The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1885-04-16
A LITTLE SHOP-GIRL,

VIII Duy tnem on saturday. i Know
how to make cinnamon apple tarts,
too. and lemon drops. and cocoanul
balls"
'.Grace. l do believe you have taken
leave of Your senses" said Medora
MAY. ..One would think it was dis
grace enough for Aunt Deborah-oul
own mothers sister-to open a horrid
little huckster shop without our mix
ing ourselves up in the affair."
''Aunt Debby must live, you know"
said Grace, who was perched. kitten
fashion. on the window-sill, feeding the
canary with bits of sparkling white
sugar. And Cousin Nixon couldn't
keep her any longer, and her eyes are
not strong enough for fine needlework,
and her education has not fitted her to
be a teacher. and her poor old rhcu-
matte bones keep her from going he
hind Il counter or entering factory.
! suppose YOU wouldn't bp willing to
have her come here and live with
you?"
~ cried Mcdora. ''Do YOU sup
pose want to proclaim to the whole
town that have such Il iiilapidatcd old
relation as that?'
said Grace. '.if | didn't board with Mrs
Hewitt, and share the little upstairs
back room with the two children. just
wait until marry some rich man."
she added, with Il saucy uplifting of
her auburn brows, land then see if
don't furnish up stately apartment
for Aunt Debby!'
Don t talk nonsense" said Medora,
acidly. Its very likely, isn't it, that
a factory girl like you is going to mar,
ry Il rich man?"
Grace Craxall laughed merrily. All
through life she and her cousin. Me
dora May, had agreed to differ on most
points. Grace, seeing no other career
before her had. on the death of her last
surviving parent, cheergully entered Il
factory, while Medora, taking her
stand on the platform of false geniility,
had done fine sewing and silk en-
broidery on the sly to support herself.
putting on all the airs of Il young lady
of fashion the while. And now Aunt
Deborah May, to the infinite disgust of
her aristocratically inclined niece. had
actually opened Il little low-windowed
shop in shady street, just out of the
main thoroughfare. and, rs Medora de-
spairingly expressed it, gone into
trade"
For Aunt Debby. in her bewildered
loneliness, had scarcely known what to
do until Grace Craxall came to the res
cue with her hopeful courage and
straightforward common sense.
Il only wish it wasn't sinful to take
good big dose of laudanum and put
myself out of the way, sighed the poor
old lady.
Now, Aunt Debby, that doesn't
sound a bit like you," said Grace
cheerfully.
But what am to do?" said Aunt
Deborah.
What can you do?" said Grace.
Il don't know as l am good for any
thing" said the old lady, with a quiet
tear or two, ''except to help around the
house, and | amt strong enough for
regular hired help. Your uncle always
used to say that was master hand at
making bread"
Then make it," brightly interrupt
ed Grace.
.'Eh?" said Aunt Debby.
There's nice little store to let on
month"
but haven't got 80 a month";"
feebly interrupted Aunt Deborah.
''I'll lend it to YOU" said Grace.
''out of the wages | have saved. And
there's pretty bedroom at the back
of the shop. and clean. dry basement
under it, where you can bake your
bread. know. for the sister of the
lady where board is looking for dress
making rooms. and heard her speak
ing about it,
do you mean to open a bakery?'
said bewildered Aunt Debby.
Not exactly that" explained Grace.
But if Mrs. Hewitt or Mrs. Taylor, or
any other of the ladies around here
could get real homemade bread, such
as you make, do you suppose they
would put up with the sour stuff they
get at tine bakers shops? And you
could easily get up a reputation on
your raisin cakes and fried crullers.
and New England pumpkin pies. Now
couldn't you?"
The old lady frightened up. little.
II used to be pretty good at cook
ing" said she. ''And if you think l
could support myself So"
Il am sure of itr' cried cheerful
Grace And I'll 20 there with you
this very day to look at the place, and
will engage it for three months on
trial. And | can paint you a sign TO
put over your door: Homemade
bread by Mrs. Deborah Mayn And I'll
hem you some curtains and arrange
the shelves in the low window! l al
most wish 1 was going to be your shop
grill" she added merrily. But l can
help YOU in the evening. you know"
Grace Craxall's prophecies proved
correct. Aunt Debby's delicious home
made bread, whittier than powdered
lilies, sweet as ambrosia, soon acquired
a reputation, and the old lady could
scarcely bake it fast enough. People
came half II dozen blocks to buy the
yellow pumpkin pies and delicious ap-
pie tarts; children brought their hoard
ed pennies to invest in chocolate sweet
meats, vanilla caramelS, and cream
cakes with puffy shells and delicious
centers of sweetness. The little mon
ev drawer grew fat with coins, and
Aunt Debby's dim eyes grew bright
and hopeful again.
And one day Herbert Valance, walk
iny with Medora May, stopped and
looked in.
..lsn't that your cousin Grace" said
he, "behind tue counter?"
Medora turned crimson with vexa-
ton.
my cousin Grace!" she said. mo,
indeed! We are not-in trade!"
What possessed her to utter this de-
lberate falsehood, NIedora could not
afterward have told. Partly the sting
of false shame, partly a disinclination
for Herbert Valance to know that her
relations were not, to use her express
sion, 'ladies and gentlemen"
Mr.. Valance looked up at the sign
over the door.
The name In May" he remarked,
indiferently.
yes" said MsdQSa angry at her.