Dallas herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1849-1873, 1870-04-02
81 Cannot Afford H."
ny GhAcr yraRY.

Mr. ST. Johns entered the fashion,
ablo dry goods store of"l.overing 4
Brothers" TO see one Of tho prppri'
etors.
'lIo had stepped out for n mo-
ment," one Of the clerks informed
him.
And, withdrawing 10 an obscure
corner, he stood watching, with n
halfamuscd, half icomicnl look upon
his handsome iaee, the streams OF
gaily-attired women that iloatcd
past him, gazing with envious and
admiring eyes upon tho rich fabrics,
Of every hue aud texture, That were
suspended from the ceiling and
spread out upon the broad counters.
Many of;hcm were known To him,
but ho was in no mood to meet tho
sparkling glanccs and gay sallics
that he knew would bc showcicd
upon him If he mr,le them aware of
his presence for Mr.. ST. Johns was
rich, and bachelor, aud lInd been
so hattcrcd and bcsicgcd by ambi-
,ious mamas aud inarriageablc
daughters as to make him almost
resolve TO always remain ono. 70
So ho stood back in the shadow,
marking with curious eye, hncon-
scious betrayals Of the natural dis
positions, little glimpscs of feminine
human nature, md which the dear
creatures would not have had him
observe for tho world.
As he stood there, tho two Misses
Parker, ,cH'ne in, charming and brill
liant girls, in whose society he had
passed many n pleasant hour. 4
They were lavishing i'll their pur-
chascs. And, rs Mr.. St. Johns con-
trastcd their smiling totiiitcnanccs
with the carc-worn face of their IA
thcr, whom lie met in the street
scarcely an hour before, hurrying
from one friend to another to bof-
row money to pay a note on the
point of being protested, their live
iy chatter Jared lrhrshly un his ears.
"Isn't II ,lovclyI?" exclaimed one
of the sisters, holding up some cost
ly lace trimmings. IL suppose pa
will seold whom he secs the bill /; but
so lie would ifit were only half as
large" 1 ,d'a ,E5e 3a.
''To be sure he would" responded
the other. "Ahd I'm not going to
let the Dayton girls toutshine me,
you may be certain. Its my belief
that they give the party simply on
account of ST.. Johns return from
Europe. | suppose they are trying
to catch him for Georgiana. Did
you ever hear OF anything so ridic-
ulous?" s.u n s-c
Never! Such a horrid taste ifs
that girl has in dress, too! She
showed me the new silk she is goif1a
to wear. Would you believe it? 1t
is blue! And she as dark as an En-
tlian,rh .o ~
That is for the benefit of Mr.. St.
JOIN s; il is his f;lvorite color. /
met him on the street yesterday
How tall and handsome he has
grownP' ra - ~ y
. "Ycs and hc is so richi Pa says
he is worth half a million, if not
more" a34s.s 4g rytE 4
Here the two girls passed alohg
out of sight and hearing, quito run-
conscious Of proximity of the sub
jcct of their remarks. a>'ht
"Good ehcavehs!p was Mr.. St.
Johns inward reflections fare all
women so hcartlcss. SO wrapped up
in vanity and display?" 'ae
lie was about to quit the store in
disgust, when his attention was ar
rested by low and gentle voice,
which aroused a host of vague but
pleasant rccolleetions. He turned
his eyes eagerly in tho direction
whence it proceeded !; aud as they
rested upon aslcnder, neatly attircd
lady, they lighted up with pleasure.
A woman would have noticed that
the bonnet, though neat and fresh,
was not of thclsltcstistyle, and the
mantle of last seasons fashion but
men rarely observe such things
All that ST. Johns saw was the grace
ful form, the fair and gentle face of
the wcarer.
"Swcet Rosejsennoxr he cfliought,
''shc looks as lovely and fragrant
as her naniei Can her fresh and
guileless nature be SO perverted as
to care nothing but Outward show?'
In the meantime Rose made few
simple purchases, quite unconscious
of the eyes that were following her
every look and molten.
us that all, Hiss Lcnnex" said
the clerk.
"A1i today z
.lf.you were thinkiag of getting
a dress, ] can show you soascthing
that will just suit you"
SAs Icann0t purchase ] will not
trouble you" was the low and quiet
reply -
..No trouble al all, miss," said
the clerk, Ebrollirg The goods and
spreading Il cut rpon the counter.
It was a heavy, lustious silk
brown, with a CLINT Of gold in il,
not uslikc the color Of the son Lair
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