering, that
there is peculiar odor in the
ROOM"
II hadn't noticed anything un-
pleasant, sir" answered Nellie. her
face red as fire.
Not unpleasant. not at all un-
pleasant" corrected Mr.. Dunno
Nellie made no answer, and Mr..
Dunno came to the conclusion that
she knew all about his offerings and
wished to show how unwelcome they
were. Had not his instincts as a
business man been much sounder.
than his instincts as lover. it is
highly probable that Mr.. Dunno
would by now have been in the bank
ruptcy court instead of being one OF
the most substantial business men in
the city
Miss Briscoe,' he said. in gloomy
despair; about that account Of Rea
& Saunders, it is in here, is it not?"
To Nellie's despair he laid hold Of
the drawer in which she had placed
the violets and jerked it open. She
wished the earth would open and
swallow her as she saw his start OF
surprise. He did not speak at first,
and she supposed him too angry.
Presently he said:
Briscoe-er-er-
Gracious" thought Nellie in
panic, hes so wild he can't even
speak coherently." Her only hone
became that when he discharged her
on the spot he would at least give
her a months salary in lieu Of notice
Il didn't bring them. Mr.. Dunno"
she said, in despair; it's only some
silly fellow who doesn't know any
better, and oh, can't help it,"
Some silly fellow" he repeated.
ruefully. Il thought you liked vio-
lets?"
"Oh, yes; but this is in business
hours. In business"
Hang businessi" interrupted Mr..
Dunno
Hang business" echoed Nellie.
doubtful il she had heard Alright.
Hang business," repeated Mr..
Dunno. firmly. Il put them on your
desk" he avowed
You!" exclaimed Nellie. and her
eyes opened so wide that Mr.. Dunno
had to fight against an insane desire
to kiss her
~ put the orchids there too" no
continued, watchin her apprehen-
sively
Gracious" said Nellie. and then
she began TO cry, quietly And
thought YOU were so good. she
sobbed; and yet YOU can insult
poor. defenseless girl"
REFRESHING her tears as best she
could. she got off her chair ana be-
gan TO grope for her hat and jacket.
Mr. Dunno watched her with bcwild-
cred despair and said TO himself that
he might have known better than
suppose so lovely a girl could ever
think favOrably of him. though IT.
was hard TO have his attentions
called insulting
You are not going" he asked
timidly
How can ] stay here after that2"
she demanded OF always felt Won
were so kind and just and to- think
you would make fun of me. oh.
wish / were dead"
Fun of you2" me said. and some.
thing i'm his tone arrested her attcn-
ton IT'S deadly earnest to- me-"
he cried it's deadly earnest to- me
Oh, Nellie, dear! les deadly earnest
90 me
She looked at him doubtfully. for