The daily gazette., 1875-06-25
CHARGE IT.

- 'That ia all. this afternoon, l think.
! said young Mira. Gray, looking over til
bundles in her market basket, as sh
stood before the counter OF the villag
store: Let me see--sugar, coffee, tex
starch, soda, cream of tartar, raisins
spices and a can of fresh lobsters. Th
two bags of -four you will send, sup
poser"
i "Yes'm," said the shopmar, after
seconds hesitation, which Mrs. Gray di,
not notice.
81 would like them by sevon in tn,
evening, if convenient"
The clerk bowed.
AS for these things" said she, with
merry laugh to which the clerk did moi
| respond, even by smile, 81 am not sucl
q fne lady that l cannot carry then
! home myself. You will charge these il
you please. Good afternoon"
clerk. ''|'' ''-'
He was tall, middle-aged, somewhat
slt-manneced man. Something seemed
70 be on his mind. which he knew not
| how to express.
And before Mrs. Gray crossed the
! Threshold OF the store, he had passed
down to the desk at the lower end OF
( the building, and laid o memorandum OF
the things just sold to her before his
| master, who sat there, pouring over 6
great account book.
Mrs. Gray. sir" said the clerk. you
told me to let you know about her next
order, sir. There it is
She said charge it," Us usual, and
didn't know what to do, as you gave no
directions"
The merchant looked over tho order
with slight frown. Then he turned
over few leaves in the account book
before him. and glanced down the two
opposite pages at which he paused.
Make out her bill and send it in this
q settlement said he. "Say that I
have heavy bills to meet next week, and
woald feel Obliged by the immediate re-.
esipt Of the money.
'rhere are two bags of -four also or.
dered, sir. One Of Graham-one of SUI
Perfne. Shall I send them down to.
dayy"
Were they ordered to-day"
Yes, sir"
'Thsn send them, and the bill with
them. Or, stay, Mr.. Richards. Let the
porter take the -four at once, and do you
deliver the bill this evening, as you go
able to pay It at once. IF so, you can
receipt the bill"
The middle-aged clerl. went back to
his place. not much rolishing the task
that lay before him. To draw oil the
bill was ncthing-to present it was much
since, as he fully believed, pretty Mrs.
Gray woRld not have the money on hand
With which to pay it.
"And then she will lock scared and
grieved, for don't think she has any
idea how these things are mounting up
here. day by day thought the clerk. |
And / know she has not much TO de- |
den, and the pension money that came !
to her after her husbands death. To be
sure, she is rather extravagant, but then
she ia very pretty, and she likes to look |
nice-and she does look nice, too, in the |
things she buys of us! / felt sorry all |
the time she was filing that basket to- I
day-though it wasn't my place TO eay
anything. And 1 do wish the governor |
would send some other clerk on this er-
rand-that / do. However, it must be |
done! fancy see his face if l should |
ask to be excused from dunning poor lit /
tie Mrs. Gray, because l feel sorry for |
her, as soldiers widow, and because |
she is the prettiest woman in town. l !
should get my walking papers, to cer-
talntv, and do her no good either, poor /
SCALP
Meanwhile, HRS. Gray, utterly una
ware Of the storm cloud gathering in
her sky, tripped out of the store, and |
was joined, before she descended the
steps, by her cousin, Miss Roxy Sander
son, a tall, gaunt, and singularly plain
spinster Of five aud fifty, who had been
buying o skein Of linen thread at the
other counter, and who, therefore, had
been witness of this little scene.
Az. ofh nf 4
friendly fashion, the two ladies walk
ed slowly down the street towards
Mrs. Gray's cottage, which stood III
pretty garden at the extreme end of the
yarden.
When they reached the house, the
charming little widow at once asked
her cousin to go in and take cap Of tea
with her.
81 will," said Miss Roxy. 1.-THE fact
Is, Ellen, want to say something spu-
,ial to you, and this is as good time as
my"
livery we'll; come in, then, and get
It off Of your mind" said Mrs. Roxy,
"But let me get the tea
apon the table first-there is good
a brisk little fire burned inside of
he crate of tho cottage kitchen,
which was one of the neatest, bright.
est and cosiest places one could wish
10 see.
The table was ready 10 a moment,
he tea was stepped, the cold bread,
,old ham, fresh butter and cranberry
preserves were quickly in their places.
Then the widow placed plate of rich
ooking cake on one side of the table;
opening the can which she brought
rom the store, she filled O glass dish
With the preserved lobster and set it
lown opposite the cake, with look
II pleasant triumph In her deep blue