American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1880-02-07

little dressing-roo at the back of the
store and shook down her golden show
er of curls, " how tired ! am of this
horrid drudgery! How l wish Harry
Meredith would propose if he is going
to.n
Ruth laughed as she smoothed down
her satin brown hair and tied the bow of
crimson ribbon at her throat.
"And what do you think of me,
Rachel who have no such brilliant
hopes of matrimony to light up the
monotony of my daily toil?"
a. don't see how you bear it so pa
tiently. l should die with vexation and
ennui if did not hope for something
better"
"Hush," said Ruth; "there is Mrs
Wickles, the forewoman, calling u.s.
How hate the old vixen!" Rachel
calculated, slowly following Ruth into
the store.
"Really, Miss Rachel DUR, you must
manage to be Il little more punctual, :"
said Mrs. Wickles, pursuing up her mouth
primly You are full five minutes
behind time, and it was just so yester
day"
Rachel pouted and went to work la
beling a box of newly arrived ribbons.
She and Mrs Wickles had never agreed
very tremendously nor did she affiliate
with the shop girls. ga stuck-up inn
pertinent thing" they called her; while
she from the serene height of the posi-
bility of some day becoming Mrs. Mere
dith treated them with disdain which
was any thing but agreeable.
In vain were Ruth's circumstances.
Rachel had always been willful and in
clined to superciliousness, nor would she
listen to her Cousins mildly proffered
advice.
"It's all very well for you, Ruth;
you have got to spend all your days
here, butt" she said, curling her pretty
lips, 81 shall soon be lifted out of this
groveling sphere"
at Is by no means certainty"
"Yes, it isl laughingly answered
Rachel, blushing like damask rose.
And Ruth would sigh softly, and
think how bright the future was unroll-
ing its vast map before her pretty
cousin.
Rachel Durr waited languidly upon
one or two customers that morning.
Evidently her heart was not in her
work, and Mrs. Wickles - from her
lurking-place behind the cash-box -
cast several envenomed chances at her,
premonitory of a coming storm.
Presently new customer hobbled in,
bent and crooked, and made his
way directly to the counter where
Rachel and Ruth were standing. A
huge cotton umbrella protruded in
warlike manner from beneath his arm,
and mended cotton gloves covered his
hands, while rusty red wig was
half concealed by his battered and bent
hat.
"My goodness, what fgure!" ejac-
ulated Rachel, in very audible voice.
"What can the old bundle of clothing
want here, anyhow"
"Hush," said Ruth, sternly; che will
hear YOU"
"And what if he doesP What do
carep"
"He is old and infirm, Rachel, and
his age should render him sacred in
your eyes"
Rachel tossed her head, sneeringly.
Ruth, you are too absurd for any
thing. l won't wait on him.
But the old man steered resolutely for
Rachel herself.
al want to buy some gloves, MISS"
he said, in feeble, croaking voice.
"You'd better go somewhere else,"
said the young lady, superciliously;
60 Our store doesn't keep cheap goods"
elbow much are theseP"
ga dollar pair
"But am poor, miss have you moth
ing cheaper?"
"No," snapped Rachel. 81 told you
to go elsewhere 1 have no patience with
paupers."
81 beg your pardon, miss; am not a
pauper," said the old man.
"Well," observed the girl, scornfully, |
g you look like One.'
appearances are often deceitful. |
Did you tell me you had cheaper
ylovesp'
81 didn't tell you any such thing"
Rachel, Rachel!" demonstrated her
"Let me show you what You
want, sir,'' she said softly, turning to
he aged customer. "We have some
very nice gloves for seventy-five cents"
Seventy-fve cents is a great deal of
money to pay for a pair of gloves" said
he old man, looking sorrowfully down
On the mended fingers of those he wore,
g and the weather is getting frosty, and
I'm not so young as l was.'
81 should think that was quite evil
lent" said Rachel, with heartless
litter.
Ruth bent toward the old man, saying
n low voice:
"Take the warm, worsted gloves, sir.
rhe price is seventy-five cents, but you
'hall have them for fifty. myself will
make up the difference to the store.
You are an old gentleman, and 1 am
Toung and able to work.
"But am nothing to you, miss"
Ruth folded the gloves neatly in
piece of paper and handed them to him.
"For the sake of the dear father who
lied year ago, old age can never be