Year: 1871

Not at all, sir. On the contrary, l find it
very pleasant and comfortable"


"Ahem but l fear that you will be hardly
equal to the discharge of its duties"


81 hope not. If you will run your eyes over
the balance sheet you will find everything cor
rect"


With desperate hope that there would be
something amss, Smith did so, but was disap-
pointed.


81 hope you have no fault to find ?" said the
clerk rather anxiously, perceving that he
hesitated.


! You are woman"


Here, whether abashed by the sudden display
of pmples in the pink cheeks, that grew still
more pink at his rather unnecessary assertion,
Smith came to an abrupt pause.


At this the smiling face settled Into an express
sion of demure gravity.


~ must plead guilty to the charge of my be-
ing woman. But though it may be a misfor-
tune it can scarcely be called a fault, at any
rate, it is one for which | am not answerabe p


E" You misunderstood me, ma am. What /
meant to say was, that there are certain duties
connected with your office such as opening the
store, going to the post-oflce ETC., which you
cannot very well perform"


"I assure you, sir, that | shall like nothing
better than occasional walk in the open air.
And as to opening the store, and sw eepng and
dustng don't know why it should be harder
to perform that office for store than for a
house."


81 claim no consideration for my sex :" re-
sumed the young lady, casting slightly re-
proachful glance at the perplexed countenance
of her employer, but | ask in common Justice,
if perform my duties satisfactorily, that you
will not discharge me simply because am a wo-
man p


Muttering disclaimer of some kind, he hardly
knew what, Smith beat sudden retreat to his
own room, assuming a bold front as he met his
partners nquring eye but with an inward con-
seriousness that he had been totally routed by
the enemy.


'" Coming ?" said Jenkins with provoking non
chalance.


"Well no, not to-day. What the ID are
you grinning atr


"Oh nothing--nothing at all, responded
jenkins throwing himself back in his chair and
regarding intently fly upon the ceiling.


What was going to remark was, resumed
Smith with quite an unnecessary assumption of
dignity, " that have concluded to let the young
lady remain until can find some situation for
her more in accordance with her SEX"


every kind and considerate in you" said
jenkins, dryly; Especially taking into view
that she does her work better than any clerk we
ever had, and for less pay too"


Smith was by no means the ogre he seemed
Aside from his prejudiced, he was II sensible
kind-hearted man. Georgiana was not called
upon to open the store or run errands though
she offered to do them both


Curious to relate, as days and weeks passed,
Smiths repugnance to her presence not only
vanished with them but he began to regard it
with positive pleasure.


He used often to look through the glass door,
watching the graceful poise of the head and the
motions of the deft little fingers as they glded
over the paper. Until at last curious fancies
seemed to creep through his brain, and he be-
gan to indulge in glowing dreams of how won
derfuly such little woman as that would
brighten up his lonely and cheerless home.


But he determined to proceed cautiously. He
had it. The housekeeper was about to leave,
he would offer Miss Gardner the situation--and
then.


Having formed this resolution, his next step
was to request the young lady's presence in his
private office, summons that was promptly
obeyed


Miss Gardiner, don't you think the situation
of housekeeper in II quiet home, like mine for
instance, would be preferable to your situation
here p


"Perhaps in some respects it might" said
Georgiana, colorng at this abrupt inquiry, and
the look that accompanied it,


Was the old gentleman about to make her an
offer.


But his next word relieved her of this appre-
hension
| "My housekeeper is about to leave me, and
should be glad to have you supply her place"
| Georgiana's cheeks grew red, and her mouth
dimpled with smiles that she strove vainIy to
suppress.


"You are very kind, sir, but the fact is, Mr.
Jenkins has spoken to me first.


Mr. Jenkins ?"


yes, sir. He asked me to be his housekeep-
er, and told him that would"


"But, my child Mr.. Jenkins is young man,
it would not be proper for you to keep house for
him. Now with me, it is different.
But he asked me to be his wife as we'll as
housekeeper."


" O-o-o-h l'


But his disappointment could not have rankled
very deep, for he attended the wedding, viewing,
with smiling tranquility, the ceremony that
transformed his new clerk into the happy wife of
his partner, Jenkins.


81 WANT to pay for three fish" said custo-
M he annrnach he'd the na Y. cnnntar of