The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1871-11-24
Only q Shop Girl.

Only shop GlrL
"Gloves, sir? Yes, sir. What num-
ber?n The words tell with little sigh
from the lips of the young girl who
stood behind the counter, and caused
Douglas LennoX to take a second look
into the sweet face and dark 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 Doug
las hastily rose from the stool upon
which he had laZily dropped.
Il am ashamed to sit when yOu are
standing" he said. ~ am sure you
must be tired. Are you not ~
The young girl would have refused TO
notice . remark from most strangers
upon any subject except their purchases;
but there are some people we instinct
lively feel we can trust, and Douglas
Lennox's voice and frank, honest face
effectually disarmed resentment. She
looked up 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 10 the winning
beauty of her face
"But surely YOU can sit down when
you have a spare moment he said,
somewhat Indignantly.
The young girl shook her head.
NO, not in business hours"
at is a shame" said Douglas. ~
have heard that such denominations eX-
listed in our city, but l never really be-
lieved it."
''Itis allowed i'm some establishments"
said the young lady.
"Then why you not leave your place
here and 90 to one of them" asked
Douglas.
She gave another faint smile
'If You had been a shop girl for four
years and knew the difficulty of getting
a situation you would not ask that ques-
ton" Then, hastily pushing a second
box of gloves toward him, she added, in
4 lower tone, "AIr. Sheldon is coming
this way. / should lose my place here
if lac 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
pair, paid for them and left the shop.
But he carried with him the image
of the sweet-faced shop girl, and il
haunted him unaccountably all day.
''POor tired little thingr' he said,
pityingly, II wish she We're my sister,
and then she needn't work so hard.n
Once or twice he curled his naughty lin
Douglas LennOX, who was sole master
of an estate in the country, who counted
his money by thousands, and who had
been for several reasons the lawful prey
of all the managing mammas and matri-
monially inclined daughters in 'soci-
ety." should be wasting so many
thoughts on little shop girl.
But if he was aristOcratic, LennoX had
no false notions about the disgrace o
labor. The little shop girl held the
same claim to honor in his mind that
she would have held had she been q
queen.
And when, rather early next morning
he took his way 10 the shop, Dougla:
acknowledged to himself that his pur-
chase was merely an excuse, and hi.
real object an honest interest in, and {
warm desire TO see again, the winning
face which had haunted HIM since yes
terday.
That she recognized him he felt sure
from the faint, sweet smile which again
dimpled the corners of her small mouth
But he said nothing, except about the
goods He looked at her, however, Will
an earnest glance of admiration, and
when, in giving the change, her soft
hand touched his, il sent a thrill through
his whole frame.
"Whew" he said to himself, lifting
his hat and drawing free breath as he
left the shop, douglas LennOX, / be-
lieve you're captivated ut last; and that,
too, by a little shop girl, whose
name you don't even know Wonder
what sister Bell would say" And as he
thought of his sister entering that very
shop, and perhaps buying of that very
little girl, entirely unconscious that her
brothers eye had rested admiringly
on the sweet face, Douglas laughed
aloud.
Well, after the little speech he made
as he left the shop, / think you can inn
agine about what followed. 1t was as
tOnishing how many little purchases
Douglas found he couldn't do without
in the next few weeks. And from drop
ping in at the shops he happenedtO pass,
he only went TO one particular shop.
And if il so happened that he was waited
on by any other than one particular per-
son he had the blues all day in conse-
quence.
How earnestly he Ionged 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
iayors the brave,n you know, 50 one
morning, while he was busily selecting
some cambric handkerchiefs from box,
55 oiS proprietor Of the shop came up and
mer.n N'
ot Douglas Iolg flashed quick, pleased glance
,,o,,,,a' aii5 Ii, uAe color deepened on the
young girls cheeks as She me. met if if with
mss Romer,' he reneot.d aT o,.,
glad l have learned yonr S,'ee,i' ,,.,' am
you reminded me Of NV I,''.iie, sie, because 1S
Douglas, II wasn't beca1sa si,e lOI
like her theng she looked
Il have no sister, or brother, .;.,.
said she sadly. eilher,"
"Have you not - said I.on,o,-
ingly, 81 should be very lonely ,,-i;, Plly-
mine, though l have only ono "itnout .;u,
Now that 1 have learned yonr S,s,er. ,,..'l
may I tell you mine ~
"If you please" said Miss Romer
at is Douglas Lennox, at Your ser.
vice. Please consider the owner Won,
friend, Miss Romer" said the youna
man, so gravely and kindly that she
could not be offended.
THANK you" she said, simply; then
pushing the box of handkerchiefs neal
him, added, "DO these please you 81
Douglas was very quick TO take
the gentle reminders which she some