Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1871-07-09
ONLY A SHOP GIRL.
How Douglas LennOx Fell in
Love with and Married Helen
ROmer.

HOW OOuSldS Le1nOX FELL IN
Love with and Married Helen
ROmer.
"Gloves, sir9 Yes, sir. What num-
ber9n
The words fell with tired sigh from
the lips of the young girl who stood be-
hind the counter, and caused Douglas
Lennox to take q second look into the
sweet face and dark grey eyes which met
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
hastily rose from the stool upon which he
had lazily dropped
81 am ashamed to sit when you are
standing" he said; 81 am sure sure you
must be very tired, are you not9"
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 Lenuox's
kind voice, and frank, honest face effectu.
ally disarmed resentment. She looked and
said:
''Rather tired. Ihave been on my feet
all day. and the faint smile which dimp-
led the corners of her mouth added, in
the young mans eyes, to the winning
beauty of her face.
'But surely you can set down when
you have spare momentl" he said some
what Indignantly.
The young girl shook her head. 'tNo,
not in business hours"
SIT is shame" said Douglas, al
have heard that such denominations ex-
listed in our city, but l never really be-
Ieved it."
'It is allowed in some stores, ;" said
the young lady.
"Then why do you not leave your
place here and go to such one2" asked
Douglas.
She gave another faint smile. 'If
you had been shop girl for four years
and knew the difficulty of getting situa-
ton, you would not ask that question"
Then hastily pushing a second box of
gloves toward him, she added in lower
tone:
''Mr. Sheldon is coming this way.
should lose my place here if he heard
what l 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
carried with him the image of the sweet
faced shop girl, and it haunted him unac-
Countably all day.
''Poor tired little thing" he said, pity
ingly. 81 wish she were my sister, and
then she needn't work go hard"
Once or twice he curled his naughty
lip at the idea that he, the aristocratic
Douglas LennOx, who was sole master Of
a handsome plsce 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
mstrimonially inclined daughters in So
ciety, should be wasting somaDy thoughts
on little shop girl. But if he was aris-
tocratic, Lennox was also democratic, and
had no false notions about caste.
And when, rather earley next morning,
he took his way to the same store,
Douglas acknowledged to himself that
his purchase was merely an excuse and
his real object and honorable interest in
and warm desire to see again the win
ming 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 adj
miration, and, when in making the
change, her soft hand accidentally touched
his, it sent a thrill through his whole
frame.
"Whew!" he said to himself, lifting
his hat and drawing free breath as be
left the store. E'Douglas Lennox, be-
lieye in my soul you are csptivated st
last and that, too by q 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 viii
that very little girl, entirely unconscious
that her brothers eye had ever rested ad-
On the sweet face, Douglas
laughed aloud.
Well, after the little speech he made as
he left the store / think you can imagine
about what followed. 1t was sstOnish-
ing how many little 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 to one particular store; and if it so
that he was waited on by any
other than one particular clerk, he had
the blues all day in consequence.
How earnestly he longed TO learn her
name, nobody knew but himself. He
dared not ask her, and he did not know
how else he should learn. But fortune
favors the brave" you know; SO one
while ne wss busily selecting
some cambria handkeTchiefs from box,
the proprietor of the store came up and
her, calling her Miss ROmer.
Douglas flashed a quick, pleased
glance at her, and the color deepened on
the young girls cheek as shemet it with
her eye.
''hIiss Romer," he repeated, 81 am
glad l have learned your name, because
you reminded me of my sister, (Oh,
Douglasl it wasn't because she looked like
her thenD
81 have no sisters, or brothers either"
said she sadly.
'Have you not2" said Lennox, pity
ingly. 81 should be very lonely without
mine, though l have only one sister. Now
that have learned your name, may l tell
you mine?"
"If you please" said Miss Romer.
cit is Douglass Lennox, at your ser
vice. Please consider the owner your
friend, Miss Romer," said the young
man so gravely and kindly that she could
not be offended.
"Thank you," she said simply. Then
pushing the box of handkerchiefs near
him, added, "Do these suit7"
Douglass was very quick TO take the
gentle reminders which she sometimes
gave him, that he was prolonging his
stay, so he turned his attention to the
hsnderchiefs.
1t CHANGED that Miss Romer still let her
hand rest on The edge of the box. 1t was
3 very small white hand, with little dim
pies at the joints, and pink, shell>like
nails, and Lennox, who was passionate
admirer of pretty hands, longed to clasp
L.. L