The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-03-07

pile of work; one of them does stitching and
finishing for Madame Blanc, and has all she can
carry. / fill any orders, you know, for goods /
don't carry in stock. I hopeI shall do well here.
and | don't mind saying / shall sell
out the business when it gets to be
worth anything, and strike for something better.
l wish l was a little nearer the avenue. / know
a fellow who keeps a first-rate class Of goods, up
in Thirtieth street, that's getting rich. You see,
the seamstresses in some of the big houses give
him all their trade, and about keep him going"
Mr.. Craven returned the hopeful smile of his
entertainer, and slowly unfastened his overcoat.
He felt a little tired and lonely that morn
ing, and did not wear the look of a prosperous
man. The coat itself was a comfortable
old one he had insisted upon keeping
when his daughter had suggested the
presentation of it to a deserving German mother
to make over for her children. Somehow Mr..
Craven liked to wear it in these morning walks
away from the avenue. The buttons were loose,
and one of them actually came off at this mo-
ment and rolled behind some boxes that were
piled at the end Of the counter. William Chellis.
the shop keeper, looked after it, but some in
stinct he could hardly explain led him to ignore
the trivial accident. The old gentleman looked
as If he had seen better days. The button-holes
Of the coat were ,frayed. and a bit
of the lining was hanging. Chellis had
often seen the old fellow 60 by after about
this time in the morning, stopping once in a
while to speak to some children, or to exchange
greetings with the bricklayers who were attend
ing the great mortar-box in front of the new
block.
They talked together for a few minutes in a
friendly way. Chellis was arranging his wares,
and when the visitor rose to go he darted for
ward to open the door for him. Il should be
pleased to have you drop in any time, sir" he
said with pleasant Difference. II hope you'll
remember to mention the store if you have any
ladies at home. My goods are mostly in their
line"
DO you keep pins2" asked Mr.. Craven turning
back with evident pleasure, to make an invest
ment in four papers. He could find somebody
to give them to, and there was a satisfaction in
putting the little package in his pocket. He
was used to writing cheques for his purchases.
and was a little uncertain, as he took some change
from his waistcoat pocket, about the state Of
his present finances
There never is much doing this time in the
morning" explained the proprietor, MY Gus
toners either come toward night. or run
over here at noontime. l ought to
have somebody to help me, for [ shut
up now when I go downtown to fill my orders.
l want to get on as cheap as can, though, for
the present. Ali great things must have q be-
ginning, ne added, as he opened the door the sec
ond time. There was something delightfully."-
fresh and energetic about the young man. John
Craven sighed to remember that there was a
time when his own future lay all before him.
The winter wind had risen and was whirling the
dust and bits of paper along the bare pave
ment, and as he went away toward the
avenue ne naQ TO stop more Cldn once anu
turn his back to the unwholesome gale. He
happened to be just opposite a window at one
time, where a sweet-faced young girl sat sew
ing busily. There were some half finished gar
ments on the table beside her, a very pretty girl
she was, and she looked frankly up at the elderly
man. and even gave him u half-smlle Of uncon-
scious sympathy and friendliness.
The whole day afterward while the wind blew
and the weather was cold and a few flakes OF
snowclicked against the windows, John Craven sat
by the library fire trying to read newspapers, and
doing and meditating by turns. He tried once
or twice to allure his younger grandchildren in
to keep him company, but they were needed up
stairs to practice for a famous fancy ball, in aid
of some children's hospital. They were to have
fine costumes and be prominent in the dances,
and could only chatter to him Of these things if
they stayed. Their mother had rebuked him
for staying out of doors so lcng on a chilly
morning. He was late to breakfast, and she
reproached him for making her uneasy. He
might have q fall any day, or be knocked over
by the passing carts.
Il should like to have my liberty"
the old man answered with more severity than
was usual with him. He didn't feel so old as
other people seemed to think hlm-life was not
very amusing of late. But certainly he was
| much interested in his new acquaintance of the
side street. I'll watch that lad" Mr.. Craven
assured himself, land by and by, if he does we'll,
I'll let him have some capital" While, with rare
sentiment, he also wondered if the nice girl who
sewed by the window, and the brisk young meT-
chant, were aware of each others existence.
This question was answered no later than the
| next morning but one. Between the two inter
views a serious trial came to our hero. He had
been vastly punctual at the trustees meetings OF
a certain notable company, of which he had been
chief originator, and had chung more and more of
late to this one of the last of his active business
duties. He felt unusually brisk and capable as
he entered the directors room, but being early
he was adroitly rendered a suggestion that he
should resign his place on the board
in favor of his son Jack. He could find no
fault with the delicate manner in which this
suggestion was made. Here was a troublesome,
decrepit old fellow who had been in the way for
half-a dozen years, and it was proposed that
these older members should be put on a sort of
retired list. The friend who spoke alluded to
the ANNOYANCE Mr.. Craven must receive from his
feeling of obligation to attend the meetings, now
| that he had shaken off so entirely the cares of
business. He held so large an interest in the
property that it would not have done to remove
him from a part in its active control, except
through his own agency, and John Craven, who
was a proud man, told himself with flash Of an
| ger that this was some of Jacks doings. and
quietly acquiesced. They knock the old folks on
the head in the South Sea islands. He grum-
bled next day when he saw a too prompt series
of resolutions on his retirement included in the
financial report of his company. He wondered
if his wife knew how lonely he was, and counted
up with surprise the years since she had been
taken away from him.
The morning afterward was clear and spring
like, and he went out earlier than usual. The
pleasant weather was in itself a comfort,
and he found himself taking quicker
! steps than usual toward the little
store. 1t was already open, and there
was a customer who turned a not unfamiliar
face toward the door as Mr.. Craven opened it.
The two young people were talking eagerly,
and both blushed a little in a pretty, conscious
way, and said good morning as if the new conner
were an old friend. This is a pleasanter day
than when / had to, come to a halt next your
i window, said the old gentleman calamity. He
had been hurrying, and was glad to accept the
seat which the younger man pushed toward
him.
There were a few little things I thought they
could make use of atthe house, said Mr.. Craven,
presently, to explain his appearance-but he did
| not look about for the necessary goods. "How
are you getting onl' he asked in a Der evolent
and paternal fashion, and they turned to ac-
| nuaint this friendly STRANGER with an assurance