The Tiffin tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1868-1887, 1869-01-21


Why thc--docs he not pay her oil
somehow ~ Aud / became con.
scious that the Irish gentleman was
discoursiug to himself
Pages aud lackcys have wormcd
out the secrets OF mighty mouarchs,
aud why not shopmeu those Of their
managers ? l applied myself dill
gently to the cultivation Of Mr.. Kel-
ley's confidence. | had secu more
than the rest, perhaps l was natural.
ly more curious, and he was evident
" up to the tale which troubled Mr.
McAdaln's memory. Kelly was as
open as the day when he pleased to
be communicative, but as close as
Newgate when he meant to keep
secret. The letter happen cd to be
his frame Of mind on the managers
business. lie called her Of the stripe
an old yexation, Jozeb's mother.in-
law, and a great many similar titles,
but there was 10 getting out OF him
why he was sorry Tor MeAdam, aud
wherefore the old woman ought to be
paid of.
Another matter, however, began to
be talked among US rs the London
season wore away, and 'hc slack days
ofautumn came on. Every one agreed
that the stranger was certainly grow.
ing queer. lie did not seem to mind
the red stripe now, though she came
more frequently aud was louder than
ever, for there was room aud time to
hear her. but his ord,rs were uucor-
tain aud contradictory, his manners
abrupt aud wanting in its usual
guardodness. His spirits were some
times unreasonably high even on
Sunday, lie gave up the church at
London Wall, aud was heard to whis.
tle in his own room. Cooper 4 Gov.
erdale got letters from principal GUS
toners to some of whom he refused
goods after they had bought and paid
Tor them with others he had taken
unwairantable liberties in speaking
Of their family affairs, and there was
sundry old ladies who took consider
able umbrage at the remarks on the
elders sof the fair sex, in which he
Uecasionly INDUCED.
Cooper 4 Coverdalo came up from
Blackheath in consequence, aud had
private conference with Mr.. McAdam,
the published result of which was
that they were to give him long
holiday bee ause his health had suii-
cred from oyer.a attention to busi-
ness.
The following Saturday was rainy
all through, aud | know nothing for
downright dreariness equal to large
London shop on wet day, In the
heart of the dull season. There was
not customer in, but woman want.
ing lace for baby caps, and Il lady's
maid looking for a match Of prim =,
rose color satin; but Mr.. McAdam
was in one of his humors, and we
we're all making believe do something,
except Kelly, who loungod over the
counter, where / was clearing up
odds and ends. The finishing OF the
process took me to the back shop,
and when | returned there was a
third customer; the lady Of the
stripe had returned aud was being
waited on by the Irish traveller in
very peculiar fashion.
"Now, ma'am," heard him say,
as l came near enough, "you need
not come here any more looking for
that red stripe. We have nothing of
the kind, and never will have. Ifyou
take friend $ advice you'll give up
looking for it altogether. Good
never comes of such goings on, and
there might be somebody looking for
you, the old gentleman, you know,
that works people up to mischief" :"
"What do you mean, sir, to talk in
that manner to n genteel customer ?"
she cried, raising her voice till it
became decidedly harsh and shrill.
II want a dclaine dress of sand col
ored ground, with clear red stripe
IN it; small stripe, but brilliant" !"
and she would have gone on with the
usual requisition, but to the surprise
of the whole shop the manager sud-
denly stepped up to her SO close that
their clothes brushed, and said in a
friendly, jovial manner:
"Yes, maam, l know you want
that small red stripe; you have been
wanting it for these seven years, and
III get it for you, see if | don't, be-.
fore tomorrow morning"
"Where will you get it, Mr.. Nc
Adam p said the old witch Of En-.
dor. "Will you 60 to uncle's for
Iit2"
Nobody but ourselves and he heard
the last words; yet the manager
shrank hack rs from firebrand,
with the same look of terrible fear
had seen in his face on the day of
her first coming; and she went out
with the triumphant declaration
"that she must get that red stripe"
Things went on just as usual for
the rest OF the day. Mr. McAdam
recovered his accustomed equanimi-
ty; but at intervals, while the rain
poured and customers were few,
heard Kelley hummiug to himself
one of the comic, though not very
gallant, songs of the country. He
did not go to the club that night,
but performed it by way Of vespers
in his own bed room, which happened
to be next to mine; we were the only
occupants of sort of attic, one Of
the many corners by which the house
had been enlarged. Kelly had ceas-
ed singing, and had been asleep for
some time, when a noise in his room
suddenly woke me up. 1t was the
managers voice at a high and angry
pitch. "It was you that brought
her here-I know it was; you got