Daily Republican., 1886-10-05

hCA ChCCh5.
She wore muslin dress that draped
her slender form like silvery cloud,
and Julian Morton stood spell bound
on the threshold OF the dingy counting
room, surprised at the lovely and un-
expected vision.
He had just returned from abroad,
and wholly ignorant of the financial
trouble, had called at the store before
going to his fathers residence. Mr..
Morton was too i'll to be at the store,
MIR. Charming had just stepped out for
a moment, leaving Edith the sole ten
ant of the counting room, and she, I'M
conscious o. an observer, was working
with might and main upon a nearly
finished page.
The least bit of noise as Julian Nor
ton endeavored to retreat unseen be-
trayed him, and Edith looked up to
see pair Of dark, magnetic eyes fixed
upon her, and she sprung from her
high stool much as bird might from
bOugh.
Then Julian Morton introduced him
self as the son of the senior partner,
and inquired for his father, to learn for
the first time of his eerious illness, and
Edith naively explained why she was
there, that she was the daughter of the
junior partner, and she was assisting
her father TO straighten some errors in
the books; then, when Mr.. Claiming
came back, presently, he was sur
prised and pleased to find that Julian
Morton. had reached home.
Edith was formally introduced by
her father to the handsome son of the
senior partner, and in few minutes
he went away, while pair of dark,
brilliant eyes were strangely mixed
with Edith's figures FOR the rest of the
day.
The illness of Mr.. Morton. although
not dangerous, was a lingering one,
and Julian Morton had come home
when he could be of great service.
The partnership of Morton & Chan
ming had been formed after Julian
went abroad, and it was not strange
that the son and daughter of the two
members of the firm had never met;
but the acquaintance began in the din
giness of Morton & Channing's count
ing room, developed into very pleas
ant friendship during the midsummer
sultriness; for, although Edith was no
longer needed at the store, Julian Nor
ton had innumerable reasons for calling
at MIR. Channing's residence, and in
the pleasant summer evenings plea
of urgent business would send him to
consult with Edith's father, that was
oftener talked over, however, with her
fathers daughter, and by the time old
Mr.. Morton had recovered from his
illness and was able to return to his
duties, his son had decided on forming
a partnership for life with the younger
daughter of the junior member of the
firm,
At the close OF the season Mrs.
Charming and her daughter returned
from Long Branch, and the evening
after their arrival Julian Morton called
as usual to spend social hour. He
was formally introduced to Aggie, the
beauty of the household, and she, still
unengaged and signing for new con-
quests, appropriated at once his time
and attention, and was as fascinating as
possible; then, when he had gone, she
evinced so much interest regarding
him that Mr.. Charming laughingly in
formed her that he was 10 be her
brother, at no very distant day.
So, while Aggie Charming had an.
gled unsuccessfully at Long Branch
tor a rich and handsome lover, little
Edith, without an effort, had gained
one in the quiet, uneventful life al
home.