The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1871-11-09
ONLY A SHOP-GIRL.

ber?'
The words fell, with a tired sigh from
tie lips of a young girl who stood be-
hind the counter, and caused Douglas
Lennox to take second look into the
sweet face and dark gray 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; Il 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 instlnctlvely
feel we can trust, aud Douglas Lennox' S
kind voice and frank, honest face effec
tually disarmed resentment. She looked
and said:
'.Rather tired I have been on my feet
all day. and the faint smile which din
pied the corners of her mouth added, in
the young mans eye, to the winning
beauty of her face
but, surely. you can sit down when
you have spare moment? he SAID,
somewhat Indignantly.
The young girl shook her head. No,
not ia business hours.
1T is a shame,' said Douglas. VI
have heard that such denominations exist
In our city. but / never really believed
1t. 7"
1T is allowed in some Stores" said
the young lady.
''Ihen why do you not leave your
T.iace here and go to such u one? asked
Douglas.
She gave another FONT smile. ''Ifyou
had been shop girl for four years and
knew the difficulty of getting situation,
you would not ask that question. Then
hastily pushed a second box of gloves
toward him, she added in lower tone:
''lir. Sheldon is coming this way. l
should lose my place here if he had heard
what [ said. Please look at the gloves. !"
And Douglas, not stopping to exam
inc whether he got the numer be wanted
or not, quickly selected two or three
pairs, paid for them, and left the store.
Bat he carried with him the image of
the sweet faced shop-girl. and it haunt
ed him unaccountably all day.
Poor tired little thing" he said, pit
tyingly. Il wish she Were'my slstersand
tHen SPe nGeun WORK so naru.
Once or twice he curled his naughty
lip at the idea that he, the .aristocratic
Douglas Lennox, who was the sole mas
ter 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 mann
mas, and matrlmonially inclined daugh-
tiers in society, should be wasting so many
thoughts on little shop girl. But if he
was aristocratic, Lepnox had no false
notions about caste. And then, rather
early 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 an honora-
bic interest IN and warm desire TO see
again the winning face which had haunt
ed ever since yesterday. That she re-
cognized him Douglas felt sure, from the
faint, sweet mouth. But he said moth
ing, however, only with an eager glance
of admiration: and, when in making
change, her soft hand accidentally touch
ed his, it sent thrill through his whole
frame.
"Whew y he said to himself, lifting
his hat and drawing a free breath as he
ieft the store.
douglas Lennox, believe in my soul
you are captivated at last and that too
by a little thop-girl whose name you
don't even know! Wonder what my
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
on the sweet face, Douglas laughed
aloud
Well, after the little speech he made
as he left the store, | think you can i'm
agine about what followed 1t was as
tonishing how many little purchases
Douglas found he could not do without
In the next few weeks. And, from drop
ping in at any store he happened to pass,
he only went to one particular store; and,
1t 1t SO happened 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
morning, while he was busily selecting
some cambria haudke-chiefs from a box,
the proprietor of the store came up and
addressed her, calling her Miss Romer.
Douglas flashed a quick, pleased glace
at her, and the color deepened on the
young girl S cheek as she met it with her
eye.
Hiss Romer, | am glad | have learn
ed your name, because you reminded me
OF my sister" (Oh, Douglas il WASH t
because she looked like her then y
4 have no brothers or sisters. either. -
said she, sadly.
Have you net ?" said Lennox. pity
ingiy. i should be very lonely without
mine, though | have only one sister.
Now that l have learned your name, may
| tell mine?
If you please, said Miss Romer.
1T Is Douglas Lennox. lat vour service
Please consider the owner your friend.
Miss Romer, said the young man. so
graveiy ana kindly. that she could not be
offended.
Thank you." she said, simply. Then.
pushing the box of handkerchiefs near
him, added: DO these suit?''
Douglas was very quick to take the
gentle reminders which she sometimes
gave him that he was prolonging his STAY.
SO be turned his attention to the hand
kerchiefs.
lt CHANGED that Miss Romer still Ie.
her hand rest on the edge of the box. 1t
was very small, white hand, with little
olmpies at the joints, and pink, she'll like
nalis, and Lennox, who was a passionate
aanlrer OF pretty hands, longe1 to clasp
them IN his own and press them to his
ups. but he was r chivalrous gentle
man, ana would no more have taken any
liberty with the humble shop girl than
with the highest lady in the land.
About this time Douglas took to early
morning walks, which generally led down
10 Chestnut street. Whether the fact
that ne occasionally met Miss Romer on
her way to the store, and once or twice
walked with her, haa anything TO do
with the matter or not, | cannot say. But