The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1878-09-10

of the thing. / have not the shadow of
doubt that she is all she seems, but
still"
He was silent for a few minutes, and
then arose to prepare for slumber.
"They are polite enough to me as the
favored child of luxury. Now 1 will
take measures to learn whether this
courtesy is genuinely from the heart, or
merely born of empty form and adula-
ton to wealth.
So our hero, laying his head on his
pillow, dreamed of private masquerade
parties all night long.
Rachel Durr and her cousin Ruth
were shop girls in Savery and ST. Clair's
great fancy store.
ooh, dear !" sighed Rachel ,one morn
ing as she took off her bonnet in the
little dressing-room at the back of the
store and shook down her golden show
er of curls, " how tired am of this
horrid drudgery. How 1 wish Harry
Meredith would propose if he's going
ton
Ruth laughed as she smoothed down
her satin-brown hair, and tied the bow
of her crimson ribbon at her throat.
"And what do you think of me,
Rachel 1, who have no such brilliant
hopes of matrimony to light up the
monotony of my daily toll !"
Rachel shrugged her shoulders.
"I don't see how you bear it so pa
tiently. 1 should die with vexation and
'ennui. if did not hope for something
better.
"Hush ~ said Ruth, there is Mrs.
Wickes, the forewoman calling us.'
" How hate the old vixen ~ Rachel
calculated, slowly following Ruth into
the store.
"Really, Miss Rachel Durr, you must
be a little more punctual," said Mrs.
Wickes, pursing up her mouth primly.
You are full five minutes behind time,
and it was just 80 yesterday.
Rachel pouted and went to work la
beling box of newly arrived ribbons
She and Mrs. Wickes had never agreed
very harmoniously, nor did she affiliate
with the shop girls. ga stuck up, i'm
pertinent thing" they call her while
she, from the serene heights of the pos
sibility of her one day becoming Mrs.
Harry Meredith, treated them with dis
dain which was anything in the world
but agreeable.
In vain were Ruth remonstrances.-
Rachel had always been wilful and in
clined to superciliousness, nor would she
listen to her Cousins mildly proffered
advice now.
cts all very well for you, Ruth, you
have got to spend all your days." but
she said, curling her pretty lips, but
shall soon be lifted out of this groveling
atmosphere"
Z" 1t is by no means certainty"
Yes it is," laughingly answered
Rachel, blushing like damask rose.
And Ruth would sigh softly and think
how brightly the future was unrolling
its vast map before her pretty little
cousin.
Rachel Durr waited rather languidly
upon one or two customers that morn
ing. Evidently her heart was not in
her work, and Mrs. Wickes, from her
lurking place behind the cash box, cast
several envenomed glances towards her
premonitory of coming storm.
Presently new customer hobbled in
bent and crooked, and made his way di-
rectly to the counter where Rachel and
Ruth were standing. A huge cotton
umbrella protruded in war like man.
ner from beneath his arm, and mended
cotton gloves covered his hands while
rusty red wig was half concealed by his
battered hat.
MY goodnessl Ruth, what a fig
ure!'' calculated Rachel, in very audi
bic voice. What can that old bundle
of secondhand clothes want here?"
Hush ~ said Ruth, almost sternly,
he will hear you?"
"And what if he does! What do 1
care?''
g He is old and very infrm, Rachel,
and his age should render him sacred in
your eyes"
Rachel tossed her head sneeringly.
g Ruth, you are too absurd for any
thing. won't wait on him."
But the old man steered resolutely for