, 1885-01-27

his attention on business, and. after
spending an hour or two in the city,
he resorfed to his club by way OF pass
ing the time until he should go 10 ths
Stores. There he met several friends,
and ordered an elaborate luncheon.
Jealousy had somewhat Affected his ap-
petite, so he ~endeayored to drown his
sorrows in a bottle OF claret and sever
al glasses Of potent brown sherry In
fact. by the time he arrived atthe tryst-
ing-place he felt perfectly equal to con-
fronting half a dozen Lotharios, and
iniiicting c0ndign chastiscment . upon
them. unaided by the powers OF the
law. Browne, oddly enough, had never
been 10 the Stores before. Being him
self a tradesman. he professed to look
upon such establishments with CON
tempt, though, in practice, he had
found II both economical and owen
lent to allow his wife to trade there,
and even went SO far as to keep a de-
posit account for her. When, there
fore. he entered the door OF the largo
block of buildings in Victoria street, he
noticed what crowds Of people wero
passing In and out, and what a number
Of different departments he would have
to search, his heart failed him a little,
for he plainly saw that he might spend
the day there without ever having the
good fortune TO hit upon the guilty
couple. So he loitered about near the
entrance in some perplexity.
As he stared anxiously about him,
Mr.. Browne could not help wondering
II nil the people be saw had come TO
shop. There were, Il was true, a GER
tain number Of individuals who sat at
a table in the middle of the room, writ
ing out orders from the list. and gazing
In agony at the ceiling as they endeav-
ored to solve the intricate problems OF
mental arithmetic, but they seemed for
the most part to be servants, lodging
house keepers, and such like. Nearly
all the best looking people strolled
about in a somewhat aimless fashion,
occasionally looking at the goods ex-
posed for sale, but more often al each
other, and showing that whatever their
business might be, It was entirely I'M
connected with the purchase of tea and
sugar. There were plenty of well
dressed young ladies, officers wives,
thought Browne, and n goodly sprink-
ling Of fast young fellows, who stared
at the ladies, and sometimes addressed
them apparently on terms Of Easy IA
miliarity. All this puzzled the worthy
merchant not q little, and he began to
wish that he had looked more like a
military man, for he was getting bored,
and longed to find some one to speak
TO.
would you be so kind as to direct
me to the china department." sudden
ly said a feminine voice in his ear.
Browne started somewhat, and look
ed round. A pretty little fair-haired
woman was standing at his elbow. She
was decidedly an attractive person;
her age might have been five and
twenty; she was exceedingly well got
up, and he noticed that she was pos
sessed of o very neat figure and very
small feet. Browne had bean rather a
gay dog in his time-which was GER
sharp after his wife-and the wine he
had drunk at lunch made him feel dis
posed for an adventure. So, after TAX
ing a good look Mt his fair friend. he
answered in his most gallant manner
~ am afraid 1 can't, madam, but
l would be delighted to find out for
you"
.Oh, thanksl It's so good Of you"
she replied sweetly. sMy husband
sent me here to do a lot Of shopping,
and 1t is such a confusing place I am
constantly losing my way"
II assure you am charmed to be OF
the slightest service.
an attendant and started off with his
interesting charge. She asked to see
some dinner services and several other
articles, and engaged Browne in a dis
cussion on the various shapes, sizes
and colors of the samples exhibited for
her inspection. She was really charm
ing, he thought-the incest woman he
had met for years.
After much elaboration she selected
n somewhat expensive set, a gorgeous
gem in blue, red and gold.
Ticket number MADAME" asked the
uhonmap
sLet me zee. 9.0.z.3-no. 7.O.9.3-
and then there's another. How silly i
amt sbe continued. looking mn at
Browne with n nrettv air of n~erniexitv.
"that horrid numberl / never can re-
member it,
Never mind said Browne gallant
". ..use mine. and he gave Il To- the
shopman.
siCash or deposit. sirpn
deposit said Browne. mechanic
nllv.
sR,t 7 oorld not tb;rk If ,lloxving
~ navs,i nrotastad he 1.dv n-d
5SUo;n1 No. y rIrso ' fo
s
..Not NJ all. not at all; we will settle
later. No doubt You win be getting
other thines.r
ssThanks. it's so good of YOU. win
YOU have tho things sent to the door.
pleaseP l will take them away later.n
nCertaiulv. madam;n and she betook
herself 10 another department. followed
az ", tnorr y sIa ss,a a., lancth
..mv husband has been ordered 10 India
and an 10 ha loft ali olono 4, Tordon