The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1909-09-30
THE BRACELETS.

If it had not been for Marion's ma
ternal uncle she and George would have
flown to the ills of poverty in married
couples that they VOTED not of; from
the straitened circumstances of single
blessedness. with which both were
familiar. Marion's earnings as a stem
ographer were not sufficient to care for
herself and brother whom mental
alienation kept in an asylum, and her
maternal uncle gave her grudgingly the
necessary assistance. This he threatened
to withdraw should she marry, and the
girl knew her uncle would keep his
word.
There was nothing to do but to wait
until George got promotion with an
increase of salary. George was a clerk
in the comptroller's Office. When he
passed his civil service examination sue
cessfully they seemed already to hear
the wedding bells. He was equipped to
take the place of expert accountant
whenever there should be vacancy. Ex-
pert accountants in the city comptroller's
office were well paid, contented persons.
however. who manifested no haste to die
or to resign.
/ One morning George hurried into the
little parlor and began to tell his news
before the jute portiere had done shak-
ing behind him.
"Old man Osprey is going to leave"
said he. "the comptroller called him
down this morning, and Osprey an
nounced that a bank the city does bust
ness with wanted him. The old man
told him to 60 and be something else.
So at the end of this month somebody
will 60 up"
"Oh, George cried Marion, .'if it
should be you.'
.I'm second on the list. and l know
Kellar really wants to quit. He's after
bank job, too"
"Then if Kellar should resign, they
can't help but promote you," said Mar
ion, joyfully.
ooh, you don't know politics, dear;
they can always help doing what they
don't want to do. That's one of the
blessings of civil service. If only had
some influence"
sOr. if 7 had" murmured Marion, and
asked at once, "What kind of woman
is the comptroller's wife?''
"a little, short, back-eyed woman
with red cheeks and a vulgar manner.
anyway when she comes downtown we
hear her talking very loudly in O'Briens
Office"
Il wish I knew Mrs oBrien.9 said
Marion
George, "unless we had relatives who
are society people; that's what the
comptroller's wife wants-to get into
III asr ~,
nary as well as ambitious, and that
| All the same, while waiting for old
man Osprey to exit, there was no law
to prevent George ard Marion from
hoping, and they did hope. George so
strongly that for Marion's birthday he
committed an extravaganza based on
his possible increase of salary. A week
before the day he stepped into Tiffany's
and bought bracelet, narrow. plain
gold band. He left it to be marked with
Marion's name, after which it YVES to be
delivered to him at the comptroller's
office.
On the day that George made his pur-
chase, Comptroller O'Brien stopped at
1ifiany's and purchased very extrava-
gait bracelet set with diamonds and
emeralds. There was no sentiment at
tached to the ornament in this case, for
Mrs. O'Brien had given her lord an Or
der to buy and bring it home to her in
order that she might wear it to uinner
to be given by the mayors wife. There
was no place for the display of bril-
liant bracelet, in Mrs. OBrien's eyes,
| like a dinner table.
| The day before the dinner the emer-
aid bracelet had not reached Mrs.
O'Brien She ordered her lord to rem
edy the omission on his way to his
office. He declared that he had sent
the ornament home week before, but
offered to drive to the jewelers. and
find out why it had not been sent. At
the shop he learned that the emerald
bracelet had been delivered at his Office
and receipt obtained.
"Who signed for it?' demanded the
comptroller. The book was produced
and he read the name of his clerk,
George Munroe.
On reaching his Office the comptroller
sent for Monroe.
'.Where is the bracelet" he demand
| ed.
"The bracelet? What bracelet?" asked
the astonished George.
| He stood blushing and amazed, for
how, in the ordinary course of events,
could the comptroller have learned that
he had bought a bracelet for Marion.
"The bracelet that you received and
signed for week ago. You put it in
your desk and forgot all about it, pre-
sumo, like the rest af the empty heads
around here. Well, you may be pleased
to know that you've got me into peck
of trouble at home. Fetch it out!"
II certainly have bracelet in my
DESK" said George, still more surprised,
s'but it is mine, at least, I bought it. |
intended it for birthday present"
"Oh, you did, did your queried
O'Brien tartly-he had come over to
Georges. desk. what is it like?'
@Only a simple band of gold" said