The Republican journal., 1871-02-09
ONLY A SHOP GIRL.
BY MATTE DYER HRITTs.

ONLY SHOP GIRL.
HI MATTE DYER BRITrs.
| "Gloves, sir ? Yes, sir. What number p
The Wor,ts felt with 4 tired sigh from the
| lips of a young girl who stood behind the
counter, and caused Douglas Lennoy to take
4 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
girl sighed again, and Douglas hastily rose
| from the stool upon which he had lazily drop
ped.
II am ashamed to sit when you are stand
ing" he said, Il am sure YOU must be very
tired. Are you not ?''
The young girl would have refused to no.
tice the remark from most strangers, upon
any subject except their purchases, but there
are some people we instinctively feel we car
trust, and Douglas Lennox's kind voice and
frank. honest face ettectually disarmed re-
sentiment. 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, 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
in business hours"
''It is shame," said Douglas, Il have
heard that such denominations existed in our
city, but never really believed it,
at is allowed in some stores," said the
young lady.
Then why do you not leave your place
here. and go to such one ?" asked Douglas
She gave another faint smile ''It You had
been a shop girl for four years and knew the
difficulty OF getting situation, you would
not ask that question" Then hastily push
ing second box of gloves toward him. she
added, in lower tone.
"Mr Sheldon is coming this way, | shout
lose my place here it he heard what | sald
Please look at the gloves"
And Douglas, not stopping to examine wheth
! er he got the number he wanted or not, quick
ly selected two or three pairs, paid for them
and left the store.
But he carried with him the image of the
sweet faced shop girl. and it haunted him
naccountably, all day
''Poor little tired thing !" he said, pitying
ly, II wish she were my sister. and then she
needn't work so hard"
| Once OF twice he curled his naughty lip at
| the idea OF himself, the aristocratic Douglas
Lenox, who was sole master of a handsome
/
money by thousands, and who had been for
several seasons the lawful prey of all the man
aging mammas and ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
daughters in society" should be wasting sc
many thoughts on little shop girl
| But il he was aristocratic, Lennox was al
so democratic, and had no false notions about
the disgrace of labor The little shop CIR
held the same claim to honor in his mind thai
she would have held had she been a queen.
And when rather early next morning, he
took his way to the same store, Douglas ac
knowledged to himself that his purchase was
! merely an excuse, and his real object an hon
est interest in, and a warm desire to see
again the winning face which had haunted
him since yesterday.
That she recognized him Douglas felt sure
from the faint, sweet smile, which again dim
pied the corners of her small mouth. But he
said nothing except about the goods He
looked at her. however, with an early glance
Of honest admiration, and when, in making
the change, her soft hand accidentally touch
ed his, it senta thrill through his whole frame
I" Whew p he said to himself, lifting his
hat and drawing tree breath as he lett the
store. "Douglas Lennox, I believe in my
soul you're captvated at last! And that, too
by a little shop girl whose name you don't ev
en- know Wonder what sister Bell would
say" And as he thought of his stylish siste,
entering that very store, and perhaps trading
with that very little girl, entirely unconsciou:
that her brothers eye had ever rested admir-
ingly 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. II was astonishing how
many little purchases Douglas found he could
not do without, in the next few weeks. And
from dropping at any store he happened tc
pass, he only went to one particular store.
And ii it so happened that he was waited on
by any other than one particular clerk, he haC
the blues all day in consequence.
How earnestly he longed to learn her name
nobody knew but himslf He dared not ash
her, and he did not know how else he should
learn. But ''fortune fayors the brave" you
know. so one morning, while he was busily
selecting some cambric handkerchiefs from a
box, the proprietor Of the store came up anG
addressed her, calling her 'Nliss Romer''
Douglas flashed quick, pleased d glance a'
girls cheek as she met it with her eve
''Miss Romer," he repeated, 81 ain glad ]
have learned your name, because you remind
ed me Of my sister," (Oh, Douglas! II
wasn't because she looked like her then y
81 have no sisters, or brothers either" sait
she, sadly.
"Have You not % said Lennox, pityingly
l should he very lonely without mine,
though | have only one sister. Now that |
have learned yonr name, may l tell vor
mine ?''
"If you please said Miss Romer
at Is Donglas Lennox, at your service
Please consider the owner your friend, Miss
Romer," said the young man, so grayely ant
kindly that she could not be offended
'Thank you,'' she said, simply. Then
pushing the box of handkerchiets near hin
added, 'Do these please YOU 9''
Douglas was very quick to take the gentle
reminders which she gave him, that he was
prolonging his stay, so he turned his atten
ton to the handkerchiefs.
Ii CHANGED that Miss Eomer still let hel
hand rest on the edge of the box 1t was
very small. white hand, with little dimples
at the joints, and pink, shell-like nails
and Lennox, who was passionate admrel
of pretty hands, longed to clasp them in his
own, and press them to his lips But he was
a chivalrous gentleman, and would no more
have taken any liberty with the humble shol
girl than with the highest lady in the land.
About this time Douglas took to early