Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-02-07
A LITTLE SHOP GIRL.


mon apple tarts. too and lemon drops and CO.
coanut balls"
Grace. / do believe you have taken leave OF
your senses" said Medora May 'One would
think 1t was disgrace enough for Aunt Deborah
-Our own mothers sister-to open a horrid
little huckster shop without our mixing our
selves up in the affair"
But Aunt Debty must i've you know" said
Grace, who was perched, kitten fashion, on the
window SILL feeding the canary with bits OF
SPARK ling white sugar And cousin Nixon
couldn't keep her any longer. and her eyes are
DOT strong enough for fine nee0e work and bel
education has not fitted her to be teacher. and
her poor Ola rheumatic bones keep her from
going behind accunteT or entering d factory.
suppose you wouldn't be willing to have heT
Come here and live with you!"
''i!'' cried MedOTa DO YOU suppose want
TO proclaim to the whole town thai / have such
dilapidated old relation "a that"
~ would take her quick enough" said Grace,
''h didn't board with Mrs Hewitt. and share
the little up stairs back room With the two chill
dren- Just wat until marry some rich man.
she added with saucy uplifting OF her auburn
broWs. and then see II L don't furnish up ID
stately apartment for Aunt Debby:'
Don't talk nonsense. said Acdnra. acldy.
'1t's very likely. isn't il. that factory girl like
You is going to marry rich mani!
life she and her cousin. MedOra May. had agreed
to differ on most points. Grace seeing no other
Career before her had. on the death OF her last
Surviving parent. cheeTfGily entered factory.
while NedOra. taking her stand on the platform
of false gentility. had done fine sewing and
silk embroidery on the sly To support herself
putting on ali the airs of a Young lady OF
fashion the while. And now Aunt Deborah
May. to the infinite disgust OF her aristocrat-
eally inclined niece. had actually opened little
ind tt.lS in Sbat Il ,ttt
the main thOroughlare. and as Medora despair
ing expressed 1t, gone into trade"
For Aunt Debby. in her bewildered loneliness.
had scarcely known what to do until Grace
CraXall came to the rescue with her hopeful
Courage and straightforward common sense
Il only wish it wasn't sinful TO take good
big dose of laudaIum and put myself out of the
way" sighed the poor old lady.
Now. Aunt Debby. that doesn't sound bit
Hike you" said Grace. cheerfully.
.'But what am | To do?' said Aunt Deborah
"What can you do:' said Grace.
81 don't know as | am good for anything. y
said the old lady with quiet tear or two. Eek
cept to help around the house. and | amt
strong enough for regular hired help Your
uncle always used to say was master hand at
making bread"
Then make it,, brightly interrupted Grace.
''Eh:" said Aunt Deoby.
''Tbere's a nice little store to let on Bay
street" went on Grace, ''for ten dollars a
month"
But / havn't got ten dollars a month";
feebly interrupted Aunt Deborah.
IN lend il TO YOU said Grsee ''out of the
wages have saved And there's pretty bed
room at the back of the shop. and clean dry
basement under it, where you could Jake your
bread / know. Ior the sister of the lady Were
board is looking for dress making rooms and
heard her speaking about it.
do you mean to open bakery said be-
wildered Aunt Debby.
'NOt exactly that" explained Grace. But If
Mrs Hewitt. or Mrs Taylor. or any other OF the
ladies around her could get real homemade
bread. such as you make. do you suppose they
would put I'D with the sour stun they get at the
bakers shops? And you could easily get up a
reputation on your rasin cakes. and fried crul-
lers and New England pumpkin pies. Now
Couldn't yoU?"
The old lady frightened up little.
Il used to De pretty good at cooking" said
She "And If You think could support myself
so"
81 am sure oft" cried cheerful Grace. "And
I'll go there with you this very day 10 look at
the place, and will engage it for three months
on trial. And | Can paint you sign to put
over your door, ''Home-made Bread by Mrs
Deborah May" And Tlfhem YOU some curtains
and arrange the shelves in the low window,
almost wish was going to be your shop girl
she added merriy- But / can help You in the
evening. you knOwi"
Grace CraxalPs prophecies proved correct
Aunt Debbv's delicious homemade bread whittier
than powdered lilies. sweet as ambrosia soon
acquired reputation, and the old lady could
scarcely bake 1t fast enough. People came half
dozen blocks to buy the yellow pumpkin pies
and delicious apple tarts children brought their
boarded pennies to invest in chocolate sweet
meats. vanilla caramels and cream cakes with
puffy shells and delicious centers of sweetness.
The little money drawer grew fat with coins.
and Aunt Debbys dim eyes grew bright and
hopeful again.
And one day Mr. Herbert Valance. walking
BY with Medora May. stopped and looked in
Isn't that your cousin Grace" said he, 'be-
mind the counter"
Medora turned crimson with vexation.
My cousin Grace" she said No, indeed,
We are not-in tradel'
What possessed her to utter this deliberate
falsehood Medora could not afterwards have
told. Partly tue sting of false shame, partly a
disinelination tor Mr.. 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 is May" he remarked indlfer-
entity.
Yes" said MedOra. angry at herself blush
Ing 80 deeply. but We are no relation"
Mr.. Valance thought over the matter; be
afterwards met Miss May at party given by a
friend, where pretty Grace CTaXall was also
present; he had taken rather a fancy to the
bright blue eyes and delicate blonde beauty oil
the former Valance all. on the bill Just out
OF the city. was sol tary enough. now that his
sisters had all married and zone away and per
haps a man might fnd less attractive and
graceful wife than Nedora May. But he could
not be mistaken. lie thought, III Grace Craxalls
Identity.
And so the next evening. about the same time
he sauntered into the shop.
Grace was behind the dalntily clean little
counter, taking some newly baked maple cara
meis oil the pan. She looked up with a smile.
Good evening. Mr.. Valance. said she.
so, he thought. - wasn't mistaken after
all. And the little blue-eyed seraph is mortal
enough 10 tell lie in spite OF her angelic ap-
pearance!"
But he looked serenely'at Grace.
% didn't know you were in trade" said he.
"Didn' you? Well" retorted Grace - | an,
nv Aunt Deborah's shop girl at present. | al
ways come here in the evenings to help her. be-
cause. she added. with a sweet shade Of serious
ness coming over her face. Aunt was old and
poor. and she didn't quite know how 10 maiDtan
herself In Independence; and unfortunately, my
wages at the factory are not enough for Us both
30 advised her to open this business. and she
did, aud she is doing well! and she bakes the
most delicious bread and pies You ever ate, So >
with saucy twinkle under her eyeiashes, :. II
you know OF any customers. will you please re-
commend our frm?"
To be sure ] shall" he answered In the same
spirit. And | am very glad. Miss Craxall. to
bee that you are not ashamed of being a working
girl
"Of course ! am not said Grace "why
should be?"
But your cousin MedOra is"
Grace gave little shrug Of her shoulders
A 4.