Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1883-12-12
A SHOT IN THE DARK.
BY GILBERT STEWART.

III was a % calibre and carried leaden
pellet no larger than pea. It did not
look very formidable, and in fact was
not, but when Eva put it into what she
was pleased to term her pistol pocket,
IN the rear of her dress, she felt as safe
as if she had the escort, of a regiment.
What are you doing vita that pop
gun?" said Cousin Jack to her one
morning, as he observed her putting her
armory IN her pocket preparatory to 60
ing out. Fh "Efa
That's my beau, if you please, sir.
He sees me safely along these four dark
blocks when come home at night. !.
''Just let me look at that gun, will
you 2" said Jack. "Pshaw /! you couldn't
hurt mouse with it. Come, I'll let
you shoot at me all day for nickel a
shot. Hurt me? Not a bit. But why
III the name of the guardian angel of all
you women do you want to carry pis-
toI?" a@l
swell, Cousin Jack, you know that
It is late when l leave the store, and [
cannot always have company. It's a
dark walk from the cars over here, and
I thought / saw sneaking fellow fol-
lowing me one night. l shall be ready
for him the next time. / don't intend
TO be bothered or robbed, if [ can help
it. Don't think l can shoot. l have
been practicing a little, and shall make
it very uncomfortable for the coming
sand-bagger as sure as my name Ia
Eva"
''But you couldn't hurt anybody with
that thing, you know"
"Couldn't I? Don't you get in front
of it, that's all. Good-by, I must hurry
along"
Eva Barton was %, and saleswoman
IN the great establishment of Herschell.
Shields & Go. She was rather under
than over the medium size, somewhat
slight il figure, but compactly formed,
every gesture and movement denoting
energy and character. Her cheeks were
like lilies, and her eyes of impid blue,
such as Solomon would have described
as being g like the fsh-pools of Hesh-
bon by the gate of Bathrabbin, T" that
divine blue, capable of expressing every
passion of the soul.
1t was more In her expression than In
her features that she was beautiful. She
knew how to dress and had the art of
on her neck or hair IN such a way as to
lend elegance and refinement to her tot
let, liz she had been French they would
have said she had chic. No English
phrase can exactly describe what chic
is. but we all know it when We see it. It
is style and something more. 1t is the
knaek of doing or being In the best
form. It is not fashion, but it is to fash
ion what phetry is to prose. It is en-
tirely feminine attribute, but all wom-
en- do not possess it. When a woman
has chic,
Age cannot wither her nor custom stale
Her infinite variety; other women
G1oy tt appetite they feed; but she makes hungry
Whom she satisfies.
She had come to the great city to make
her own way In the world, not that she
was obliged TO, but because she wanted
to. Her mother was dead. Her father
second wife was one of her schoolmates.
Home was pleasant enough after fash
ion. but q glimpse of the great world and
business ways is a good thing for sensi-
bic girls. So Eva came and took up
quarters with Aunt Bascom. Having
some knowledge of ribbons and dry
goods she got a place in aerscheIl,
Shields & Co.'s, commencing at SIS a
week. She was now getting $40, and
considered the best saleswoman In the
store. She had such an art of display
ing goods, of throwing them on her arm
or over her shoulders, that the ladies
were obliged to buy. They could not
help it.
Cousin Jack, or, more properly, John
Bascom, was teller IN the Southwest
err National. He was 25, and was per.
fectly loyal to one woman-that was his
mother. Whatever he did he did fol
her.
L don't think I shall ever get mar.
ried, Jack would say to himself. 'They
come too high, and besides. / don't see
shy like my mother" Toward his cousi,
Eva he had always felt In a paternal sort
OF way, and would deal out TO her large
chunks Of fatherly advice, fitted for al
most any occasion.
The pistol episode amused Jack not {
little. He went to bed that night with
his head full of underlined practical Jokes
but all having sort Of centerpiece IN
Eva and her pistol.
Ii was only at the breakfast table thai
the family met, for Eva took her lunch
at the store, and was always late at din
ner.
The next morning Jack commenced OF
Eve:
s'WeIl, my Amazonian little saleslady
did you STAY any sand baes.ers las
night ?"
81 am not saleslady, want you tx
know, Cousin Jack.
WHAT been promoted again ?"
No, am not promoted, and ana no
a saeslady. I am saleswoman. /
there is one word / despise more thar
another, it Is saIeslady. Do yOu saJ