The Bozeman weekly chronicle. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1883-1889, 1886-04-14
A SHOP GIRLS ROMANCE.
One of the Incidents Which Lead On to
Tragedies.

A~~~~NN -
Tragedies.
IspeciaI Correspondence.I
NEW YoRK, April 5.-One learns to read
below the surface Of life here, if one learns
anything. Little romances, which often grow
into big ruins, are to be seen here any day,
and almost every hour Indeed, one can't
help but see them, they are so unmistakably
''under ones nose.n A few weeks ago was
walking with a friend on a much thronged
street inst the great shops closed An
army of statesmen, saleswomen "bundlers, +"
cash girls and boys and other helpers, poured
out of the great doors of two or three large
houses and hurried off toward their homes.
Among the pedestrians that met this NOV
ing throng was a dashing young swell, who
singled out a young girl walking alone,
and approaching her in the most deferential
manner and the heartiest delight, greeted her
with the cordiality of warm friend. The
little thing colored with pleasure and pride,
and her agreeable face fairly shone with de-
light as the dashing youth turned and walked
by her side.
"Do you see thatg" said my friend. "That
dude is rot of that girls sphere in life. He
has waited for her and is dazzling her humble
little head with his attentions and flattery."
He had stated the case correctly. The girl
was mere child Her skirts were still
somewhat above her shoe-tops, and were
very thin and well-worn, though her entire
costume, poor as it was, carried an atmos-
phere of style that many Fifth avenue belle
is not born to. Her shoulders were protected
by jaunty but thin little cape made from a
'last winters cloak" and her neat shoes,
though shining with liquid backing, were
nearer the end than the beginning of their
career He was clad in warm, rich clothing.
She and the young man might well have
been used as models for a picture of Indus
trious Poverty and Idle Opulence walking
arm in arm
How pleased she wasI Her eyes sparkled
as she proudly stepped along and her tongue
was ioosened as by magic. She chartered
with pleasure, smiled at every word her COM
panion uttered, literally walked on air.
Even the tiny lunch basket that swung
lightly on her arm seemed to partake of her
pleasure, and jostied itself back and forth in
ecstacy. After day of toll in the shop she
had suddenly entered paradise Her self-es-
TEEN and vanity, her heart, perhaps, were
all touched by the lover-like Difference of the
elegant creature by her side.
They walked on just ahead of us across the
city to Broadway, turned up that great
thoroughfare and walked several squares.
Then the young man stopped, excused HIM
self on the plea of an urgent engagement, yet
fingered, and made the sweet pain of parting
as long as possible. At last, with many a
regretful word and meaning glance he left
her and walked down Broadway, and she
tripped lightly away, poor, foolish thing, so
happy that the world held in that moment
nothing disagreeable.
aThat's the beginning said my wise friend,
looking after her with sigh @The end for
her, perhaps, will be a hospital, or
the river, or long, long days Of
doom and degradation. Yet nothing
can be done to save her. 'Tis cruel, too, that
what appears so comforting and attractive
to her should be the means of destroying her.
It is natural for her to be pleased with the
good-looking scamp's attentions She can't
know that he is a scamp. Doubtless he seems
a god to her; the very man of whom she has
read in the story books, and of whom she has
dreamed in her rosy day dreams She loves
refinement good manners and beauty, and
finds them not in the men with whom she Is
daily thrown in her humble station
aThis young swell has bought something
from her in the store, most likely, and being
wen up in reading the signs of the affections
has seen that he has made an impression on
the confiding, unsophisticated little thing,
and is following it up. He met her purposely
this evening, of course. He IS hattered, too,
by the extravagant admiration she gives
him He may have nothing but good win in
his heart for her Who knowsl If it were
not for the tongues Of what is known IS so
ciety, perhaps this little romance would not
turn cut a tragedy But it viii it will
There is heartbreak in it for the girl, poor
thing And for The youth q loss Of something
sEsn.zgould be wise to keep, whether he win be
ms 0f the lass OF not.
nd continued: "A girl like that has
u life, anyway She has human
fzsls,ss1 - same longings and loves are
ss,,ss,sss.. IS III humanity and II her heart
Ts -. stes do, ten to one it goes TO
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