National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1881-11-12
4 swAMPoopLE ROMANCE.
How n seventh street Dry Goods CIeri
Won "a Bride-A True story.

How seventh street Dry Goods Clerk
won IA BrIde-A True story.
No, l refuse"
"Rehcct moment, Myrtle / beseech you'll You
hold my life and happiness In your hands"-and
the voice Of Adelbert Tompkins trembled as he
spoke these words with an earnestness that for
badc even for an Instant any doubt as TO their
being the oupourings Of his heart
Myrr- Mshaag was beapneh girl Just bud
ding int5 sweet womanhood, and Adelbert loved
her dearly, They hadwandered together from the
matinee Mt the National to the street.car on Sew
enih street, and he asked her to be his
wife. II was in answer to this questionable
earnest appeal Of whose whole ma
ture was wrapped up in passion he could
neither control nor cast nside-that Myrtle had
spoken the words with which our story opens She
had uttered them lightly, even carelessly, and at
the instant they were falling upon Adeberts ears
with the horrible dlstnctness that marks the ring
ing of prison bell rs Il tolls the kncll of the muir
derer within the walls OF the dungeon beneath,
had smiled witchingly upon Reginald Caryll, who
was passing, and said, How or in a CHEEKY
voice 10 n girl friend who companied him. but Mt
heart Myrtle knew that she wns taking step that
might alter the whole course of her life. She was
girl Of strong perccplve faculties, a keen judge
Of human nature. and knew that he who had
spoken TO her those words that brenthed only de-
voton and love was man Of many good quail
ties, and that he would cherish and protect her
with his life's blood If necessary But still she;
could not bring herself to marry him. She had
watched him closely during an acquaintance OF
nearly two years, ana noticed with pain how he
sedulously avoided candy stores aud ice.cream
FALCONS. ~ can never marry man. she had said
TO her mother one day, "who SHES at the sight OF
candy store like country horse at a fre-en-
CINE" And when the expected avowal came she
had kept her word.
Adelbert turned around In dazed sort Of way
after Myrtle had rejected him, and walked swiftly
toward the dry goods store which had been so for
tunate as TO secure his services. Suddenly the
merry tinkle of street-car bell aroused him from
the reverie into which no had fallen. "Grcat
heayensF ne SAID, VI forgot TO pay her car fare.
NO matter II the proud beauty scorned my pronered
love, should not have done this. She will think
IL is not the Tompkins blood thatruns In my veins,
out that oil some bnse-born, bringing mental,
whose mind is tingod with sordid thoughts"-and
ne chewed so nervousiy at too'hpick that fell
Iow-clerk VINO met him Imagined that perchance
he had been invited to dinner.
All the afternoon Adelbert stood modify be-
hind the ribbon counter thinking of how he should
revenge himself ON the naughty girl who had
wrecked his happiness. AT precisely haf-past
four O'Clock fierce JOY lighted up his countenance
and, putting on his hat, he left the store.
As the bells ofst Aloysius Church were striking
nine young man sprang lightly up the steps of
soon seated In the sumptuously- furnished parlor
The proprietor OF the house, benevolent looking
old gentleman, entered the room. "Do yon wish
TO see mel" he said so Adelbert Tompkins-for IL
was he who had sprang lightly up the steps.
YES" replied the young man, you are the per-
son seek"
What would you ?" said the old gentleman.
" You are the cashier in the u bank, be-
ueve," said the young man.