The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1874-08-14
VOLUME III.
"If you'll deposit two an a half as q
pledge for its safe return"

but Annie was pleased with it, and de-
cided TO close the bargain at once, at
twenty dollars per month.
"What fool am % she said TO her
self, after ihe months rent was paid, as
she folded the receipt, and taking Dick,
now very tired and cross, in her arms,
she sought wholesale dealer with
whom she soon contracted upon thrifty
days time for few hundred dollars
worth of such goods as she felt might
best suit the market.
The dealer was wise enough not to
question her too closely. Being a good
judge of human nature, he learned at a
glance that he could trust this new Gus
toner, and he readily gave her the ben
eft Of his experience in helping her to
such selections as he knew would bring
quickest sale.
"Won't you step into the nearest res
taurant and get lunch, madam ?" he
asked, as the noon hour drew nigh.
"No, thank you, had no idea it was
so late. must prepare lunch at home
for a family of eight, and finish up a
large washing"
"Are you the sole support of such a
large family as that ?"
81 am, at present, sir"
"But you don't expect to do that
housekeeping and carry on a store ?"
'I do, sir"
"How old are you?"
Twenty years"
"Do you see that boy? He is my
eldest, and one year your senior. He
couldn't take care of himself"
''Thars because he isn't a girl" said
Annie, as she prepared to carry her bur-
den of incipient, t,woman-protecting man
hood to her humble home.
"Let me sell you a buggy for him to
ride in, madam. You can't afford to
waste your strength in that way, if you
ure going into business"
az believe you are right, sir; but if
take the buggy, 1 must pay you in
monthly installments."
Little Dick was delighted with the
purchase, but not more so than was his
sister, as she trundled him with ease
along the ways where she had so often
carried him.
81 fear I have committed a very grave
act of extravaganza, but 1t goes in life
time," she said to herself, by way of
apology.
Jim's fears were quieted by Amie's re-
turn, and, as he became assured that she
would not desert them, he become
doubly self-important and overbeariug.
"You don't know one thing about the
millinery business, and you'll make a
dead failure" he said, by way of wise
encouragement.
"Then I'll not call upon you to foot the
bills, so don't worry yourself, sir smart
ness" was the pert reply.
The goods arrived at the store by the
time Amie's family lunch was over and
the washing finished, and for several
days the girl toiled with closed doors,
until she had made up really fine as
sortment of attractive merchandise.
Her taste was marvelously good, and
the ready tact which was her peculiar
gift, took the place of a large expert
ence.
When all was ready, an advertise
ment, accompanied by attractive local
pufIs, appeared in the papers, and the
first days sales amouted to fifty dollars
coin, with orders for quite as much
more.
The business became very brisk, and,
had Annie been alone, the accruing profits
of her sales would have soon placed her
on the road TO wealth.
One day, soon after opening her busi-
ness establishment, she CHANGED to pick
up a stray copy Of the EUcry Morning
/ Gazette, much soiled and crumpled,
which had been thrown aside by GUS
toner who had brought an old bonnet to
remodel.
While the customer was "making up
her mind" about the "style" that would
most likely "become" her faded fea-
lures, Annie glanced at the dispatches in
the paper, and learned that Melvin
Hastings, Jr., formerly of Portsmouth,
had been admitted as pupil in the Art
Academy of New York city. 1t was her
first reliable news of his whereabouts
since the well and painfully remembered
moment when he had suddenly met her
and almost stumbled over her little
brother weeks before, upon the streets
of Portsmouth.
"What is that man and his affairs tC
me? Or why does he concern me thai
should think about him ?n she asked
herself, bitterly, as she tossed the papel
under the counter. and turned, with al
anxious face and supreme effort at self
control, to receive new customers or
ders for an intricate marvel of blond,
and orange blossoms, which was in
tended to form q prominent part Of {
bridal trosseau, that was just now tn
theme of city small talk among tn
bellies and their mammas.
rI,et the border be Of satin piping
with fine gros-grain crossings, puffe,
full between the meshes with fiufings o
illusion. Let part of the orange wreatl
trail lightly across the front, and anothe
part droop over the lace barbes at tn
back. Make the strings of white tulle
edged with blonde lace, and knot then
in front with this white rose and thes
! orange buds" said the bride expeetant
, with ready business air, which becam
her finely.