Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1869-08-06
ONLY A CLERK.
BY AMY RANDOLPH.


ing brown hair shot through and through
with arrows of dead gold, tipped with
Jewels
Mary HOrner, her quiet little cousin, was
as different from Cecile as light frc N dark.
ness. She was slight and small, with big
blue eyes that had all the wonderful limo
cence of baby's in their azure light hail
of a redish gold, and complexion pure
and delicate as pink japonica. Nor did
her dress compare with Ceciles. It was q
plain white muslin scattered all over with
knots of blue ribbon, and simple blue
ribbon was oil that adorned her glossy,
lnxuriant tresses. Mary Horner was poor;
and all these graceful adjuncts to woman's
beauty cost money
"Oh, mamma, it was perfectly delight
full at the party to night p calculated Cecile
enthusiastically. Everybody was there.
Mr.. st. John was there, and asked me to
polka twice %
"Did he ?" questioned the gratifed
mamma II hope you invited him to
call 2" ...H-0
"Of course did. Mrs Emmons says
be belongs to the Virginia st. Johns, and
is very rich. Such diamonds as ne wears,
mamma But Mates the favorite with
him, think !" ..-..
Cecile turned round, and shook her fin
ger with affectionate archness at blushing
little Mary.
"Don't, Cecile." pleaded Mary, as if
every drop of blood in her cheeks was
turning to fire. "It's all yeur fancy"
SIS ? Then what are you blushing
celestial rosy red for e? However. I mean
10 marry him if can catch him always
did fancy black eyes and hair like a-what' s
it's names wing a? And then he's rich, and
! Il ok1 r. ,;a
/ Mary Horner grew red aud pale-open-
ell her rosebud lips and shut them again
without speaking. How wrong it seemed
for any one to talk in that manner of Tai
bot st. John. when she only dared to think
of him as hero shrined afar off in the
height of chivalrous romance
| Mrs. Homer only laughed, however
sho was quite accustomed to Cecile's reck-
less chatter Nevertheless, she discerned
! through the light froth of words the under
current of definite resolve on her daugh-
ter's part Cecile did like, Talbot ST.
John, and she was quite in earnest when
she said that she meant to marry him.
otis two o'clock and after, girls" she
said, with q prodigious yawn. "Go to
bed, or you'll both be as pale as ghosts to-
morrow"
The girls went, and both of them, girl
While that gentleman himself dreamed of
only one.
The bright winter Sunshine was spark
ling over the newly fallen snow like a
great universal alcnemist, who dealt only
in powdered diamonds of the very first
water-the sky was blue with the dazzling,
wonderful blucness that you only sec
when the thermometer is colse down to
zero and Talbot St. John guiding his
blood-horses down the crowded thourough-
fare, felt the thorough enjoyment of
living that makes life the sweetest of all
Injuries.
''Hallo -
He regned MP with an abruptness that
brought the smoking horses on their haun-
ches.
"Grant Wyman old fellow como for
a drive It's the luckiest thing that hap
poned to meet you r
The pale, worn-looking young man,
carrying bundle under his arm, stop
ped-the hectic glow mounted to his
cheek
Mr.. st. John ~
Poor fellow ! how keenly he felt his
own shabhiness ut that moment, as the
dashing yonng Southerner leaned from
his sty lish turnout, with cordial extended
hand. ........
"Uome--in with you and we'll take a
turn or two in the Park"
81 cannot, Tabot-my time is not my
own"
s" Not your own what DO you mean 90
g Perhaps you have forgotten-perhaps
You have not heard, said Wyman, speak
ing hurriedly and confused that we
are very much reduced. II am
clerk in trimming store, at ten dollars a
week"
1.-The deuce you are what then ?"
you never were worldly. Talbot" said
the young man, smiling sadly "you don't
argue like the rest of the world that our
social disparity -"
SOCIAL humbug!' calculated Talbot,
impatient'y jerking the rein. "Jdmp in
irant-my horses won't stand %
ut is quite impossible, Talbot my en-
ployer-"
You're as pale as a sheet-blanched.
just like stick Of celery. Where is your
place %
Wyman felt himself crimsoning again as
he named an obscure street where IS CHEAP
goods were sold at cheap rates.
"We'll drive there p
Grant Wyman found himself. he scarce
knew how, costly established among the
red velvet cushions by his friends side,
"uiIe Ct. oOHn calleu out TO the OuSt0d
servant to meet them at the address his
friend had SO reluctantly named. John
son stared superciliously.
Well, if I aint hevery bit as good as a
shop-boy p he muttered between his teeth
" But Mr.. st. John was always holder
than Dicks 'atband."
What are you going to do with me,
Talbot p asked Wyman, as his friend
drew up in front of the tawdrily-dressed
windows Of the second-rate trimming store.
81 am going to send you to the park
for drive-you look as if You were in the
first stages of galloping consumption"
Wyman smiled sadly.
"You are very kind. but it is quite i'm
possible, Talbot"
Yet st. John knew in the very tones of
his voice how the poor young man yearned
after that forbidden draught of sunshine,
and exhilarating air, and delicious arrowy
motion. He made no answer, but threw
the reins to johnson and walked boldly
into the store.
"Quite out of the question. sir-quite, "
said the hook-nosed proprietor of poor
Grant Wyman's time. "Couldn't spare
one OF our young men, not if Queen Vic