The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1871-05-18

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 happened that he was
waited upon by any other than one
particular clerk, he had the blues
all day in consequence.
How earnestly he longed to hear
her name, no one 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 cambric hand
kerchiefs from a box, the proprietor
came up and addressed her, calling
her ''BIiss Romer."
Douglas flashed a quick, pleased
glance at her, and the color deepen
ed on the young girls cheek as she
met it with her eye.
"Miss Romer," he repeated, 81 am
glad I learned your name, because
you remind me of my sister" (Oh!
Douglas, it wasn't because she look
ed like her thenD
81 have no sisters, or brothers Ell
ther," said she, sadly.
''Have you notp' said Lennox,
pityingly; 81 should be very lonely
without mine, though I have only
one sister. Now that have learn
ed your name, may tell you my
own?"
off you please"
cit is Douglas Lennox, at your
service. 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, and push
ing the box Of handkerchiefs near
him, added, ''Do these suit you?''
Douglas was quick to take the
gentle reminders she sometimes
gave him that he was prolonging
his stay, so he turned his attention
to the handkerchiefs.
It chanced that Miss Romer still
let her hand rest on the edge of the
box. 1t was a very small, white
hand, with little dimples at the
joints, and pink, shell-like nails;
and Lennox, who was passionate
admirer of pretty hands, longed to
clasp them in his own and press
them to his lips. But he was a
chiyalrous gentleman and 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 gener-
ally led down Chestnut street
Whether the fact that he occasion
ally met Miss Romer on her way to
the store, and once or twice walked
with her, had anything to do with
the matter or not, I can't say. But
after such occasions I do know that
the spirits of Mr.. Douglas Lennox
improved considerably.
One Sunday afternoon, near sun
set, Douglas left a lively circle in
his sisters parlor and went out for
a quiet walk by himself. He enter
ed one of the parks and was stroll
ing through the sunny, green paths,
when his heart gave a quick bound
at sight of a trim little figure in
blue resting upon one of the shady
seats. For a moment he hesitated,
then he crossed over and spoke.
"Good evening, Miss Romer."
Miss Romer rose with the lady
like grace which had long ago told
Douglas that she was used to culti-
vated society, and returned his sal
utation. And then they sat down
together and, yielding to the calm
Sabbath evening influences, they
fell into a quiet talk, naturally as if
they had been old acquaintance.
They talked Of themselves, and
Miss Romer told Douglas that her
home had been in New Haven, and
her father a gentleman Of means,
who had lavished upon her, his on
ly child, every advantage that mon
ey and taste could procure. She
told him of the death of her father
and mother in a single week, and
how her fathers estate proved in
volved, and left her penniless and
alone.
She told him how she had sought
for some means to support herself,
and how she had finally obtained a
situation in Mr.. Sheldon's store,
and kept herself in comfort.
And Douglas told her that he,
too, was an orphan, only himself
and Bell left; but he touched very
lightly on the wealth that was his,
lest it should give her pain.
While they talked, Miss Romer
dropped her fan, and Douglas, pick
ing it up, saw written upon the
plain ivory handle the name, "Hel-
en- Romer." 9
Helen was my mothers name"
he said reverently.
'Was it? It is mine, toe" said
Miss Romer, in pleased surprise.
Il am glad it is yours said he.
And he fell to thinking how often