Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1877-09-20

"Only think of it! A clerk A sales
woman! 1t seems to me I'd have
worked my fingers to the bone in some
other way before l would have come to
that" said Lizzie Doyle, going to the
mirror and readjusting twenty-dollar
hat.
so would l. But, then, what could
she do?"
AT least she might have made her
self a little less public. If there's any
thing | despise, it's these salesw0men! "
So do l. How much better it would
have been to have gone into dress-mak-
ing or millinery, or something of that
sort. But, to stand behind the counter
like a man!
Papa always did ike those Stan
ley's, said Lizzie Doyle, petulantly.
Yes, we all liked them well enough
until Mr. Stanley failed, didn't WEI"
mo; not /, for one Laura was al
ways too independent in her notions
Don't you remember how hard she
studied at school? 1t does seem as
if she foresaw her fathers failure"
81 wonder she didn't try for som Q
better position, then. She is surely ca
pable of being something better than a
shop-girl."
Oh, | believe papa intends to pro
mote her when Mr.. Jobley goes West.
She will then take Mr.. Jobley's place as
junior bookkeeper. Think of that for a
womanl"
THAT would be better than selling
goods. L don't see how she can do thai,
with her refined tastes Why don't she
give lessons, [ wonder? 1t might not
bring III quite so much money, but it
would be deal nicer"
: Yes; and then we could recognize
her" said Lizzie Doyle
That's what | was coming to-" was
the quick reply of her companion, a
small, shallow-faced girl, deliberately
trimmed and hounced. "How are we
to treat her now? We have been great
friends, you l1now-that is, when she
was in our set" she added, seeing Liz
Me's brow darken.
"Pll tell you how I shall treat her"
ponded Lizzie, slowly drawing on q
pair of perfumed three-button kid
gloves; precisely as | treat all OF
papas clerks. And | should like to see
any Of them presumed"
"0h, but Laura won't presumed You
needn't be afraid of that; she's too
proud"
She must be" said Lizzie, sneering-
ly, to take that position! shall not
notice her"
But how can you help it when you
go to the store or to church? She sits so
near to us, you know"
"Of course she'll give up that pew.
She can't afford that
"Thats precisely what she does not
mean to do. | heard her say that the
family must economic somewhere else
and keep the pew. Her mother is hard
of hearing, and could not enjoy the ser
vices further back. The children, too
must go to church. This is the last
thing, she said, one ought to give up. I
heard her say this to your father last
Sunday"
"How provoking" said Lizzie, i'm
patiently. "She will always be in oul
faces But l shall have nothing to dc
with her [ know what it's for, the art
ful minx!-it's. to keep near US She
knows she has got into papa's good
graces; and al, too, admires her
don't see what there is, though, TO ad-
mire. She's very plain"
Laura is no beauty" was the reply;
but | don't think she's SO very plain
She certainly has lowered herself
though, by going into store" And
thereupon the two girls went out foI
their walk.
1t was near twilight of that same day
when Laura Stanley walked briskly
home and entered the neat twO-stOry
house to which her mother had lately
removed such of her household effects
as had been spared by the auctioneer.
This is really pleasant" she said,
sinking into chair that had been drawn
near to the glowing CRATE. Il had no
idea, mother, that you would SO soon
make the house homelike and comfort
able"
Are you very tired, my dear?" asked
her mother, a pretty, retined-looking
woman, as she helped her daughter to
take off her cloak and hat.
Rather; but [ like the business; and
it's fine place for the study Of charac-
ter" she added with q curl of the lip
which her mother noticed.
| wish you had chosen something
else, my dear. was sure your feelings
would be hurt"
don't wish so" said Laura, briskly.
There is nothing else would have
brought a salary at once, and, as for
my feelings, it don't hurt me bit to
find out the hollowness of society. |
used to wonder what certain person
would be to me if were not the rich
Harvey SANKEY'S daughter, aud now |
know. It's a knowledge worth gain
ing"
Do you meet many persons with
whom you are acquainted? y asked her
mother, busying herself in getting the
tea.
"Oh, yes; and it's amusing when they
come upon me suddenly. 'O!-it's-
really is this Miss Stanley?" And
sometimes up go the eyeglasses. Then
feel-well, as if should like to freeze
somebody, if [ could, for minute.
Others see me and make believe they
are examining goods; so absorbed are
they that they go clear by me without
looking up, and pass out in the same
way. But such sights don't trouble
me. / find out how much true friend
ship is worth, and who, out of all the
seeming ladies have been in the habit