Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1885-04-16
A LITTLE sHoP-GIRL.

now TO make cinnamon apple tarts,
too, and lemon drops, and cocoanut
balls
Grace, do believe you have taken
leave of your senses" said Medora
May. Zone would think it was dis
grace enough for Aunt Deborah-our
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, I"
said Grace, who was perched, kitten
fashion, on the window-sill, feeding the
canary with bits of sparkling white
sugar. s'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 teacher, and her poor old rheu-
matte bones keep her from going be-
hind a counter or entering factory.
suppose you wouldn't be willing 10
have her come here and live with
youa''
--ls'' cried Mcdora. EDO you sup
pose want to proclaim to the whole
town that have such dilapidated old
relation as that?"
Il would take her quick enough, y
said Grace, ''if didn't board with Mrs.
Hewitt, and share the little upstairs
back room with the two children. Just
wait until l marry some rich man, f"
she added, with saucy uplifting of
her auburn brows, s'and then see if
don't furnish up stately apartment
for Aunt Rebby!"
Don't talk nonsense, y said Medora,
acldly. @'It's very likely, isn't it, that
a factory girl like you is going to mar.
nv a rich manp"
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, cheerfully entered a
factory, while Medora, taking her
stand on the platform of false gentility,
had done fine sewing and silk en-
broidery on the sly to support herself,
putting on all the airs of young lady
of fashion the while. And now Aunt
Deborah May. to the infinite disgust OF
her aristocratically inclined niece, had
actually opened little low-windowed
shop in shady street, just out of the
main thoroughfare. and, as Medora de-
spairingly expressed 1T, 'gone into
trade. !"
For Aunt Debby, I'm 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 wiss it wasn't sinful to take
a good big desc of laudanum and put
FMS self out of the way" sighed the poor
old lady,
Now, Aunt Debby. that doesn't
sound a bit like you, said Grace
! eheeafully.
-.lsut what am TO dop" said Aunt
Deborah.
"What can you do?'' said Grace.
.4Idon't know as / am good for any.
thing" said the old lady, with quiet
tear on two, Except to help arund the
house, and amt strong enough fol
regular hired help. Your uncle always
used to say that was d master hand al
! making bread"
'.Then make it," brightly interrupt
cd Grace.
"Eh?" said Aunt Debby.
4'There's nice little store to let on
Bay street." went on Grace, 'for $40 8
month"
but / haven't got $40 month, =
feebly interrupted Aunt Deborah.
s'lll lend it to you,n said Grace
tout of the wages | have saved. And
there's pretty bedroom az the back
OF the shop, and a 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 yeu mean to open a bakery?''
said bewRdeed Aunt Debby.
.'Not'eyactly that" explained Grace
''Eut il Mrs. Hewitt or Mrs. Taylor, OF
any other of the ladies around here
could get real homemade bread, such
as you make, do you suppose they
woald put up with the sour stuff they
get at the bakers shops? And yot
could easily get up a reputation or
your raisin cakes and fried crullers
and New England pumpkin pies. Now
| couldn't youP'
The old lady frightened up a little.
Il used to be pretty good at cook
ing said she. ''And if you think
| could support myself So"
Il am sure Of it!' cried cheerful
Grace. 'And I'll go there with yot
this very day to look at the place, anc
will engage it for three months OF
trial. And can paint you sign t.
| put over your door: 'Home-mad,
bread by Mrs. Deborah May!' And III
| hem you some curtains and arrange
the shelves in the low Window | al
most wish | was going to be your shop
| girl!n she added merrily. but / car
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
reputation, and the old lady coult
scarcely bake it fast enough. Peopl,
came half a dozen blocks to buy Til,
yellow pumpkin pies and delicious an.
! pie tarts; children brought their hoard
ed pennies to invest in chocolate sweet
meats, vanilla caramels, and cream
cakes with puffy shells and deliciou:
centers of sweetness. The little mon
ey drawer grew fat with coins, ant
Aunt Debby's dim eyes grew bright
and hopeful again.
And one day Herbert Valance, walk
ing with Medora May, stopped anc
looked in.
'.Isn't that your cousin Grace" sale
he, ''behind the counterpa
Medora turned crimson with yexa
| ton.
my cousin Gracel" she said. mo
| indeed! We are not-in trader
| What possessed her to utter this de
liberate falsehood, Medora could no
afterward have told. Partly the stins
of false shame, partly a disinclinatior
for Herbert Valance to know that hel
relations were not, to use her expires
sion, s1adies and gentlemen.
MIR. Valance looked up at the sign
over the door,
1.-The name is May he remarked
indifferently.
Yes" said Medora, angry at her
self blushing so deeply, sbut we are nc
! relation
Mr.. Valence thought over the mat
ter; he afterward met Miss MAY at :
| party given by friend. where prett,
Grace Craxan was also present; he
had taken rather a fancy to the brigh
blue eyes and delicate blonde beaut,
| of the former Nzfaua- Hall - az