Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-08-22
Oh APTER III.

CH APlEh Ill.
After her cousin had gone Mrs. Pen
feather fell s-thinking. This mental
exercise was with her so rare as to BIO
phenomenal, and, as is frequently the
case with phenomena, its results were
more often surprising than beneficial.
"Poor Nora =" she said to herself
now. 1T must really be much worse
than she will admit, aud she has three
more weeks of it. She won't give in, /
know, but / really think | ought to do
something to make it easier for her. II
told Blackjack who she really is. and
that her going into his service was only
q caprice, no doubt he would make
things as pleasant for her as possible"
In thus imagining Mrs. Penfeather,
as the result proved, showed an entire
lack of comprehension of the nature OF
the British tradesman. This is two
sided on the one THAT which custom
ers see), obsequious to servility; on the
other (known only to employees), auto
cratic to despotism. Mr.. Blackjack
was the bond-slave Of ladies while they
kept on their own side of the counter;
when they intruded on the other he
was their tyrant. This rule admitted
of no exception, unless, indeed,
such exceptional displeasure as
filled his breast on learning
from Mrs. Penfeather the true name
and station of miss Adams" and the
exceptional severity with which he felt
she deserved to be treated. She was
| spy, a traitor in the camp, and merlted
a traitors doom. Unfortunately the
law does not confer on the employer Of
labor the right to hang, draw, and
quarter offending subjects, and it took
Mr.. Blackjack two days to evolve a
suitable means of Furnishing Miss
Clyne's impertinence in entering his
domain under false pretences.
Then, like the hackneyed "wolf on
the fold" he bore down on the small
ware counter.
"What are you doing there ?" he
asked in tho most discordsnt tones OF
not naturally harmonious voice.
"You'rs idlipg your time, as usual,
Miss Adams. Do you think haven't
had my eye on you and seen how lazy
you are' Take that flower out OF your
gown. Ladies don't like to see falderals
Of that sort on the young women in the
shop they patronize."
MIR. Blackjack expected Norato claim
Indignantly to be styled young lady:
ANY other Of his female vassals would
have done so, but Miss Adams was
not so sensitive on the subject as they,
and, indeed, being rather bewildered
at this sudden and undeserved outburst
of severity, did not know that any in
suit to her was meant. She meekly-
in appearance, at least, for her spirit was
reused by the injustice Of ,Blacklock's
anger-removed from her neck the
flower which Wilson now daily brought
her and laid it on the counter, but
her eyes flashed little when her mas
ter threw it on the ground and tram
pied it under foot.
Don't stand staring at me in that
? idiotic fashion," the irste master of the
: shop went on. 81 know that drawer
Of tape is untidy; take it out and sor'
the contents"
r Putting considerable restraint upor
: her temper, which was naturally high
0 Nora turned to obey. The drawer il
f question was rather heavy one, an(
stood on . shelf somewhat above heI
:. head. Perhaps she was somswha
|. shaken by the effort to control he
? anger, and was less careful than usual
. | at any rate the drawer slipped from he
. hands and fell, its contents scattered OF
n the floor.
s "Mcrs ofyour internal clumsiness o
0 malice !" cried Blackjack. ~ osliey
you did it on purpose !"
a Wilson, who had been watching tn
. scene with anxious discomposure, wa
Fastening forward to help Nora to picl
d. up the scattered tapes, when his maste
: stopped him. -,
d "Let her do it herself" he said
"she'd like we'll enough to have q youn
r man helping her and making himsel
, agreeable. They're all up to thos
: tricks, laying traps for Irritation"
: This speech was the last straw t
Morals already overburdened temper.
Y ANY one can pick up the thing
Q who chooses !" she exclaimed .
:. won't--and won't stay in this place a
r hour longer "
J, She was about to walk away, whe
IS Mr.. Blackjack put bis hand on ht
lie shoulder.
s "No, you don't go yet" he said, t.
70 haven't dismissed you"
D. She shook off his touch.
D. Then | dismiss myself" she r
I'd turned.
le "Then shall sue you for breach
a contract" replied Blackjack.
q 81 don't care; l won't serve you
N minute MORE"
70 swell, you know what will come
N it,"
He no longer opposed her psssag
O. and she walked through the shop und
a the curious eyes Of all the sales wome
10 till she reached that part of the ests
in lishment where Mr.. Blackjack lodge
bis assistants. Arrived At her DO
I" room she locked the door and sat dos
q 70 have good cry, IS spreliminary
70 packing up the few possessions she h'
ID brought with her to the Diapers.
ID "what shall do?" she moaued
o. as real distress as il the loss OF n
IL situation had been serious pecuniaI
10 matter TO her. g. can't go back
Lou and confess what failure II
IN been; and, besides, ! must sec VIII
q that mAa means to do. ! mustn't di
IS grace my poor cousin BY being carrie
e. 10 prison from her house."
Finally she remembered having n
10 ticed quietlooking hotel in one Of Il
y side streets near the Blackjack estal
,t lishmenf, snd there she took a room
!; She sent Z messenger to M. Blacklos
Il With Der address, far hsr spirit refuse