Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1871-06-13
ONLY A SHOP GIRL.


"Gloves, sir2 Yes, sir. What numberY
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 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 Doug
las hastily rose from the stool upon which
he had lazily dropped.
II am ashamed to sit when you are
standing" he said; i am sureyou 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,
but there are some people we instinct
lively feel we can trust, and Douglas
Lennox's kind voice, and frank, honest
face effectually 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 a spare moment" he said,
somewhat Indignantly,
The young girl shook her head. "No,
not in business hours.
sit is shame said Douglas, I" / have
heard that such denominations existed in
our city, but | never really believed it. "
at is allowed in some stores" said the
young lady. .H ="
"Then why do you not leave your
place here and 90 to such oneY asked
Douglas.
She gave another faint smile. "If
you had been a shop girl for four years
and knew the difficulty of getting situ-
alton, 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. i
should lose my place here if he heard
what said. Please look at the gloves"
And Douglas, not stopping to exam
inc 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 unaccountably, all day.
Poor little tired thing" he said,
pityingly. 81 wish she were my sister,
and then she needn't work so hard.
Once or twice he curled his naughty
lip at the idea that he, the aristocratic
Douglas Lennox, who was sole master
of handsome place upon the Delaware,
who counted his money by thousands,
and who had been for several seasons
the lawful prey of all the managing man.
mas and matrimonially inclined daugh-
ters in society,"" should be wasting so
many thoughts on a little shop grill
But if he was aristoeratic, 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, Doug
las acknowledged to himself that his
purchase was merel ly an excuse, and his
real object an honorable interest in, and
warm desire to see again, the winning
face which haunted him since yesterday.
That she recognized him. Douglas
felt sure, from the faint, sweet smile
which again dimpled the corners Of her
small mouth.
But he said nothing, however, only
with an eager glance Of admiration, and
when, in making the change, her soft
hand accidentally touched his, il sent a
thrill through his whole frame.
'Whewl' be saidt himself lifting his