Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1871-08-31
ONLY A SHOP GIRL.

SMcCO leiCO Odl RidJ hhSo |
his for the first time.
Bending over the box of gloves which
she had taken down for his inspection, the
young girl sighed again, and Douglas has
tily rose from the stool upon which he had
lazily dr. 2ped.
Il aln ashamed to sit when you are
he said II am sure you must
be very tired. are you not?'
The young girl would have refused to
notice the remark from most strangers, |
upon any subject except their purchases.
There are some people we instinctively |
feel we can trust. and Douglas Lennox's
kind voice and frank, honest face effectu-
ally disarmed resentment. She looked
and said:
'Rather tired. / have been on my
feet all day." and the faint smile which
dimpled the corners of her mouth added, |
in the young mans eyes, to the winning
beauty Of her face.
''But surely you can sit down when
you have spare moment % he SAID, some
what Indignantly.
The young girl shook her head. "No,
not in the business hours"
''Its shame," said Douglas. ''l have
heard that such denominations existed in
our city, but 1 never really believed it,
at is allowed in some stores" said the
young lady.
''Then why do you not leave your
place here and 60 to such one?' asked
Douglas.
She gave another faint smile. "If you
had been shop girl for four years and
knew the difficulty of getting a situation
you would not ask that question" Then
hastily pushing a second box of gloves to-
ward him she added in a lower tone.
MIR. Sheldon is coming this way. l
should lose my place here if he heard
what / said. Please look at the gloves"
And Douglas, not stopping to examine
whether he got the number he wanted or
not, quickly selected two or three pairs,
paid for them and left the store, but car
ried with him the image of the sweet-fac-
ed shop-girl, and it haunted him unac-
countably all day.
Poor, tired little thing" he said pit
yingly. Il wish she were my sister, and
then she needn't work SO hard
Once or twice he carried his naughty
lip at the idea that he, the aristocratlc
Douglas Lennox, who was sole master OF
handsome place on the Delaware, who
counted his money by thousands, and who
for certain reasons had been the lawful
prey of all the managing mammas and
matrimonially-i y-inclined daughters in socie-
ty, should be wasting SO many thoughts on
little shop girl. But if he was arlsto-
cratic, Lennox was also. democratic, and
had no false notions about caste. And
when. rather early next morning, he took
his way to the same store, Douglas ac-
knowedged to himself that his purchase
was merely an excuse, and his real object
an honorable interest in and warm de-
sire to see again the winning face which
haunted him ever since yesterday. That
she recognized him Douglas felt sure,
from the faint, sweet smile that again
dimpled the corners of her sweet mouth.
But he said nothing, however, only with
an eager glance of admiration, and, when
in making the change her soft hand acci-
dentally touched his, it sent thrill thro'
his whole frame.
"Whew p' he said to himself, lifting
his hat, and drawing a free breath as he
left the store, Douglas Lennox, believe
in my soul you are captivated at last
and that, too, by little shop girl whose
name YOU don't even know! Wonder
what sister would say!' And as he
thought of his stylish sister entering the
same store, and, perhaps, trading with
that very little girl, entirely unconscious
that her brothers eye had ever rested ad'
miringly on the sweet face, Douglas laugh
ed aloud.
Well, after the little speech he made as
he left the store 1 think you can imagine
about what followed. 1t was not aston
ishing how many purchases Douglas found
he could not do without in the next few
weeks. And from dropping in at any
store he happened to pass he only went tt
one particular store and if it SO happen
ed he was waited on by any other thar
one particular clerk, he had the blues all
day in consequence.
How earnestly he longed to learn he'
name nobody knew but himself. lie
dared not ask her and he did not know
how else he should learn. But fortune
favors the brave" you know; SO one
morning, while he was busily selecting
some handkerchiefs from box, the pro
prietor of the store came up and address
ed her, calling her Miss Romer.
Douglas flashed quick, pleased glance
at her, and the color deepened on the
Young girls cheek as she met it with hel
eye.
..Miss Romer." he repeated, 81 an
glad have learned your name, because
YOU remind me of my sister," (Oh
Douglas it wasn't because she looked
like her then y
"I have no sisters, or brothers either,
said she sadly.
s.Haye YOU not ?" said Lennox, plying
". II should be very lonely without mine
though / have only one sister. Now thai
l have learned your name may tell yot
mine?'
IF you please" said Miss Romer.
at is Douglas Lennox, at your service
Miss Romer," said the young man q
gravely and kindly that she could not b
offended.
THANK you,' she said simply. Ther
pushing the box of handkerchiefs nea
him, added: "Do these suit p
Douglas was very quick to take the gen
tie reminders which she sometimes gav'
him, that he was prolonging his stay. 81
he turned his attention to the handker
chiefs.
1t chanced that Miss Romer still le
her hand rest on the edge of the box: Il
was very small whit hand, with little
dimples at the joints, and pink, shell-likt