Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1879-09-11

see how she was getting on and
] found poor little Mrs. Webb almos,
/ in tears.
Il must rent halt OF the store she
said, there are two windows, you SET
but | am afraid that no one will
care to take par. of il, or that | may
get some one who would be very dis.
| agreeable
i wonder if 1 would be 2 asked
Lizzie wit smile, Il hope not-fol
II think that half store would suit
me better than whole one /,
| One thing led to another; and
when they parted, Mrs. Webb found
herself,to her great surprise, provided
with jointstenaDt for the store aud
also with boarder For Lizzie dis.
covered that the little woman had a
large sunny room which she would
be glad to have occupied = and j,
seemed a most providential happen.
ing for both OF them that they had
been brought together. 1t was de-
iightful to. our heroine to have Mrs.
Webb's protection and companion
ship in her new venture; and her
eye was so bright and her step so
elastic on her walk homeward, that
Dr. Ferris. passing hurriedly in his
buggy, suddenly thought that he had
not been aware how attractive. look
ing she was
His deferential bow was returned
with gay smile, as Lizzie recalled
the saying that, for a woman to give
her hand with dignity, she must be
able to stand alone. She was not in
the least strong minded-being natu.
rally ivy-like in her inclinations but
she refused to cling unless her sup
port was a genuine monarch of the
forest.
Miss Gartrell lost no time in pre-
ambles-having once decided on her
course, she went practically to work /;
and at the period of the conversation
with Cornelia Baird, her plan was a
regularly defined one. Cornelia made
suggestions, and wondered, and la.
mented but felt half inclined, when
she reached home and surveyed her
scant wardrobe, to follow her friends
example.
As Lizzie had said, her shop was
not to be an every day shop; and
one fine day, people who had been
accustomed to patronize the little
zephyr woman,' were quite surprised
at the transformation in her premises
One window was very prettily and
artistieally arranged with her wares
more so than it had ever been be-
fore; and the other window was
hung with lace curtains, had vines in
1t, flowers, bird cage-and the
prettiest OF placards, white and green
letters on crimson ground, informed
the public that within was a circulat-
ing library for periodicals. and weekly
papers-also, a choice collection of
stationery, fancy pictures, etc.
Within sat our friend Lizzie, at a
pretty table covered and draped with
her own tastefui hands, and dressed
with greater care than she had ex-
pended on her toilet for long time
for she very justly considered this
an important detail of her plan and
the result was eminently pleasing
Lizzie Gartrell was certainly a very
fine looking girl, 'every inch the lady
The little store was beautifully clean
and orderly; and ivies and madeira
vines filled up the corners and hung
from brackets, while several pots Of
flowers in bloom, and one or two bou.
quets, lent look of brightness and
refinement. .s
Cornelia Baird pronounced it "a
jewel of shop, and she fitted in
and out, on opening day, to watch
her friends progress, and see for her.
self how the experiment was likely
to work. On the evening of that day,
Lizzie laughingly summed up her
profits. The outlay had not been very
great, for she intended to begin mod
erately and increase her business by
degrees; and she found that five
persons had taken out magazines, and
three, weekly papers-that several
boxes of paper and sheets of fancy
pictures had been disposed oi-that
several people had asked for jars for
decorative rposes--several for
postage stamps-and there had been
one inquiring for cigars.
Great satisfaction had been ex.
pressed with her plan of renting out
the magazines and papers, and she
was assured that this alone would
pay her we'll. Several of her custom.
ers had turned before leaving to Mrs.
Webb's counter; and it gave her
great pleasure to see the little WON
ems bright looks, as her wares were
disposed gilmore promptly than usual.
As Miss Gartrell laid her head on
her pillow that night, she had the sat
isfaction of feeling that she had fitted
into her niche-she was no longer a
peg in round hole, or Uice uerSa
And what Of DR. Ferris i? as Cor
nelia Baird had asked
He and his mother and $; ster lived
In beautiful, old fashioned place, on
the outskirts OF the town and had
the reputation of priding themselves
| particularly as no, being people of
| yesterday. Perhaps they did not so
pride themselves (; they certainly
were not proud, and valued
people for what they were-not for
what they had.
Harry said Nellie to her brother,
as they sat at the tea table, what is
this queer story about Miss Gartrelfs
opening shop? Do you believe II p
/ Il ought to, / suppose was the re-
ply, ard DR.. Ferris looked annoyed /;
'for caught glimpse of her to-day,
presiding over book and paper es.
tablishment. Do you not think the
step a very odd one. mother ? | won.
der that her brother allows lit
/. would be very hnmihating to me to
have my sisters feel that they mus,
leave my house 10 earn their own liv-
ing. Women are not intended for it.
/ His pleasant face was quite dis6g,
ured by scowl of disapproval; and
his mother smiled, as she answered
You must remember, Henry, tha;
there are, unfortunately, more ivies
than oaks /; and a life OF dependence,
4 nrlar -srrt.,,, 4.